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: $1,397 in Ubud, Bali versus $565 in El Progreso.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,588 in Ubud, Bali versus $896 in El Progreso.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,778 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,227 in El Progreso.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 147% more expensive than in El Progreso, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, El Progreso is 58% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
El Progreso
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.43 Rp 61.4K
$5.87 HNL 157
-41.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.97 Rp 572.5K
$24.96 HNL 667
28.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.05 Rp 90.5K
$7.76 HNL 208
-34.92%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 48.6K
$1.46 HNL 39.03
85.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 Rp 24.9K
$1.00 HNL 26.70
39.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 Rp 13.3K
$0.98 HNL 26.18
-24.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.89 Rp 51.8K
$1.17 HNL 31.19
147.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 Rp 67.9K
$1.99 HNL 53.1
90.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
El Progreso
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 Rp 32.1K
$1.33 HNL 35.57
34.59%
White Bread (500g)
$2.51 Rp 44.9K
$2.10 HNL 56.1
19.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 Rp 21.8K
$1.22 HNL 32.66
-0.82%
Eggs
$2.37 Rp 42.4K
$2.10 HNL 56.2
12.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.43 Rp 258.4K
$4.28 HNL 114
237.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.15 Rp 74.3K
$3.69 HNL 98.7
12.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.11 Rp 217.0K
$7.77 HNL 208
55.86%
Apples (1kg)
$3.77 Rp 67.5K
$3.00 HNL 80.4
25.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.1K
$1.46 HNL 38.94
11.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.71 Rp 48.5K
$1.44 HNL 38.46
88.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 Rp 40.4K
$1.59 HNL 42.45
42.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 Rp 34.5K
$1.62 HNL 43.19
19.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 39.3K
$1.36 HNL 36.43
61.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 Rp 18.2K
$0.83 HNL 22.28
22.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.8K
$1.71 HNL 45.83
-57.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.18 Rp 57.0K
$2.44 HNL 65.3
30.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.84 Rp 426.9K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.77 Rp 49.7K
$1.29 HNL 34.46
114.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 Rp 49.3K
$1.80 HNL 48.27
52.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
El Progreso
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,787
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.20 Rp 146.8K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,656
$4.25 HNL 114
-88.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,547
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.03 Rp 108.0K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 14.7K
$1.08 HNL 28.81
-24.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 475.7M
$19.5K HNL 521.1K
36.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K Rp 576.7M
$19.0K HNL 508.5K
69.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
El Progreso
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
$81.4 HNL 2,176
-3.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.91 Rp 70.1K
$8.78 HNL 235
-55.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.91 Rp 428.3K
$40.49 HNL 1,083
-40.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
El Progreso
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.2 Rp 1.7M
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.53 Rp 116.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.01 Rp 71.9K
$5.93 HNL 159
-32.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
El Progreso
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 Rp 5.4M
$246 HNL 6,584
22.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,551 Rp 117.3M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
El Progreso
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.3 Rp 990.6K
$45.70 HNL 1,222
21.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.32 Rp 686.3K
$35.35 HNL 945
8.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.5 Rp 1.6M
$109 HNL 2,923
-19.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
$104 HNL 2,791
-26.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
El Progreso
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$986 Rp 17.7M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$682 Rp 12.2M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,420 Rp 61.3M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,075 Rp 37.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,762 Rp 49.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,243 Rp 40.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
El Progreso
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$169 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: July 22, 2026

Last update for El Progreso: July 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $25.00 in El Progreso for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 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 147% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,096 in Ubud, Bali and $848 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 in El Progreso?
Supermarket bills run roughly 65% 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 and in El Progreso?
All in, you'll spend $1,397 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $565 in El Progreso – a 147% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in El Progreso?
At $565 in El Progreso versus $1,397 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 147% 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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