Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and George Town Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and George Town

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,602 in George Town.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,540 in Ubud, Bali versus $7,054 in George Town.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Ubud, Bali versus $9,505 in George Town.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 69% less than in George Town, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 6% above, George Town 243% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
George Town
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
$30.62 KYD 25.11
-88.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
$144 KYD 118
-77.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
$15.85 KYD 13.00
-68.77%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
$6.91 KYD 5.66
-60.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
$3.52 KYD 2.88
-61.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
$2.72 KYD 2.23
-74.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
$9.05 KYD 7.42
-67.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
$8.60 KYD 7.05
-53.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
George Town
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
$3.05 KYD 2.50
-40.66%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
$5.26 KYD 4.32
-52.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
$5.83 KYD 4.78
-80.10%
Eggs
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
$9.98 KYD 8.19
-75.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
$11.82 KYD 9.70
24.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
$15.84 KYD 12.99
-72.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
$16.30 KYD 13.37
-25.52%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
$10.46 KYD 8.58
-63.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
$4.55 KYD 3.73
-65.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
$7.82 KYD 6.41
-63.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
$7.78 KYD 6.38
-70.05%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
$5.30 KYD 4.35
-63.96%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
$5.41 KYD 4.44
-59.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
$6.37 KYD 5.22
-84.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
$2.92 KYD 2.39
-73.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
$14.42 KYD 11.82
-76.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
$25.05 KYD 20.54
-5.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
$4.03 KYD 3.30
-30.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
$5.18 KYD 4.25
-44.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
George Town
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,800
$2.39 KYD 1.96
-88.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
$30.50 KYD 25.01
-73.67%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,150
$18.37 KYD 15.06
-97.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,037
$4.89 KYD 4.01
-90.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
$60.6 KYD 49.65
-89.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$1.76 KYD 1.44
-55.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
$39.3K KYD 32.2K
-33.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
$33.7K KYD 27.6K
-4.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
George Town
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$398 KYD 326
-79.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
$97.7 KYD 80.1
-95.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
$109 KYD 89.0
-78.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
George Town
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
$105 KYD 86.0
-5.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
$40.53 KYD 33.24
-83.64%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
$17.74 KYD 14.55
-76.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
George Town
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$1,747 KYD 1,433
-82.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
$25.0K KYD 20.5K
-73.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
George Town
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
$91.8 KYD 75.2
-39.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
$71.9 KYD 59.0
-46.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
$150 KYD 123
-40.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$149 KYD 122
-47.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
George Town
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
$2,839 KYD 2,328
-64.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$675 Rp 12.1M
$2,527 KYD 2,072
-73.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
$5,662 KYD 4,643
-39.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
$4,683 KYD 3,840
-56.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
$8,623 KYD 7,071
-67.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
$2,256 KYD 1,850
0.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
George Town
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$7,737 KYD 6,344
-97.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
8.25
60.97%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for George Town: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali and $2,839 in George Town. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

George Town pays 4582% 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: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $144 in George Town for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $302 vs $628 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 George Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and George Town?
Ubud, Bali and George Town differ by about 224% in total monthly costs ($1,419 vs $4,602 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, George Town earns 4582% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and George Town?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,839 in George Town. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or George Town?
All in, you'll spend $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $4,602 in George Town – a 224% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Ubud, Bali and George Town?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 280% less than in George Town. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,602 in George Town, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in George Town. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and George Town?
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.
Is Ubud, Bali or George Town safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and George Town are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ubud, Bali or George Town?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 224% less than in George Town. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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