😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $615 in Erdenet.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,540 in Ubud, Bali versus $862 in Erdenet.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,110 in Erdenet.
😐Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 131% more expensive than Erdenet, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 6% above, Erdenet is 54% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Erdenet
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56Rp 63.7K
$4.05MNT 14.5K
-12.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73Rp 584.5K
$29.03MNT 103.8K
12.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.95Rp 88.4K
$4.34MNT 15.5K
14.06%
Cappuccino
$2.71Rp 48.4K
$1.59MNT 5,696
70.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34Rp 24.0K
$0.69MNT 2,467
94.20%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70Rp 12.5K
$0.39MNT 1,407
79.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92Rp 52.1K
$1.23MNT 4,393
137.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96Rp 70.7K
$1.32MNT 4,735
200.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Erdenet
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81Rp 32.3K
$1.00MNT 3,576
81.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.52Rp 45.0K
$0.72MNT 2,586
250.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.16Rp 20.7K
$1.80MNT 6,419
-35.56%
Eggs
$2.46Rp 43.9K
$2.13MNT 7,621
15.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.71Rp 262.7K
$9.84MNT 35.2K
49.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.32Rp 77.1K
$5.06MNT 18.1K
-14.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.14Rp 216.7K
$3.97MNT 14.2K
205.79%
Apples(1kg)
$3.84Rp 68.6K
$2.46MNT 8,803
56.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56Rp 27.8K
$2.03MNT 7,248
-23.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.83Rp 50.6K
$2.62MNT 9,373
8.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 41.5K
$2.06MNT 7,359
13.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 34.2K
$0.76MNT 2,730
151.32%
Onion(1kg)
$2.20Rp 39.3K
$0.94MNT 3,351
134.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01Rp 18.1K
$0.90MNT 3,229
12.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78Rp 13.8K
$0.68MNT 2,442
14.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32Rp 59.2K
$3.00MNT 10.7K
10.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.74Rp 423.9K
$5.74MNT 20.5K
313.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79Rp 49.8K
$1.16MNT 4,144
140.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86Rp 51.1K
$1.36MNT 4,864
110.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Erdenet
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,800
$0.10MNT 359
170.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.03Rp 143.4K
$4.68MNT 16.7K
71.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.46Rp 8,150
$0.43MNT 1,525
6.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45Rp 8,037
$0.68MNT 2,446
-33.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.10Rp 108.9K
$5.33MNT 19.1K
14.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79Rp 14.2K
$0.88MNT 3,131
-10.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1KRp 467.0M
$12.6KMNT 44.9M
108.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1KRp 573.6M
$10.5KMNT 37.6M
205.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Erdenet
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.9Rp 1.4M
$63.4MNT 226.6K
26.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06Rp 72.6K
$2.86MNT 10.2K
41.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52Rp 420.0K
$14.88MNT 53.2K
58.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Erdenet
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.7Rp 1.8M
$24.77MNT 88.6K
298.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63Rp 118.4K
$4.36MNT 15.6K
52.06%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15Rp 74.1K
$2.72MNT 9,738
52.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Erdenet
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304Rp 5.4M
$195MNT 696.1K
56.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,613Rp 118.1M
$2,663MNT 9.5M
148.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Erdenet
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5Rp 991.8K
$29.04MNT 103.8K
91.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31Rp 684.1K
$29.89MNT 106.9K
28.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.6Rp 1.6M
$90.1MNT 322.0K
-1.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9Rp 1.4M
$89.3MNT 319.1K
-12.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Erdenet
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,006Rp 18.0M
$180MNT 642.5K
460.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$675Rp 12.1M
$135MNT 482.5K
400.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,442Rp 61.5M
$596MNT 2.1M
477.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039Rp 36.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,841Rp 50.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,264Rp 40.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Erdenet
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$165Rp 3.0M
$221MNT 790.1K
-25.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Last update for Erdenet: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali and $180 in Erdenet. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Erdenet pays 34% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $29.00 in Erdenet for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $302 vs $181 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 Erdenet?
Ubud, Bali and Erdenet differ by about 131% in total monthly costs ($1,419 vs $615 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, Erdenet earns 34% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and Erdenet?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $180 in Erdenet. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ubud, Bali and Erdenet?
Childcare runs $304 in Ubud, Bali versus $195 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 67% 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 $615 in Erdenet versus $1,419 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 131% 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