🙂A single person spends $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,573 in Fort Madison, IA, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,582 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,733 in Fort Madison, IA, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,757 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,893 in Fort Madison, IA, rent included.
🙂Ubud, Bali is about 45% cheaper than Fort Madison, IA, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Ubud, Bali and Fort Madison, IA sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 5%, Fort Madison, IA by 92%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Fort Madison, IA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.42Rp 58.7K
$18.88$18.88
-81.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96Rp 566.5K
$75.0$75.0
-56.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.08Rp 87.3K
$11.19$11.19
-54.60%
Cappuccino
$2.82Rp 48.5K
$5.03$5.03
-43.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37Rp 23.5K
$2.57$2.57
-46.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71Rp 12.2K
$1.95$1.95
-63.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.97Rp 51.0K
$5.93$5.93
-49.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91Rp 67.2K
$7.08$7.08
-44.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Fort Madison, IA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75Rp 30.0K
$1.04$1.04
68.27%
White Bread(500g)
$2.52Rp 43.2K
$3.58$3.58
-29.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.21Rp 20.8K
$4.26$4.26
-71.60%
Eggs
$2.33Rp 40.1K
$4.30$4.30
-45.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.50Rp 249.2K
$12.25$12.25
18.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.36Rp 74.9K
$11.56$11.56
-62.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.05Rp 207.0K
$15.14$15.14
-20.41%
Apples(1kg)
$3.82Rp 65.6K
$4.88$4.88
-21.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61Rp 27.7K
$1.61$1.61
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.70Rp 46.5K
$4.17$4.17
-35.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23Rp 38.3K
$4.83$4.83
-53.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90Rp 32.6K
$2.77$2.77
-31.41%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18Rp 37.5K
$2.83$2.83
-22.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03Rp 17.7K
$2.01$2.01
-48.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77Rp 13.3K
$2.17$2.17
-64.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.18Rp 54.7K
$9.55$9.55
-66.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.23Rp 399.2K
$15.12$15.12
53.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.85Rp 48.9K
$1.83$1.83
55.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72Rp 46.7K
$3.42$3.42
-20.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Fort Madison, IA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,022
$1.96$1.96
-85.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.43Rp 144.8K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.49Rp 8,344
$3.44$3.44
-85.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45Rp 7,812
$1.64$1.64
-72.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.28Rp 107.8K
$29.61$29.61
-78.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85Rp 14.6K
$0.89$0.89
-4.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1KRp 447.8M
$29.7K$29.7K
-12.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5KRp 541.8M
$25.7K$25.7K
22.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Fort Madison, IA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.8Rp 1.4M
$191$191
-58.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09Rp 70.3K
$52.8$52.8
-92.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.06Rp 413.6K
$68.5$68.5
-64.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Fort Madison, IA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$96.2Rp 1.7M
$42.35$42.35
127.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.53Rp 112.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.13Rp 71.1K
$13.53$13.53
-69.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Fort Madison, IA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$297Rp 5.1M
$1,281$1,281
-76.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,661Rp 114.5M
$23.2K$23.2K
-71.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Fort Madison, IA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.0Rp 944.5K
$50.4$50.4
9.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.75Rp 666.0K
$39.95$39.95
-3.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.6Rp 1.5M
$85.7$85.7
4.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9Rp 1.4M
$114$114
-30.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Fort Madison, IA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,018Rp 17.5M
$1,633$1,633
-37.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$660Rp 11.3M
$1,372$1,372
-51.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,435Rp 59.0M
$2,672$2,672
28.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,053Rp 35.3M
$2,187$2,187
-6.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,981Rp 51.2M
$2,356$2,356
26.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,368Rp 40.7M
$2,537$2,537
-6.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Fort Madison, IA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$172Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
6.51
103.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 21, 2026
Last update for Fort Madison, IA: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,018 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,633 in Fort Madison, IA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $33 in Ubud, Bali versus $75 in Fort Madison, IA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $299 vs $389 – making Ubud, Bali 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 Fort Madison, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Ubud, Bali and Fort Madison, IA compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, $2,573 in Fort Madison, IA – roughly 83% apart. Fort Madison, IA costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Ubud, Bali compared to Fort Madison, IA?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $3,859 in Fort Madison, IA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Ubud, Bali and Fort Madison, IA?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $75.0 in Fort Madison, IA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 30% more in Fort Madison, IA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,408, than in Fort Madison, IA at $2,573. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fort Madison, IA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Fort Madison, IA?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,408 in Ubud, Bali to $2,573 in Fort Madison, IA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Ubud, Bali or Fort Madison, IA safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Ubud, Bali and Fort Madison, IA?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Fort Madison, IA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared