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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $386 in Herat, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $465 in Herat, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,275 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $544 in Herat, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 257% more than Herat, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Herat is 72% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

$9.03 ؋580

296.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

$3.68 ؋237

52.99%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.50 ؋96.1

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.77 ؋499

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

$0.72 ؋46.47

291.67%

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

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

$0.47 ؋30.29

272.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

$0.63 ؋40.65

155.56%

White Bread (500g)

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

Eggs

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

$1.83 ؋118

18.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

$6.20 ؋399

96.45%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

$0.59 ؋37.75

513.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

$0.80 ؋51.2

105.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

$0.58 ؋37.43

237.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

$0.31 ؋20.02

493.55%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

$0.29 ؋18.47

717.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 Rp 9,560

$0.31 ؋20.17

74.19%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 ؋30.17

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

$3.00 ؋193

-23.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,365

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,631

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 Rp 8,349

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

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

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

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

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

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

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

$298 ؋19.2K

-72.27%

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

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

$15.43 ؋992

258.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

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

$494 Rp 8.7M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$693 Rp 12.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 2.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

-31.10%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Last update for Herat: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $9.00 in Herat. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $294 vs $48.00 – making Herat 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 Herat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 257%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,067 per month in Ubud, Bali and $580 in Herat. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 510% 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali and $9.00 in Herat. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Herat, where all-in costs run around $386, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,378. In Herat it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Herat – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Herat. 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.