😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $374 in Erdenet.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,348 in Ubud, Bali versus $621 in Erdenet.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $869 in Erdenet.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 266% more expensive than in Erdenet, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Erdenet is 73% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Erdenet
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44Rp 61.0K
$4.14MNT 14.9K
-16.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.31Rp 644.5K
$27.56MNT 99.1K
31.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.71Rp 101.3K
$4.06MNT 14.6K
40.64%
Cappuccino
$2.67Rp 47.4K
$2.18MNT 7,844
22.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75Rp 31.1K
$0.64MNT 2,314
173.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87Rp 15.5K
$0.44MNT 1,580
97.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95Rp 52.4K
$1.65MNT 5,934
78.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52Rp 80.2K
$1.68MNT 6,054
169.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Erdenet
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62Rp 28.7K
$1.02MNT 3,655
58.82%
White Bread(500g)
$2.33Rp 41.4K
$0.88MNT 3,181
164.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.11Rp 19.7K
$2.86MNT 10.3K
-61.19%
Eggs
$2.20Rp 39.1K
$1.97MNT 7,077
11.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.69Rp 314.0K
$7.09MNT 25.5K
149.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.10Rp 72.7K
$7.13MNT 25.6K
-42.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.18Rp 216.1K
$4.35MNT 15.6K
180.00%
Apples(1kg)
$3.71Rp 65.8K
$2.19MNT 7,863
69.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59Rp 28.2K
$1.71MNT 6,143
-7.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.28Rp 40.5K
$1.64MNT 5,912
39.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.95Rp 34.7K
$1.40MNT 5,036
39.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 33.8K
$1.38MNT 4,949
38.41%
Onion(1kg)
$2.33Rp 41.4K
$0.87MNT 3,122
167.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01Rp 17.9K
$1.42MNT 5,107
-28.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 9,795
$0.99MNT 3,557
-44.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23Rp 39.6K
$2.79MNT 10.0K
-20.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.07Rp 409.5K
$5.43MNT 19.5K
324.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42Rp 42.9K
$1.65MNT 5,950
46.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00Rp 53.2K
$1.69MNT 6,082
77.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Erdenet
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,825
$0.17MNT 626
58.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.98Rp 159.4K
$19.68MNT 70.8K
-54.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,586
$0.65MNT 2,346
-26.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43Rp 7,697
$0.40MNT 1,443
7.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.64Rp 100.1K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.80Rp 14.3K
$0.75MNT 2,685
6.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9KRp 442.7M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7KRp 562.8M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Erdenet
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.5Rp 1.4M
$59.5MNT 213.9K
36.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49Rp 115.2K
$2.70MNT 9,710
140.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.77Rp 333.1K
$13.88MNT 49.9K
35.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Erdenet
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.9Rp 1.0M
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.73Rp 332.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.54Rp 80.5K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Erdenet
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$481Rp 8.5M
$275MNT 988.4K
74.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,711Rp 101.4M
$2,519MNT 9.1M
126.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Erdenet
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.52Rp 807.9K
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.88Rp 636.9K
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.4Rp 1.4M
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.7Rp 1.4M
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Erdenet
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,115Rp 19.8M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$698Rp 12.4M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,637Rp 64.5M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,737Rp 30.8M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,784Rp 49.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,290Rp 40.6M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Erdenet
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$168Rp 3.0M
$224MNT 804.9K
-24.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026
Last update for Erdenet: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Erdenet pays 33% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $28.00 in Erdenet for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $295 vs $189 per month, with Erdenet 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 Erdenet: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and in Erdenet?
Ubud, Bali and Erdenet differ by about 266% in total monthly costs ($1,368 vs $374 including rent). Erdenet is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 33% lower in Erdenet. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ubud, Bali and Erdenet?
Childcare runs $481 in Ubud, Bali versus $275 in Erdenet. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 56% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $374 in Erdenet versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Erdenet but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Erdenet the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Erdenet?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ubud, Bali or Erdenet safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Erdenet are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ubud, Bali or Erdenet?
Expats usually find Erdenet gentler on the wallet – expenses run 266% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared