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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,379 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,139 in Hawalli, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,363 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,995 in Hawalli, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,347 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,850 in Hawalli, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 21% more than Hawalli, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 1% above the global median, while Hawalli is 17% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.31 Rp 58.9K

$4.88 KWD 1.50

-32.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.08 Rp 694.5K

$64.1 KWD 19.67

-39.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.62 Rp 99.8K

$8.98 KWD 2.75

-37.42%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.15 KWD 0.97

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 KWD 0.97

Cappuccino

$2.64 Rp 46.9K

$5.03 KWD 1.54

-47.51%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 Rp 28.2K

$0.45 KWD 0.14

251.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 Rp 12.6K

$0.35 KWD 0.11

102.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.73 Rp 48.5K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 Rp 76.8K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 Rp 27.4K

$1.64 KWD 0.50

-6.10%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 Rp 40.8K

$1.47 KWD 0.45

56.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 Rp 18.3K

$2.00 KWD 0.61

-48.50%

Eggs

$2.12 Rp 37.7K

$2.13 KWD 0.65

-0.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.30 Rp 307.5K

$3.32 KWD 1.02

421.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.03 Rp 71.6K

$3.33 KWD 1.02

21.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.42 Rp 220.8K

$3.17 KWD 0.97

291.80%

Apples (1kg)

$3.70 Rp 65.7K

$2.53 KWD 0.78

46.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$1.94 KWD 0.59

-16.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 Rp 40.3K

$1.80 KWD 0.55

26.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 Rp 35.4K

$1.51 KWD 0.46

31.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 Rp 32.5K

$1.38 KWD 0.42

32.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.25 Rp 40.1K

$1.50 KWD 0.46

50.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 Rp 18.6K

$2.37 KWD 0.73

-56.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 Rp 10.0K

$0.58 KWD 0.18

-3.45%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.29 KWD 1.01

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 KWD 0.31

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 KWD 0.42

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.22 Rp 39.5K

$2.83 KWD 0.87

-21.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.22 Rp 412.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.39 Rp 42.5K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 Rp 51.1K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,416

$0.85 KWD 0.26

-70.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.17 Rp 127.4K

$49.15 KWD 15.07

-85.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,163

$4.77 KWD 1.46

-90.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,235

$3.29 KWD 1.01

-86.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.70 Rp 101.2K

$16.25 KWD 4.98

-64.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.6K

$0.33 KWD 0.10

130.30%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.6K Rp 436.7M

$21.0K KWD 6,442

16.98%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.0K Rp 551.5M

$20.7K KWD 6,338

50.15%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.2 Rp 1.5M

$65.6 KWD 20.10

25.35%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.33 Rp 112.5K

$23.02 KWD 7.06

-72.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.54 Rp 329.6K

$25.76 KWD 7.90

-28.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.1 Rp 996.2K

$63.8 KWD 19.57

-12.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.41 Rp 327.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.26 Rp 75.8K

$11.25 KWD 3.45

-62.13%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$489 Rp 8.7M

$299 KWD 91.6

63.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,793 Rp 103.0M

$9,540 KWD 2,926

-39.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.98 Rp 817.3K

$32.54 KWD 9.98

41.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.86 Rp 637.4K

$39.41 KWD 12.09

-9.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 Rp 1.4M

$98.9 KWD 30.34

-19.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.9 Rp 1.4M

$90.2 KWD 27.67

-10.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,144 Rp 20.3M

$579 KWD 177

97.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$692 Rp 12.3M

$480 KWD 147

44.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,532 Rp 62.8M

$978 KWD 300

260.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,709 Rp 30.4M

$3,282 KWD 1,007

-47.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,785 Rp 49.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,261 Rp 40.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$169 Rp 3.0M

$1,835 KWD 563

-90.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

6.53

111.03%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 15, 2026

Last update for Hawalli: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,144 in Ubud, Bali versus $579 in Hawalli. 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 984% higher in Hawalli, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $64.0 in Hawalli. Groceries tell a different story – $293 in Ubud, Bali vs $146 in Hawalli – so Hawalli wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Hawalli: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,379 in Ubud, Bali, $1,139 in Hawalli – roughly 21% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,069 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,709 in Hawalli. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Hawalli, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 100% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali and $64.0 in Hawalli. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Hawalli, where all-in costs run around $1,139, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,379. In Hawalli it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Hawalli has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,139 in Hawalli to $1,379 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Hawalli. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.