Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and El Progreso Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and El Progreso

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $567 in El Progreso.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in Ubud, Bali versus $893 in El Progreso.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,694 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,219 in El Progreso.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 148% more expensive than El Progreso, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 4% above, El Progreso is 58% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
El Progreso
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.8K
$5.72 HNL 153
-37.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.50 Rp 590.5K
$24.78 HNL 661
31.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.86 Rp 88.4K
$7.88 HNL 210
-38.32%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.9K
$1.47 HNL 39.24
87.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 Rp 24.0K
$1.01 HNL 26.89
30.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.8K
$1.03 HNL 27.38
-32.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.91 Rp 52.9K
$1.16 HNL 31.05
150.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 Rp 68.9K
$1.99 HNL 53.0
90.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
El Progreso
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 Rp 31.1K
$1.29 HNL 34.35
32.56%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 Rp 45.0K
$2.08 HNL 55.5
18.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.8K
$1.22 HNL 32.63
-1.64%
Eggs
$2.44 Rp 44.4K
$2.04 HNL 54.4
19.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.38 Rp 261.3K
$4.45 HNL 119
223.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.31 Rp 78.2K
$3.89 HNL 104
10.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.21 Rp 221.8K
$7.84 HNL 209
55.74%
Apples (1kg)
$3.68 Rp 66.9K
$2.97 HNL 79.3
23.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 Rp 28.2K
$1.44 HNL 38.34
7.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 50.6K
$1.45 HNL 38.66
92.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 42.4K
$1.52 HNL 40.51
53.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.8K
$1.60 HNL 42.66
23.12%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 42.0K
$1.35 HNL 35.88
71.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.3K
$0.89 HNL 23.69
19.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
$1.67 HNL 44.45
-56.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28 Rp 59.6K
$2.47 HNL 65.9
32.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.79 Rp 414.1K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 Rp 51.0K
$1.33 HNL 35.58
111.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 50.5K
$1.80 HNL 48.01
54.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
El Progreso
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,290
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.06 Rp 146.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,159
$4.35 HNL 116
-89.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,207
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.24 Rp 113.3K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 15.4K
$1.08 HNL 28.79
-21.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K Rp 471.9M
$19.5K HNL 520.2K
33.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 575.1M
$19.4K HNL 518.0K
62.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
El Progreso
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 Rp 1.5M
$80.7 HNL 2,150
0.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 73.7K
$9.07 HNL 242
-55.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.42 Rp 443.7K
$41.37 HNL 1,103
-40.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
El Progreso
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$97.7 Rp 1.8M
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.45 Rp 117.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 73.4K
$5.73 HNL 153
-29.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
El Progreso
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.5M
$245 HNL 6,538
23.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,621 Rp 120.3M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
El Progreso
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2 Rp 985.2K
$45.56 HNL 1,214
19.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.78 Rp 704.4K
$35.67 HNL 951
8.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 Rp 1.6M
$111 HNL 2,952
-22.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
$103 HNL 2,750
-25.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
El Progreso
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$986 Rp 17.9M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$658 Rp 12.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,369 Rp 61.2M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,066 Rp 37.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,741 Rp 49.8M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,228 Rp 40.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
El Progreso
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$163 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
12
10.67%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Last update for El Progreso: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $25.00 in El Progreso for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $181 per month, with El Progreso cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Ubud, Bali vs El Progreso: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is El Progreso cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
El Progreso is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 148% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,106 in Ubud, Bali and $850 in El Progreso to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and El Progreso?
Supermarket bills run roughly 64% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali vs El Progreso?
All in, you'll spend $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $567 in El Progreso – a 148% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or El Progreso?
At $567 in El Progreso versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in El Progreso but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes El Progreso the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or El Progreso more family-friendly?
For families, El Progreso is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or El Progreso?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and El Progreso are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find El Progreso gentler on the wallet – expenses run 148% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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