😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,392 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,324 in Isabela.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,557 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,940 in Isabela.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,723 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,557 in Isabela.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 5% more expensive than in Isabela, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Isabela is 1% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Isabela
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57Rp 64.5K
$12.08$12.08
-70.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.32Rp 583.4K
$60.2$60.2
-46.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.01Rp 90.4K
$8.22$8.22
-39.05%
Cappuccino
$2.82Rp 51.0K
$3.68$3.68
-23.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35Rp 24.4K
$1.27$1.27
6.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73Rp 13.2K
$1.28$1.28
-42.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.93Rp 53.0K
$2.32$2.32
26.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94Rp 71.1K
$3.95$3.95
-0.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Isabela
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78Rp 32.1K
$1.98$1.98
-10.10%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45Rp 44.2K
$2.86$2.86
-14.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.15Rp 20.7K
$1.25$1.25
-8.00%
Eggs
$2.41Rp 43.6K
$3.05$3.05
-20.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.33Rp 258.7K
$8.95$8.95
60.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.19Rp 75.6K
$6.44$6.44
-34.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.06Rp 217.7K
$12.73$12.73
-5.26%
Apples(1kg)
$3.64Rp 65.7K
$4.45$4.45
-18.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57Rp 28.3K
$2.63$2.63
-40.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.79Rp 50.3K
$3.80$3.80
-26.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24Rp 40.5K
$4.09$4.09
-45.23%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98Rp 35.7K
$3.91$3.91
-49.36%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28Rp 41.1K
$3.06$3.06
-25.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05Rp 19.0K
$3.02$3.02
-65.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79Rp 14.2K
$1.93$1.93
-59.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.19Rp 57.6K
$11.85$11.85
-73.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.49Rp 424.1K
$15.33$15.33
53.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90Rp 52.3K
$2.49$2.49
16.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76Rp 49.7K
$3.16$3.16
-12.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Isabela
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,813
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.37Rp 151.1K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 8,167
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.46Rp 8,298
$1.53$1.53
-69.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.07Rp 109.6K
$15.27$15.27
-60.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.86Rp 15.6K
$0.93$0.93
-7.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KRp 480.0M
$35.5K$35.5K
-25.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5KRp 587.6M
$26.7K$26.7K
22.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Isabela
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.0Rp 1.4M
$495$495
-84.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09Rp 73.9K
$77.6$77.6
-94.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.85Rp 430.5K
$72.9$72.9
-67.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Isabela
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.8Rp 1.8M
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35Rp 114.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.01Rp 72.3K
$11.83$11.83
-66.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Isabela
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$297Rp 5.4M
$476$476
-37.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,602Rp 119.2M
$10.6K$10.6K
-37.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Isabela
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4Rp 964.5K
$46.32$46.32
15.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.11Rp 688.1K
$57.0$57.0
-33.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.7Rp 1.6M
$89.5$89.5
-0.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.6Rp 1.4M
$106$106
-27.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Isabela
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,020Rp 18.4M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$680Rp 12.3M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,469Rp 62.6M
$1,834$1,834
89.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,090Rp 37.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,729Rp 49.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,295Rp 41.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Isabela
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$164Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
5.71
132.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026
Last update for Isabela: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $60.0 in Isabela for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $339 per month, with Ubud, Bali 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 Isabela: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Isabela?
Isabela wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Isabela the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali and in Isabela?
You'd need roughly $2,088 in Ubud, Bali and $1,986 in Isabela to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Isabela?
Childcare runs $297 in Ubud, Bali versus $476 in Isabela. 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 Isabela?
Dining out is cheaper in Isabela – a meal for two runs $60.0 versus $32.00 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 Isabela?
At $1,324 in Isabela versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Isabela but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Isabela the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Isabela?
Both work as nomad bases, but Isabela delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,324 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Isabela hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Isabela?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Isabela 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 Isabela gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% 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