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: $1,396 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,824 in George Town.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Ubud, Bali versus $7,348 in George Town.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,273 in Ubud, Bali versus $9,872 in George Town.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 71% less than in George Town, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 2% above, George Town 251% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
George Town
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.37 Rp 59.9K
$29.84 KYD 24.47
-88.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.59 Rp 685.5K
$115 KYD 94.6
-66.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.52 Rp 98.1K
$16.54 KYD 13.57
-66.63%
Cappuccino
$2.64 Rp 47.0K
$7.07 KYD 5.80
-62.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 Rp 29.7K
$3.05 KYD 2.50
-45.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 Rp 13.7K
$2.79 KYD 2.28
-72.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.63 Rp 46.8K
$7.27 KYD 5.96
-63.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28 Rp 76.1K
$9.69 KYD 7.94
-55.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
George Town
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 Rp 27.5K
$4.64 KYD 3.80
-66.59%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 Rp 39.5K
$4.33 KYD 3.55
-48.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 Rp 20.0K
$4.39 KYD 3.60
-74.26%
Eggs
$2.09 Rp 37.1K
$7.46 KYD 6.12
-71.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.39 Rp 309.0K
$55.0 KYD 45.06
-68.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.87 Rp 68.7K
$19.25 KYD 15.79
-79.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.55 Rp 222.9K
$19.72 KYD 16.17
-36.36%
Apples (1kg)
$3.62 Rp 64.2K
$7.41 KYD 6.08
-51.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.7K
$3.68 KYD 3.02
-57.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.35 Rp 41.8K
$6.09 KYD 4.99
-61.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 Rp 36.5K
$7.88 KYD 6.46
-73.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 33.7K
$4.14 KYD 3.39
-54.11%
Onion (1kg)
$2.34 Rp 41.5K
$3.98 KYD 3.26
-41.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 Rp 18.3K
$3.19 KYD 2.62
-67.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 9,854
$2.17 KYD 1.78
-74.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25 Rp 40.0K
$14.43 KYD 11.83
-84.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.81 Rp 422.9K
$25.24 KYD 20.69
-5.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31 Rp 41.1K
$4.14 KYD 3.40
-44.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 Rp 49.8K
$5.68 KYD 4.66
-50.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
George Town
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,839
$2.33 KYD 1.91
-88.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.66 Rp 153.9K
$81.6 KYD 66.9
-89.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,554
$18.57 KYD 15.23
-97.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 7,924
$3.89 KYD 3.19
-88.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.72 Rp 101.6K
$44.79 KYD 36.73
-87.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 Rp 13.5K
$1.64 KYD 1.35
-53.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5K Rp 434.9M
$42.5K KYD 34.8K
-42.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 570.6M
$42.3K KYD 34.7K
-24.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
George Town
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.6 Rp 1.5M
$458 KYD 376
-81.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.46 Rp 114.7K
$120 KYD 98.5
-94.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.99 Rp 337.4K
$115 KYD 94.1
-83.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
George Town
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.0 Rp 994.4K
$219 KYD 179
-74.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.62 Rp 330.7K
$35.38 KYD 29.01
-47.37%
Cinema Ticket
$4.28 Rp 76.1K
$18.45 KYD 15.13
-76.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
George Town
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$487 Rp 8.6M
$1,832 KYD 1,502
-73.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,856 Rp 104.0M
$26.5K KYD 21.7K
-77.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
George Town
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.56 Rp 809.3K
$84.9 KYD 69.6
-46.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.38 Rp 646.3K
$73.9 KYD 60.6
-50.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.0 Rp 1.5M
$137 KYD 112
-39.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
$143 KYD 117
-43.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
George Town
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,117 Rp 19.8M
$2,909 KYD 2,385
-61.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$701 Rp 12.5M
$2,443 KYD 2,003
-71.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,537 Rp 62.8M
$5,779 KYD 4,739
-38.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,762 Rp 31.3M
$4,770 KYD 3,911
-63.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,826 Rp 50.2M
$8,648 KYD 7,092
-67.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,292 Rp 40.7M
$2,307 KYD 1,892
-0.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
George Town
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$170 Rp 3.0M
$7,390 KYD 6,060
-97.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
8
72.25%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Last update for George Town: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,117 in Ubud, Bali and $2,909 in George Town. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

George Town pays 4253% 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: $39.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $115 in George Town for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $722 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 in George Town?
Ubud, Bali and George Town differ by about 245% in total monthly costs ($1,396 vs $4,824 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, salaries run 4253% lower in George Town. 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 in George Town?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,117 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,909 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 $1,396 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $4,824 in George Town – a 245% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in George Town?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 842% 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 $1,396 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,824 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 245% 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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