😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $822 in Gostivar.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,201 in Gostivar.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,732 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,580 in Gostivar.
😐Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 75% more expensive than Gostivar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 7% above, Gostivar is 39% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Gostivar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57Rp 61.9K
$5.31MKD 280
-32.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58Rp 564.7K
$23.13MKD 1,219
40.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.07Rp 87.8K
$5.13MKD 271
-1.17%
Cappuccino
$2.83Rp 49.0K
$1.44MKD 75.9
96.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34Rp 23.2K
$1.12MKD 58.9
19.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69Rp 12.0K
$1.16MKD 61.1
-40.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.99Rp 51.8K
$1.39MKD 73.2
115.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85Rp 66.7K
$1.87MKD 98.4
105.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Gostivar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74Rp 30.2K
$1.33MKD 70.4
30.83%
White Bread(500g)
$2.54Rp 44.0K
$0.69MKD 36.25
268.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19Rp 20.6K
$1.47MKD 77.6
-19.05%
Eggs
$2.43Rp 42.0K
$2.03MKD 107
19.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.66Rp 254.1K
$6.76MKD 356
116.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.18Rp 72.4K
$5.73MKD 302
-27.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94Rp 206.9K
$13.63MKD 718
-12.40%
Apples(1kg)
$3.69Rp 63.9K
$1.04MKD 54.8
254.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61Rp 27.8K
$1.39MKD 73.2
15.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.69Rp 46.5K
$1.24MKD 65.5
116.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 40.4K
$1.59MKD 83.8
46.54%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 33.0K
$0.94MKD 49.36
103.19%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19Rp 37.9K
$0.73MKD 38.60
200.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 18.3K
$0.53MKD 28.15
100.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72Rp 12.5K
$0.57MKD 29.84
26.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13Rp 54.3K
$2.84MKD 150
10.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.49Rp 407.1K
$4.81MKD 254
388.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74Rp 47.5K
$0.97MKD 51.0
182.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88Rp 49.9K
$1.53MKD 80.6
88.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Gostivar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,029
$0.68MKD 35.90
-57.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.17Rp 141.6K
$20.01MKD 1,055
-59.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 7,863
$0.95MKD 50.1
-52.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42Rp 7,305
$0.33MKD 17.30
27.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.16Rp 106.7K
$6.61MKD 349
-6.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84Rp 14.6K
$1.50MKD 79.0
-44.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2KRp 454.9M
$31.9KMKD 1.7M
-17.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5KRp 562.9M
$47.5KMKD 2.5M
-31.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Gostivar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.4Rp 1.4M
$134MKD 7,041
-41.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95Rp 68.5K
$11.12MKD 586
-64.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40Rp 423.0K
$15.29MKD 806
59.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Gostivar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$96.5Rp 1.7M
$26.10MKD 1,376
269.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35Rp 110.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.04Rp 70.0K
$4.81MKD 254
-16.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Gostivar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$303Rp 5.2M
$222MKD 11.7K
36.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,523Rp 113.1M
$1,184MKD 62.4K
450.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Gostivar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8Rp 933.1K
$37.77MKD 1,992
42.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98Rp 658.3K
$37.22MKD 1,963
2.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.8Rp 1.5M
$76.2MKD 4,020
13.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9Rp 1.4M
$113MKD 5,948
-30.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Gostivar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,012Rp 17.5M
$283MKD 14.9K
257.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$674Rp 11.7M
$197MKD 10.4K
241.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,390Rp 58.8M
$569MKD 30.0K
495.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,098Rp 36.4M
$312MKD 16.4K
573.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,985Rp 51.7M
$1,627MKD 85.8K
83.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,339Rp 40.5M
$1,207MKD 63.6K
93.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Gostivar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$173Rp 3.0M
$903MKD 47.6K
-80.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
6.5
104.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026
Last update for Gostivar: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali and $283 in Gostivar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Gostivar pays 422% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $23.00 in Gostivar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $181 per month, with Gostivar 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 Gostivar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Gostivar?
Gostivar wins on cost – living expenses run 75% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Gostivar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or Gostivar?
On paper, Gostivar earns 422% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali vs Gostivar?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $283 in Gostivar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Gostivar?
All in, you'll spend $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $822 in Gostivar – a 75% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Ubud, Bali vs Gostivar?
A monthly transit pass in Gostivar runs roughly 145% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or Gostivar?
At $822 in Gostivar versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Gostivar but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Gostivar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Gostivar?
Both work as nomad bases, but Gostivar delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $822 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Gostivar hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Gostivar?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Gostivar are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Gostivar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 75% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared