😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $348 in Ismailia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $598 in Ismailia.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Ubud, Bali versus $847 in Ismailia.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 305% more expensive than in Ismailia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Ismailia is 74% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Ismailia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45Rp 62.1K
$3.50E£179
-1.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34Rp 581.1K
$15.57E£795
107.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.84Rp 87.1K
$4.49E£229
7.80%
Cappuccino
$2.75Rp 49.4K
$1.01E£51.6
172.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38Rp 24.9K
$0.29E£14.81
375.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75Rp 13.5K
$0.09E£4.83
733.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.99Rp 53.8K
$1.20E£61.5
149.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85Rp 69.2K
$1.99E£102
93.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Ismailia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74Rp 31.2K
$0.82E£41.71
112.20%
White Bread(500g)
$2.46Rp 44.2K
$0.39E£19.89
530.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17Rp 21.0K
$0.61E£31.35
91.80%
Eggs
$2.43Rp 43.7K
$1.40E£71.6
73.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.50Rp 260.6K
$3.00E£153
383.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.35Rp 78.2K
$3.61E£184
20.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.98Rp 215.3K
$8.14E£415
47.17%
Apples(1kg)
$3.72Rp 66.8K
$1.43E£73.0
160.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63Rp 29.2K
$0.58E£29.74
181.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.74Rp 49.3K
$0.39E£19.80
602.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24Rp 40.3K
$0.29E£14.68
672.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92Rp 34.5K
$0.38E£19.36
405.26%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28Rp 40.9K
$0.39E£19.88
484.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 19.1K
$0.21E£10.78
404.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72Rp 12.9K
$0.17E£8.84
323.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29Rp 59.0K
$1.64E£83.7
100.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.19Rp 416.8K
$6.01E£307
285.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78Rp 49.9K
$1.02E£51.9
172.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73Rp 49.1K
$2.02E£103
35.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Ismailia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,786
$0.27E£13.81
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.11Rp 145.7K
$4.01E£205
102.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,675
$0.31E£15.63
54.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42Rp 7,545
$0.43E£21.92
-2.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.22Rp 111.8K
$2.02E£103
207.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.6K
$0.33E£17.03
145.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KRp 478.2M
$30.0KE£1.5M
-11.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2KRp 578.5M
$16.0KE£815.9K
101.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Ismailia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.4Rp 1.4M
$11.32E£578
592.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07Rp 73.1K
$5.73E£292
-28.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33Rp 437.1K
$7.68E£392
216.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Ismailia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.6Rp 1.8M
$12.00E£613
721.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34Rp 113.9K
$19.86E£1,014
-68.08%
Cinema Ticket
$3.99Rp 71.6K
$2.01E£103
98.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Ismailia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305Rp 5.5M
$89.2E£4,553
242.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,642Rp 119.4M
$1,243E£63.5K
434.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Ismailia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1Rp 972.9K
$12.72E£649
325.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81Rp 679.4K
$9.69E£495
290.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.8Rp 1.6M
$107E£5,451
-18.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4Rp 1.4M
$50.6E£2,581
51.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Ismailia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$992Rp 17.8M
$89.2E£4,553
1012.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$673Rp 12.1M
$40.26E£2,055
1570.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,375Rp 60.7M
$146E£7,430
2218.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,050Rp 36.8M
$87.8E£4,480
2236.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,805Rp 50.4M
$505E£25.8K
455.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,227Rp 40.0M
$138E£7,034
1516.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Ismailia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$167Rp 3.0M
$109E£5,567
53.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
17
-21.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026
Last update for Ismailia: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Ubud, Bali and $89.2 in Ismailia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ubud, Bali pays 53% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $16.00 in Ismailia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $111 per month, with Ismailia 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 Ismailia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Ismailia?
Ismailia wins on cost – living expenses run 305% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ismailia the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or in Ismailia?
Average pay runs 53% higher in Ubud, Bali, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali compared to Ismailia?
Rent for a central apartment: $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $89.2 in Ismailia. 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 Ismailia?
Childcare runs $305 in Ubud, Bali versus $89.2 in Ismailia. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Ismailia?
Supermarket bills run roughly 167% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Ismailia?
At $348 in Ismailia versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ismailia but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Ismailia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Ismailia?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ismailia delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $348 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ismailia hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Ismailia?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Ismailia 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 Ismailia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 305% 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