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 $1,379 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $337 in Ernakulam, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,363 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $540 in Ernakulam, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,347 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $744 in Ernakulam, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 309% more than Ernakulam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 1% above the global median, while Ernakulam is 75% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.31 Rp 58.9K

$1.59 ₹153

108.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.08 Rp 694.5K

$8.40 ₹804

365.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.62 Rp 99.8K

$3.59 ₹344

56.55%

Cappuccino

$2.64 Rp 46.9K

$1.24 ₹119

112.90%

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

$1.58 Rp 28.2K

$0.43 ₹41.12

267.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 Rp 12.6K

$0.13 ₹12.87

446.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.73 Rp 48.5K

$1.69 ₹162

61.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 Rp 76.8K

$2.06 ₹197

109.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 Rp 27.4K

$0.63 ₹60.7

144.44%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 Rp 40.8K

$0.49 ₹47.28

369.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 Rp 18.3K

$0.58 ₹55.3

77.59%

Eggs

$2.12 Rp 37.7K

$0.90 ₹86.5

135.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.30 Rp 307.5K

$6.84 ₹655

152.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.03 Rp 71.6K

$2.16 ₹206

86.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.42 Rp 220.8K

Apples (1kg)

$3.70 Rp 65.7K

$1.48 ₹142

150.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$0.71 ₹68.2

128.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 Rp 40.3K

$0.92 ₹88.2

146.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 Rp 35.4K

$0.42 ₹40.34

373.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 Rp 32.5K

$0.38 ₹35.94

381.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.25 Rp 40.1K

$0.42 ₹40.30

435.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 Rp 18.6K

$0.56 ₹53.4

85.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 Rp 10.0K

$0.30 ₹28.44

86.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.22 Rp 39.5K

$4.51 ₹432

-50.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.22 Rp 412.7K

$5.27 ₹504

340.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.39 Rp 42.5K

$1.77 ₹169

35.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 Rp 51.1K

$2.38 ₹228

20.59%

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

$3.53 ₹338

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,416

$0.17 ₹16.50

47.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.17 Rp 127.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,163

$0.70 ₹67.1

-34.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,235

$0.32 ₹30.73

43.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.70 Rp 101.2K

$1.33 ₹127

328.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.6K

$1.07 ₹102

-28.97%

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

$24.6K Rp 436.7M

$14.4K ₹1.4M

70.95%

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

$31.0K Rp 551.5M

$19.1K ₹1.8M

62.44%

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

$82.2 Rp 1.5M

$33.72 ₹3,227

143.68%

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

$6.33 Rp 112.5K

$2.60 ₹249

143.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.54 Rp 329.6K

$5.40 ₹516

243.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.1 Rp 996.2K

$10.93 ₹1,046

412.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.41 Rp 327.2K

$8.99 ₹860

104.78%

Cinema Ticket

$4.26 Rp 75.8K

$1.90 ₹182

124.21%

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

$489 Rp 8.7M

$60.2 ₹5,756

713.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,793 Rp 103.0M

$2,159 ₹206.6K

168.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.98 Rp 817.3K

$15.96 ₹1,527

188.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.86 Rp 637.4K

$13.49 ₹1,291

165.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 Rp 1.4M

$32.97 ₹3,155

141.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.9 Rp 1.4M

$26.51 ₹2,537

205.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,144 Rp 20.3M

$147 ₹14.1K

676.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$692 Rp 12.3M

$89.4 ₹8,554

674.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,532 Rp 62.8M

$363 ₹34.7K

873.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,709 Rp 30.4M

$227 ₹21.7K

653.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,785 Rp 49.5M

$1,086 ₹103.9K

156.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,261 Rp 40.2M

$1,204 ₹115.2K

87.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$169 Rp 3.0M

$350 ₹33.5K

-51.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

8.62

59.86%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 15, 2026

Last update for Ernakulam: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,144 in Ubud, Bali versus $147 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 107% 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 $39.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $8.00 in Ernakulam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $98.0 – 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 309%, 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 $2,069 per month in Ubud, Bali and $506 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali and $8.00 in Ernakulam. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 199% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ernakulam, where all-in costs run around $337, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,379. 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.