🙂A single person spends $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,030 in Foster City, CA, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $5,858 in Foster City, CA, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $7,685 in Foster City, CA, rent included.
🙂Ubud, Bali is about 64% cheaper than Foster City, CA, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Ubud, Bali and Foster City, CA sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 7%, Foster City, CA by 201%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Foster City, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57Rp 61.6K
$15.23$15.23
-76.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58Rp 562.6K
$70.2$70.2
-53.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.07Rp 87.5K
$10.85$10.85
-53.27%
Cappuccino
$2.83Rp 48.8K
$4.97$4.97
-43.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34Rp 23.1K
$3.26$3.26
-58.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69Rp 12.0K
$2.50$2.50
-72.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.99Rp 51.6K
$8.86$8.86
-66.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85Rp 66.4K
$11.09$11.09
-65.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Foster City, CA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74Rp 30.1K
$1.06$1.06
64.15%
White Bread(500g)
$2.54Rp 43.8K
$3.33$3.33
-23.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19Rp 20.6K
$2.19$2.19
-45.66%
Eggs
$2.43Rp 41.9K
$2.91$2.91
-16.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.66Rp 253.2K
$16.31$16.31
-10.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.18Rp 72.1K
$11.14$11.14
-62.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94Rp 206.1K
$19.82$19.82
-39.76%
Apples(1kg)
$3.69Rp 63.6K
$6.06$6.06
-39.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61Rp 27.7K
$2.54$2.54
-36.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.69Rp 46.4K
$4.96$4.96
-45.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 40.2K
$3.34$3.34
-30.24%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 32.9K
$3.27$3.27
-41.59%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19Rp 37.7K
$4.47$4.47
-51.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 18.3K
$3.02$3.02
-64.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72Rp 12.5K
$1.48$1.48
-51.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13Rp 54.1K
$11.07$11.07
-71.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.49Rp 405.6K
$14.90$14.90
57.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74Rp 47.3K
$2.37$2.37
15.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88Rp 49.7K
$3.41$3.41
-15.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Foster City, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,010
$3.81$3.81
-92.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.17Rp 141.0K
$191$191
-95.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 7,834
$3.42$3.42
-86.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42Rp 7,278
$1.96$1.96
-78.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.16Rp 106.3K
$30.16$30.16
-79.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84Rp 14.5K
$1.32$1.32
-36.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2KRp 453.1M
$30.6K$30.6K
-14.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5KRp 560.8M
$26.6K$26.6K
22.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Foster City, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.4Rp 1.4M
$275$275
-71.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95Rp 68.2K
$47.78$47.78
-91.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40Rp 421.4K
$66.9$66.9
-63.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Foster City, CA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$96.5Rp 1.7M
$42.94$42.94
124.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35Rp 109.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.04Rp 69.7K
$15.56$15.56
-74.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Foster City, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$303Rp 5.2M
$1,946$1,946
-84.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,523Rp 112.6M
$25.8K$25.8K
-74.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Foster City, CA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8Rp 929.5K
$46.48$46.48
15.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98Rp 655.8K
$29.82$29.82
27.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.8Rp 1.5M
$66.8$66.8
29.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9Rp 1.4M
$49.90$49.90
58.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Foster City, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,012Rp 17.5M
$2,951$2,951
-65.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$674Rp 11.6M
$2,574$2,574
-73.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,390Rp 58.5M
$4,454$4,454
-23.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,098Rp 36.2M
$4,417$4,417
-52.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,985Rp 51.5M
$2,643$2,643
12.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,339Rp 40.4M
$2,392$2,392
-2.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Foster City, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$173Rp 3.0M
$7,254$7,254
-97.61%
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 28, 2026
Last update for Foster City, CA: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,951 in Foster City, CA. 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 4090% higher in Foster City, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $70.0 in Foster City, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $408 – 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 Foster City, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Foster City, CA cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Foster City, CA is pricier by about 180%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $6,045 in Foster City, CA. 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 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 public transport?
Public transport costs about 2236% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,946 in Foster City, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Foster City, CA?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,438, than in Foster City, CA at $4,030. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Foster City, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ubud, Bali or Foster City, CA more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ubud, Bali – 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 Foster City, CA?
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 Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Foster City, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared