Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Ernakulam

For one person, living is cheaper in Ernakulam: $355 a month against $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $12,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,368
/mo nomad
Ernakulam
🇮🇳 India
$355
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Ernakulam

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Ernakulam actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $355 in Ernakulam, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,368
  • Ernakulam $355

A couple spends around $2,314 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $573 in Ernakulam, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,314
  • Ernakulam $573

A family of three spends $3,260 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $790 in Ernakulam, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,260
  • Ernakulam $790

Ubud, Bali costs about 285% more than Ernakulam, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Ubud, Bali sits 1% above the global median, while Ernakulam is 74% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Ernakulam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33 Rp 59.9K
$1.64 ₹156
103.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.18 Rp 633.2K
$8.35 ₹793
321.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.80 Rp 104.5K
$3.45 ₹328
68.12%
Cappuccino
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$1.27 ₹121
114.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 Rp 29.5K
$0.40 ₹37.91
310.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
$0.15 ₹13.78
453.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.70 Rp 48.6K
$1.69 ₹161
59.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 Rp 77.4K
$2.11 ₹200
103.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Ernakulam
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 Rp 27.1K
$0.59 ₹56.0
154.24%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 Rp 41.4K
$0.50 ₹47.38
360.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
$0.61 ₹57.6
93.44%
Eggs
$2.14 Rp 38.6K
$0.89 ₹84.9
140.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.48 Rp 314.6K
$5.31 ₹504
229.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.03 Rp 72.5K
$2.84 ₹270
41.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.23 Rp 220.1K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 Rp 63.9K
$2.22 ₹211
59.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$0.72 ₹68.7
118.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
$1.06 ₹101
111.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.93 Rp 34.7K
$0.48 ₹45.72
302.08%
Potato (1kg)
$1.88 Rp 33.9K
$0.38 ₹36.16
394.74%
Onion (1kg)
$2.29 Rp 41.3K
$0.49 ₹46.73
367.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 17.9K
$0.52 ₹48.96
90.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 Rp 9,475
$0.29 ₹27.23
82.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
$4.35 ₹413
-47.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.01 Rp 414.2K
$5.24 ₹498
339.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 Rp 42.2K
$1.73 ₹164
35.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 Rp 52.4K
$2.47 ₹234
17.81%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$5.04 ₹478
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Ernakulam
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 Rp 4,315
$0.16 ₹14.84
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.82 Rp 158.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,684
$1.33 ₹127
-63.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,233
$0.32 ₹30.60
43.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 Rp 98.2K
$1.27 ₹121
329.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 Rp 15.9K
$1.14 ₹108
-22.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K Rp 442.2M
$12.5K ₹1.2M
95.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2K Rp 561.4M
$26.8K ₹2.5M
16.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Ernakulam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 Rp 1.5M
$32.84 ₹3,118
152.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 116.0K
$3.37 ₹320
91.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.57 Rp 334.2K
$6.79 ₹644
173.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Ernakulam
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.8 Rp 1.0M
$12.19 ₹1,158
357.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.11 Rp 326.0K
$8.83 ₹838
105.10%
Cinema Ticket
$4.38 Rp 78.9K
$2.11 ₹200
107.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Ernakulam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$493 Rp 8.9M
$55.3 ₹5,251
791.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,754 Rp 103.6M
$2,059 ₹195.6K
179.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Ernakulam
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.19 Rp 831.4K
$21.25 ₹2,018
117.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.33 Rp 636.0K
$17.75 ₹1,685
99.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$36.50 ₹3,466
116.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$26.91 ₹2,556
191.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Ernakulam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,142 Rp 20.6M
$148 ₹14.1K
671.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$676 Rp 12.2M
$92.0 ₹8,735
634.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,503 Rp 63.1M
$371 ₹35.3K
843.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,700 Rp 30.6M
$227 ₹21.6K
648.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 Rp 50.1M
$1,078 ₹102.4K
158.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
$1,197 ₹113.7K
87.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Ernakulam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$346 ₹32.9K
-52.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
9.5
45.05%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 11, 2026

Last update for Ernakulam: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$676
Ernakulam
$92 86.4% $584
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$290
Ernakulam
$101 65.3% $190
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$109
Ernakulam
$54 50.7% $55
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$108
Ernakulam
$43 60.2% $65
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Ernakulam
$46 57.2% $61
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$65
Ernakulam
$16 74.6% $48
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$13
Ernakulam
$3.6 * 71.6% $9

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,142 in Ubud, Bali versus $148 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 110% 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 $35.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $8.00 in Ernakulam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $290 vs $101 – making Ernakulam the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇮🇳 Ernakulam
🕒 Local time
05:30 5:30 AM
03:00 3:00 AM
2 h 30 min behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
612,343
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 16, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,268 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.93 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 16, 2026: 1 USD = 94.96 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 107 INR (1,000 INR = 9.35 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Ernakulam 4,780 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Ernakulam

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Is Ernakulam cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 285%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,051 per month in Ubud, Bali and $533 in Ernakulam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or in Ernakulam?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 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.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Ernakulam?
Groceries cost about 188% 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.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Ernakulam?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ernakulam, where all-in costs run around $355, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. In Ernakulam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ubud, Bali or Ernakulam more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Ernakulam?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

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