Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Isla de Margarita Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Isla de Margarita

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $650 in Isla de Margarita, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,557 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,218 in Isla de Margarita, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,723 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,786 in Isla de Margarita, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 114% more than Isla de Margarita, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Isla de Margarita is 51% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.5K

$9.87 VES 7,370

-63.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.32 Rp 583.4K

$80.4 VES 60.0K

-59.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.01 Rp 90.4K

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 51.0K

$2.47 VES 1,844

14.17%

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

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

$0.98 VES 730

37.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

$1.49 VES 1,111

-51.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 Rp 53.0K

$1.03 VES 766

184.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 Rp 71.1K

$3.05 VES 2,277

29.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 Rp 32.1K

$2.02 VES 1,510

-11.88%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 Rp 44.2K

$3.05 VES 2,280

-19.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

$2.05 VES 1,533

-43.90%

Eggs

$2.41 Rp 43.6K

$2.34 VES 1,744

2.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 Rp 258.7K

$8.04 VES 6,002

78.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.19 Rp 75.6K

$8.13 VES 6,075

-48.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.06 Rp 217.7K

$8.06 VES 6,023

49.63%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 Rp 65.7K

$4.11 VES 3,071

-11.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.3K

$1.54 VES 1,153

1.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 50.3K

$2.04 VES 1,522

36.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.5K

$2.55 VES 1,901

-12.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 Rp 35.7K

$1.48 VES 1,103

33.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 41.1K

$1.77 VES 1,321

28.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 19.0K

$1.03 VES 768

1.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 Rp 57.6K

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 424.1K

$5.11 VES 3,817

359.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 52.3K

$0.99 VES 737

192.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 Rp 49.7K

$1.53 VES 1,145

80.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,813

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 151.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,167

$3.08 VES 2,300

-85.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,298

$2.96 VES 2,213

-84.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 Rp 109.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

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

$26.6K Rp 480.0M

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

$32.5K Rp 587.6M

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

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

$30.45 VES 22.7K

159.51%

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

$4.09 Rp 73.9K

$15.23 VES 11.4K

-73.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.85 Rp 430.5K

$40.42 VES 30.2K

-40.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

$50.5 VES 37.7K

95.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 114.7K

$15.24 VES 11.4K

-58.33%

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 Rp 72.3K

$4.85 VES 3,624

-17.32%

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

$297 Rp 5.4M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,602 Rp 119.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 Rp 964.5K

$80.0 VES 59.7K

-33.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.11 Rp 688.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

$98.2 VES 73.3K

-9.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

$101 VES 75.2K

-23.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 Rp 18.4M

$298 VES 222.5K

242.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 Rp 12.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,469 Rp 62.6M

$499 VES 372.9K

594.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 Rp 37.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,729 Rp 49.3M

$592 VES 442.0K

361.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,295 Rp 41.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Last update for Isla de Margarita: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $298 in Isla de Margarita. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $80.0 in Isla de Margarita. Groceries tell a different story – $298 in Ubud, Bali vs $238 in Isla de Margarita – so Isla de Margarita 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 Isla de Margarita: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 114%, 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 $2,088 per month in Ubud, Bali and $976 in Isla de Margarita. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 25% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali and $80.0 in Isla de Margarita. 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 Isla de Margarita, where all-in costs run around $650, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. In Isla de Margarita it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Isla de Margarita – 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 Isla de Margarita. 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.