😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,396 in Ubud, Bali versus $375 in Howrah.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Ubud, Bali versus $501 in Howrah.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,273 in Ubud, Bali versus $627 in Howrah.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 273% more expensive than in Howrah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 2% above, Howrah is 73% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Howrah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.37Rp 59.5K
$2.15₹203
56.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.59Rp 680.3K
$9.60₹907
301.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.52Rp 97.3K
$4.26₹402
29.58%
Cappuccino
$2.64Rp 46.6K
$1.39₹131
89.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67Rp 29.5K
$0.47₹44.50
255.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77Rp 13.6K
$0.12₹11.79
541.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.63Rp 46.4K
$1.56₹148
68.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28Rp 75.5K
$3.17₹300
35.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Howrah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.55Rp 27.3K
$0.64₹60.4
142.19%
White Bread(500g)
$2.22Rp 39.2K
$0.42₹39.89
428.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.13Rp 19.8K
$0.70₹65.8
61.43%
Eggs
$2.09Rp 36.8K
$1.03₹97.1
102.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.39Rp 306.6K
$5.29₹500
228.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.87Rp 68.2K
$2.69₹254
43.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.55Rp 221.2K
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.62Rp 63.8K
$2.10₹199
72.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56Rp 27.5K
$0.86₹81.3
81.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.35Rp 41.5K
$1.50₹142
56.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06Rp 36.2K
$0.66₹62.2
212.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90Rp 33.5K
$0.33₹31.46
475.76%
Onion(1kg)
$2.34Rp 41.2K
$0.44₹41.32
431.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03Rp 18.2K
$0.31₹28.92
232.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 9,779
$0.28₹26.61
96.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25Rp 39.7K
$5.18₹489
-56.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.81Rp 419.7K
$10.60₹1,001
124.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31Rp 40.8K
$1.38₹130
67.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80Rp 49.4K
$2.70₹255
3.70%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$8.64₹816
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Howrah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,802
$0.18₹16.91
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.66Rp 152.7K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,489
$0.60₹56.7
-20.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45Rp 7,863
$0.31₹29.08
45.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.72Rp 100.8K
$1.56₹148
266.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76Rp 13.4K
$1.10₹104
-30.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5KRp 431.6M
$15.0K₹1.4M
63.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1KRp 566.3M
$19.7K₹1.9M
63.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Howrah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.6Rp 1.5M
$44.77₹4,230
86.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.46Rp 113.8K
$3.55₹336
81.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.99Rp 334.8K
$6.18₹584
207.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Howrah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.0Rp 986.8K
$14.31₹1,352
291.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.62Rp 328.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.28Rp 75.5K
$3.06₹289
39.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Howrah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$487Rp 8.6M
$26.48₹2,502
1737.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,856Rp 103.2M
$1,283₹121.2K
356.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Howrah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.56Rp 803.2K
$25.03₹2,365
82.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.38Rp 641.4K
$22.79₹2,153
59.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.0Rp 1.4M
$31.23₹2,951
162.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.4Rp 1.4M
$26.66₹2,519
201.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Howrah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,117Rp 19.7M
$115₹10.8K
872.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$701Rp 12.4M
$77.3₹7,301
807.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,537Rp 62.4M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,762Rp 31.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,826Rp 49.8M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,292Rp 40.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Howrah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$170Rp 3.0M
$360₹34.0K
-52.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
9.27
48.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026
Last update for Howrah: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,117 in Ubud, Bali and $115 in Howrah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Howrah pays 112% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $10.00 in Howrah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $112 per month, with Howrah 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 Howrah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Howrah?
Howrah wins on cost – living expenses run 273% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Howrah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or in Howrah?
On paper, salaries run 112% lower in Howrah. 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 Howrah?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,117 in Ubud, Bali versus $115 in Howrah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Howrah?
Childcare runs $487 in Ubud, Bali versus $26.48 in Howrah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Howrah?
Dining out is cheaper in Howrah – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Howrah?
At $375 in Howrah versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Howrah but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Howrah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Howrah?
Both work as nomad bases, but Howrah delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $375 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Howrah hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Howrah?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Howrah 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 Howrah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 273% 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