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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $753 in Foshan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,540 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,220 in Foshan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,687 in Foshan.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 88% more expensive than Foshan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 6% above, Foshan is 44% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Foshan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56 Rp 63.9K
$3.22 ¥21.80
10.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73 Rp 586.8K
$22.60 ¥153
44.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 Rp 88.7K
$4.99 ¥33.76
-0.80%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 48.6K
$3.16 ¥21.42
-14.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 24.1K
$0.46 ¥3.10
191.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
$0.28 ¥1.87
150.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 Rp 52.3K
$1.09 ¥7.38
167.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 Rp 70.9K
$1.65 ¥11.19
140.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Foshan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 Rp 32.4K
$1.79 ¥12.14
1.12%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 45.1K
$1.96 ¥13.24
28.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 Rp 20.8K
$1.22 ¥8.28
-4.92%
Eggs
$2.46 Rp 44.1K
$1.87 ¥12.66
31.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.71 Rp 263.7K
$13.00 ¥88.0
13.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 Rp 77.4K
$3.86 ¥26.13
11.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.14 Rp 217.5K
$13.38 ¥90.6
-9.27%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 Rp 68.8K
$1.81 ¥12.25
112.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.9K
$1.27 ¥8.57
22.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 50.8K
$1.73 ¥11.70
63.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.7K
$1.40 ¥9.48
66.43%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
$1.00 ¥6.79
91.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 Rp 39.5K
$1.05 ¥7.08
109.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 18.2K
$0.70 ¥4.71
44.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 13.9K
$0.61 ¥4.11
27.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 Rp 59.4K
$3.55 ¥24.06
-6.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.74 Rp 425.5K
$10.24 ¥69.3
131.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 50.0K
$0.96 ¥6.51
190.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 51.3K
$1.40 ¥9.48
104.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Foshan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,819
$0.27 ¥1.81
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.03 Rp 143.9K
$11.02 ¥74.6
-27.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,181
$1.71 ¥11.58
-73.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,068
$0.35 ¥2.35
28.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 Rp 109.3K
$6.93 ¥46.91
-11.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$1.17 ¥7.92
-32.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 468.8M
$21.3K ¥144.1K
22.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 575.8M
$19.6K ¥132.4K
64.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Foshan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$65.1 ¥441
22.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.9K
$10.20 ¥69.1
-60.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 Rp 421.6K
$12.90 ¥87.3
82.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Foshan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
$66.9 ¥453
47.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 Rp 118.8K
$20.34 ¥138
-67.40%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15 Rp 74.3K
$6.22 ¥42.10
-33.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Foshan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$415 ¥2,809
-26.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,613 Rp 118.5M
$18.2K ¥123.2K
-63.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Foshan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 Rp 995.6K
$42.80 ¥290
29.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31 Rp 686.7K
$28.67 ¥194
33.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
$70.5 ¥477
25.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$77.9 ¥527
-0.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Foshan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
$280 ¥1,894
259.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$675 Rp 12.1M
$142 ¥958
377.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,442 Rp 61.7M
$580 ¥3,927
493.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 Rp 36.6M
$313 ¥2,119
551.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,841 Rp 50.9M
$4,353 ¥29.5K
-34.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,264 Rp 40.6M
$1,819 ¥12.3K
24.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Foshan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$793 ¥5,367
-79.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
4.04
228.71%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Foshan: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali and $280 in Foshan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Foshan pays 380% 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 $23.00 in Foshan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $302 vs $222 per month, with Foshan 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 Foshan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Foshan cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Foshan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 88% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ubud, Bali or Foshan?
On paper, Foshan earns 380% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Foshan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $280 in Foshan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Foshan runs roughly 37% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $304 in Ubud, Bali versus $415 in Foshan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Foshan?
At $753 in Foshan versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Foshan but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Foshan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Foshan more family-friendly?
For families, Foshan is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Foshan?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Foshan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Foshan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 88% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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