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

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$3.57 Rp 61.9K
$5.31 MKD 280
-32.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58 Rp 564.7K
$23.13 MKD 1,219
40.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 Rp 87.8K
$5.13 MKD 271
-1.17%
Cappuccino
$2.83 Rp 49.0K
$1.44 MKD 75.9
96.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 23.2K
$1.12 MKD 58.9
19.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
$1.16 MKD 61.1
-40.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 51.8K
$1.39 MKD 73.2
115.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 66.7K
$1.87 MKD 98.4
105.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Gostivar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 30.2K
$1.33 MKD 70.4
30.83%
White Bread (500g)
$2.54 Rp 44.0K
$0.69 MKD 36.25
268.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
$1.47 MKD 77.6
-19.05%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 42.0K
$2.03 MKD 107
19.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.66 Rp 254.1K
$6.76 MKD 356
116.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.18 Rp 72.4K
$5.73 MKD 302
-27.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 Rp 206.9K
$13.63 MKD 718
-12.40%
Apples (1kg)
$3.69 Rp 63.9K
$1.04 MKD 54.8
254.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.8K
$1.39 MKD 73.2
15.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 Rp 46.5K
$1.24 MKD 65.5
116.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 40.4K
$1.59 MKD 83.8
46.54%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.0K
$0.94 MKD 49.36
103.19%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 37.9K
$0.73 MKD 38.60
200.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
$0.53 MKD 28.15
100.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
$0.57 MKD 29.84
26.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 Rp 54.3K
$2.84 MKD 150
10.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 407.1K
$4.81 MKD 254
388.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 Rp 47.5K
$0.97 MKD 51.0
182.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 Rp 49.9K
$1.53 MKD 80.6
88.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Gostivar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,029
$0.68 MKD 35.90
-57.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 141.6K
$20.01 MKD 1,055
-59.17%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 7,863
$0.95 MKD 50.1
-52.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,305
$0.33 MKD 17.30
27.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.16 Rp 106.7K
$6.61 MKD 349
-6.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 14.6K
$1.50 MKD 79.0
-44.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K Rp 454.9M
$31.9K MKD 1.7M
-17.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 562.9M
$47.5K MKD 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)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$134 MKD 7,041
-41.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95 Rp 68.5K
$11.12 MKD 586
-64.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40 Rp 423.0K
$15.29 MKD 806
59.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Gostivar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
$26.10 MKD 1,376
269.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 110.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 70.0K
$4.81 MKD 254
-16.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Gostivar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 Rp 5.2M
$222 MKD 11.7K
36.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,523 Rp 113.1M
$1,184 MKD 62.4K
450.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Gostivar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 Rp 933.1K
$37.77 MKD 1,992
42.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98 Rp 658.3K
$37.22 MKD 1,963
2.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
$76.2 MKD 4,020
13.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
$113 MKD 5,948
-30.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Gostivar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
$283 MKD 14.9K
257.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 Rp 11.7M
$197 MKD 10.4K
241.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,390 Rp 58.8M
$569 MKD 30.0K
495.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,098 Rp 36.4M
$312 MKD 16.4K
573.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,985 Rp 51.7M
$1,627 MKD 85.8K
83.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,339 Rp 40.5M
$1,207 MKD 63.6K
93.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Gostivar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$173 Rp 3.0M
$903 MKD 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

Similar cities