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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,394 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $414 in Ernakulam, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,551 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $659 in Ernakulam, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,708 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $905 in Ernakulam, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 237% more than Ernakulam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Ernakulam is 69% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 Rp 60.2K

$1.69 ₹160

101.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.38 Rp 573.6K

$9.37 ₹886

245.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.00 Rp 88.6K

$4.72 ₹447

5.93%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 50.0K

$1.46 ₹138

93.15%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.4K

$0.53 ₹50.1

160.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.0K

$0.18 ₹17.34

305.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 Rp 52.8K

$1.76 ₹166

69.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 Rp 70.3K

$2.84 ₹268

39.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 Rp 31.8K

$0.65 ₹61.9

175.38%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 43.7K

$0.57 ₹54.4

331.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.2K

$0.59 ₹56.3

103.39%

Eggs

$2.39 Rp 42.3K

$0.99 ₹94.1

141.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 Rp 255.1K

$6.81 ₹644

111.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.28 Rp 75.9K

$3.71 ₹351

15.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.82 Rp 209.4K

Apples (1kg)

$3.78 Rp 67.0K

$2.32 ₹220

62.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 28.9K

$0.61 ₹57.5

167.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 Rp 49.6K

$1.04 ₹98.6

169.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 Rp 40.0K

$0.61 ₹57.7

270.49%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 Rp 35.3K

$0.49 ₹46.32

308.16%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 Rp 39.2K

$0.60 ₹56.4

268.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 Rp 18.9K

$0.67 ₹63.4

59.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 Rp 13.5K

$0.33 ₹31.66

130.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 55.4K

$3.22 ₹305

-2.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.81 Rp 421.9K

$5.44 ₹515

337.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 Rp 50.3K

$1.77 ₹167

60.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.2K

$2.42 ₹229

14.88%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$4.04 ₹382

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,726

$0.30 ₹28.64

-10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 148.2K

$8.53 ₹807

-1.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,034

$1.04 ₹98.3

-56.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,578

$0.30 ₹27.99

43.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 Rp 105.9K

$1.19 ₹112

402.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

$1.25 ₹118

-36.00%

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

$25.8K Rp 457.2M

$16.1K ₹1.5M

60.27%

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

$31.8K Rp 563.4M

$22.9K ₹2.2M

39.05%

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

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

$37.68 ₹3,565

114.28%

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

$4.14 Rp 73.3K

$3.02 ₹286

37.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.12 Rp 427.2K

$7.14 ₹675

237.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.8 Rp 1.7M

$16.79 ₹1,588

482.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.64 Rp 117.7K

$7.15 ₹676

-7.13%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 71.5K

$2.38 ₹225

69.75%

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

$297 Rp 5.3M

$74.4 ₹7,041

299.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,590 Rp 116.7M

$2,438 ₹230.6K

170.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 Rp 976.8K

$26.64 ₹2,521

106.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.51 Rp 682.1K

$21.35 ₹2,020

80.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$37.29 ₹3,528

130.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.0 Rp 1.4M

$25.60 ₹2,422

204.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 Rp 17.5M

$160 ₹15.1K

516.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$665 Rp 11.8M

$99.1 ₹9,376

570.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,446 Rp 61.0M

$423 ₹40.0K

714.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,042 Rp 36.2M

$250 ₹23.7K

716.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,829 Rp 50.1M

$1,061 ₹100.3K

166.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,282 Rp 40.4M

$1,220 ₹115.4K

87.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$169 Rp 3.0M

$344 ₹32.5K

-50.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

9.36

41.88%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 14, 2026

Last update for Ernakulam: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $985 in Ubud, Bali versus $160 in Ernakulam. 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 103% higher in Ernakulam, 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $9.00 in Ernakulam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $299 vs $114 – making Ernakulam the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Ernakulam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 237%, 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 $2,091 per month in Ubud, Bali and $621 in Ernakulam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,394 in Ubud, Bali and $414 in Ernakulam. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 2% less in Ernakulam. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ernakulam, where all-in costs run around $414, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,394. In Ernakulam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ernakulam – 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 Ernakulam. 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.