Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Gaithersburg, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Gaithersburg, MD

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,763 in Gaithersburg, MD.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,143 in Gaithersburg, MD.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Ubud, Bali versus $5,522 in Gaithersburg, MD.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 49% less than in Gaithersburg, MD, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 5% above, Gaithersburg, MD 107% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.1K

$20.21 $20.21

-82.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 581.1K

$98.1 $98.1

-67.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 87.1K

$7.17 $7.17

-32.50%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.4K

$3.92 $3.92

-29.85%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.9K

$2.36 $2.36

-41.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

$1.07 $1.07

-29.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.8K

$6.55 $6.55

-54.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.2K

$7.91 $7.91

-51.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.2K

$0.88 $0.88

97.73%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.2K

$3.58 $3.58

-31.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

$6.66 $6.66

-82.43%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.7K

$6.52 $6.52

-62.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 260.6K

$11.00 $11.00

31.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 78.2K

$17.56 $17.56

-75.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 215.3K

$22.41 $22.41

-46.54%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.8K

$7.66 $7.66

-51.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$2.92 $2.92

-44.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.3K

$7.91 $7.91

-65.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.3K

$8.31 $8.31

-73.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.5K

$4.85 $4.85

-60.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.9K

$3.58 $3.58

-36.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$2.76 $2.76

-61.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$2.04 $2.04

-64.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 59.0K

$8.12 $8.12

-59.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.8K

$14.90 $14.90

55.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$1.72 $1.72

61.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.1K

$3.65 $3.65

-25.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,786

$1.97 $1.97

-86.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,675

$4.59 $4.59

-89.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,545

$1.35 $1.35

-68.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.8K

$28.65 $28.65

-78.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$0.88 $0.88

-7.95%

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

$26.6K Rp 478.2M

$26.4K $26.4K

0.78%

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

$32.2K Rp 578.5M

$24.9K $24.9K

29.22%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$126 $126

-37.72%

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

$4.07 Rp 73.1K

$53.1 $53.1

-92.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 437.1K

$54.8 $54.8

-55.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$30.03 $30.03

228.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.9K

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.6K

$15.54 $15.54

-74.32%

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

$305 Rp 5.5M

$1,208 $1,208

-74.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.4M

$23.7K $23.7K

-71.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 972.9K

$47.37 $47.37

14.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 679.4K

$20.38 $20.38

85.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

$79.0 $79.0

9.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

$121 $121

-37.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.8M

$1,823 $1,823

-45.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.1M

$1,584 $1,584

-57.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.7M

$2,163 $2,163

56.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

$2,355 $2,355

-12.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.4M

$2,447 $2,447

14.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 40.0M

$2,582 $2,582

-13.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$5,230 $5,230

-96.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

6.57

102.13%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Gaithersburg, MD: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Ubud, Bali and $1,823 in Gaithersburg, MD. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gaithersburg, MD pays 3032% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $98.0 in Gaithersburg, MD for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $517 per month, with Ubud, Bali 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 Gaithersburg, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali and Gaithersburg, MD differ by about 96% in total monthly costs ($1,408 vs $2,763 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 3032% lower in Gaithersburg, MD. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,823 in Gaithersburg, MD. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $305 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,208 in Gaithersburg, MD. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $98.0 in Gaithersburg, MD. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,763 in Gaithersburg, MD, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Gaithersburg, MD. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Gaithersburg, MD are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 96% less than in Gaithersburg, MD. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.