Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Elk Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Elk

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,386 in Elk, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,028 in Elk, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,670 in Elk, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 4% more than Elk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ubud, Bali and Elk sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 7%, Elk by 4%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 61.6K

$7.90 zł 28.69

-54.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 562.6K

$40.25 zł 146

-19.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.5K

$6.75 zł 24.51

-24.89%

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 48.8K

$2.13 zł 7.72

32.86%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 Rp 23.1K

$2.06 zł 7.49

-34.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

$1.12 zł 4.07

-38.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.6K

$3.95 zł 14.34

-24.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.4K

$3.99 zł 14.48

-3.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.1K

$1.07 zł 3.88

62.62%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 43.8K

$1.35 zł 4.90

88.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$1.88 zł 6.81

-36.70%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 41.9K

$2.59 zł 9.40

-6.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 253.2K

$4.96 zł 18.00

195.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.1K

$6.44 zł 23.36

-35.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.1K

$13.11 zł 47.59

-8.92%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.6K

$1.10 zł 3.99

235.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.7K

$1.81 zł 6.59

-11.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.4K

$2.04 zł 7.42

31.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.2K

$2.88 zł 10.45

-19.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 32.9K

$0.90 zł 3.26

112.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.7K

$1.09 zł 3.97

100.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

$1.41 zł 5.11

-24.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

$0.55 zł 2.00

30.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.1K

$5.22 zł 18.94

-40.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 405.6K

$7.54 zł 27.36

211.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.3K

$1.17 zł 4.24

134.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.7K

$1.37 zł 4.98

110.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,010

$1.07 zł 3.89

-72.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.0K

$32.21 zł 117

-74.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,834

$2.23 zł 8.09

-79.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,278

$0.49 zł 1.77

-14.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.3K

$13.40 zł 48.63

-54.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.5K

$1.69 zł 6.14

-50.30%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.2K Rp 453.1M

$32.0K zł 116.2K

-18.03%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.5K Rp 560.8M

$31.1K zł 112.8K

4.49%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$310 zł 1,127

-74.73%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$3.95 Rp 68.2K

$6.73 zł 24.41

-41.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 421.4K

$13.41 zł 48.69

81.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

$36.28 zł 132

166.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 109.6K

$19.33 zł 70.2

-67.15%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 69.7K

$6.90 zł 25.04

-41.45%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$303 Rp 5.2M

$322 zł 1,170

-6.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 112.6M

$5,480 zł 19.9K

19.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 929.5K

$84.4 zł 306

-36.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 655.8K

$27.27 zł 99.0

39.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

$83.7 zł 304

3.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$88.8 zł 323

-11.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

$551 zł 2,001

83.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.6M

$466 zł 1,692

44.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.5M

$935 zł 3,394

262.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.2M

$853 zł 3,097

145.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.5M

$2,343 zł 8,505

27.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.4M

$2,108 zł 7,651

10.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

$1,280 zł 4,645

-86.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

89.71%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Last update for Elk: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $551 in Elk. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 639% higher in Elk, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $40.00 in Elk. Groceries tell a different story – $298 in Ubud, Bali vs $208 in Elk – so Elk wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Elk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 4%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $2,079 in Elk. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Elk, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 43% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $40.00 in Elk. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Elk, where all-in costs run around $1,386, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. In Elk it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Elk – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Elk. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.