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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,500 in Gongju, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,339 in Gongju, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,178 in Gongju, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 6% cheaper than Gongju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ubud, Bali and Gongju sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 4%, Gongju by 12%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Gongju
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
$7.04 ₩10.7K
-49.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
$36.67 ₩55.7K
-11.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
$6.15 ₩9,341
-20.98%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
$4.15 ₩6,297
-33.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
$1.78 ₩2,710
-25.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
$1.34 ₩2,041
-47.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
$3.77 ₩5,727
-22.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
$5.76 ₩8,753
-34.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Gongju
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
$2.27 ₩3,440
-24.67%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
$3.59 ₩5,447
-31.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
$3.02 ₩4,583
-60.26%
Eggs
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
$2.91 ₩4,418
-16.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
$10.50 ₩16.0K
36.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
$8.35 ₩12.7K
-48.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
$27.29 ₩41.4K
-55.26%
Apples (1kg)
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
$8.50 ₩12.9K
-56.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
$3.13 ₩4,751
-50.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
$7.49 ₩11.4K
-62.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
$5.18 ₩7,865
-55.02%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
$5.22 ₩7,933
-62.26%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
$3.00 ₩4,557
-23.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$2.05 ₩3,111
-48.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
$1.16 ₩1,764
-37.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
$3.21 ₩4,881
2.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
$16.39 ₩24.9K
39.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
$1.70 ₩2,589
65.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$3.38 ₩5,134
-17.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Gongju
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,217
$1.11 ₩1,689
-73.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,047
$3.55 ₩5,392
-87.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,094
$0.80 ₩1,214
-43.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
$16.59 ₩25.2K
-62.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
$1.21 ₩1,839
-29.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
$28.1K ₩42.6M
-7.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
$24.9K ₩37.8M
27.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Gongju
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
$188 ₩286.0K
-57.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
$49.83 ₩75.7K
-91.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
$27.84 ₩42.3K
-12.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Gongju
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
$47.83 ₩72.6K
104.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
$11.36 ₩17.2K
-64.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Gongju
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$490 ₩744.8K
-38.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
$14.0K ₩21.3M
-52.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Gongju
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
$101 ₩153.8K
-46.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
$48.13 ₩73.1K
-19.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
$89.2 ₩135.4K
-3.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
$119 ₩180.4K
-35.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Gongju
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$986 Rp 17.7M
$461 ₩700.0K
113.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$658 Rp 11.8M
$377 ₩573.2K
74.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
$1,049 ₩1.6M
221.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
$773 ₩1.2M
167.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
$9,505 ₩14.4M
-71.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
$5,298 ₩8.0M
-57.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Gongju
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$163 Rp 2.9M
$1,125 ₩1.7M
-85.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
4.22
214.69%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Last update for Gongju: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $461 in Gongju. 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 589% higher in Gongju, 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 $37.00 in Gongju. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $446 – 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 Gongju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Ubud, Bali and Gongju compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, $1,500 in Gongju – roughly 7% apart. Gongju costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Ubud, Bali compared to Gongju?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $2,250 in Gongju. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Ubud, Bali and Gongju?
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 is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Gongju?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,404 in Ubud, Bali and $1,500 in Gongju. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ubud, Bali and Gongju?
Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $490 in Gongju. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,404, than in Gongju at $1,500. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gongju it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Gongju?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,404 in Ubud, Bali to $1,500 in Gongju. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Ubud, Bali or Gongju safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Ubud, Bali and Gongju?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Gongju makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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