Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Hefei

For one person, living is cheaper in Hefei: $768 a month against $1,353 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $7,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,353
/mo nomad
Hefei
🇨🇳 China
$768
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Hefei

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Hefei actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,353 in Ubud, Bali versus $768 in Hefei.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,353
  • Hefei $768

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,225 in Hefei.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,297
  • Hefei $1,225

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,241 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,681 in Hefei.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,241
  • Hefei $1,681

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 76% more expensive than in Hefei, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Hefei is 43% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Hefei
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.23 Rp 58.1K
$2.58 ¥17.28
25.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.88 Rp 627.8K
$22.44 ¥150
55.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.70 Rp 102.5K
$4.36 ¥29.18
30.73%
Cappuccino
$2.62 Rp 47.1K
$2.75 ¥18.39
-4.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 Rp 31.0K
$0.49 ¥3.26
251.02%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$0.27 ¥1.80
200.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 47.7K
$1.06 ¥7.09
150.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37 Rp 78.6K
$2.00 ¥13.35
118.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Hefei
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$1.62 ¥10.84
-3.09%
White Bread (500g)
$2.19 Rp 39.5K
$2.06 ¥13.75
6.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
$0.81 ¥5.42
45.68%
Eggs
$2.16 Rp 38.8K
$1.92 ¥12.84
12.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.65 Rp 317.7K
$14.10 ¥94.3
25.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.78 Rp 68.0K
$4.90 ¥32.76
-22.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.95 Rp 215.1K
$11.57 ¥77.3
3.28%
Apples (1kg)
$3.60 Rp 64.8K
$2.31 ¥15.45
55.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.6K
$1.72 ¥11.52
-7.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.6K
$1.64 ¥10.95
40.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
$1.61 ¥10.79
18.63%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
$0.80 ¥5.37
122.50%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.9K
$0.94 ¥6.26
147.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 Rp 18.0K
$0.79 ¥5.26
26.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 Rp 9,509
$0.70 ¥4.70
-24.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.29 Rp 41.1K
$3.08 ¥20.59
-25.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.07 Rp 397.3K
$12.16 ¥81.3
81.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 Rp 42.2K
$0.93 ¥6.21
152.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 Rp 53.6K
$1.99 ¥13.28
49.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Hefei
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 Rp 4,112
$0.31 ¥2.09
-25.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.90 Rp 160.2K
$45.22 ¥302
-80.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.47 Rp 8,466
$1.23 ¥8.21
-61.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,737
$0.33 ¥2.20
30.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.47 Rp 98.4K
$3.51 ¥23.48
55.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
$1.33 ¥8.91
-37.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9K Rp 429.8M
$19.0K ¥127.2K
25.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8K Rp 590.1M
$16.9K ¥112.9K
94.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Hefei
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.0 Rp 1.4M
$48.54 ¥325
64.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.56 Rp 118.1K
$9.54 ¥63.8
-31.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.60 Rp 334.8K
$12.08 ¥80.8
53.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Hefei
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.1 Rp 974.1K
$15.66 ¥105
245.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.28 Rp 329.0K
$15.31 ¥102
19.40%
Cinema Ticket
$4.25 Rp 76.5K
$6.41 ¥42.85
-33.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Hefei
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$493 Rp 8.9M
$236 ¥1,581
108.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,597 Rp 100.7M
$8,656 ¥57.9K
-35.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Hefei
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.58 Rp 820.4K
$89.7 ¥600
-49.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.96 Rp 629.4K
$32.76 ¥219
6.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 Rp 1.4M
$62.7 ¥419
23.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.5 Rp 1.4M
$96.9 ¥648
-18.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Hefei
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,131 Rp 20.4M
$241 ¥1,609
370.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$179 ¥1,197
275.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,613 Rp 65.0M
$532 ¥3,558
578.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,702 Rp 30.6M
$340 ¥2,270
401.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,717 Rp 48.9M
$3,573 ¥23.9K
-23.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
$1,975 ¥13.2K
13.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Hefei
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
$1,011 ¥6,763
-83.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
3.15
337.46%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 19, 2026

Last update for Hefei: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$673
Hefei
$179 73.4% $494
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$287
Hefei
$235 18.3% $53
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$107
Hefei
$127 19.1% $20
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$106
Hefei
$79 25.7% $27
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$105
Hefei
$70 33.3% $35
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$63
Hefei
$28 54.5% $34
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$12
Hefei
$49 297% $37

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,131 in Ubud, Bali and $241 in Hefei. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hefei pays 508% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $35.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $22.00 in Hefei for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $287 vs $235 per month, with Hefei cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇨🇳 Hefei
🕒 Local time
19:33 7:33 PM
19:33 7:33 PM
Same time as Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
9,369,881
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CNY, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 24, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 24, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.52 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Hefei 4,490 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Hefei

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Hefei: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Hefei?
Hefei wins on cost – living expenses run 76% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Hefei the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or in Hefei?
On paper, salaries run 508% lower in Hefei. 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 compared to Hefei?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,131 in Ubud, Bali versus $241 in Hefei. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Hefei?
Dining out is cheaper in Hefei – a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $35.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Hefei?
All in, you'll spend $1,353 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $768 in Hefei – a 76% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Hefei?
At $768 in Hefei versus $1,353 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Hefei but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Hefei the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Hefei?
Both work as nomad bases, but Hefei delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $768 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Hefei hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Hefei?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Hefei 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 Hefei gentler on the wallet – expenses run 76% 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

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