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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,396 in Ubud, Bali versus $353 in Ismailia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Ubud, Bali versus $591 in Ismailia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,273 in Ubud, Bali versus $830 in Ismailia.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 296% more expensive than in Ismailia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 2% above, Ismailia is 74% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Ismailia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.37 Rp 59.5K
$3.46 E£176
-2.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.59 Rp 680.3K
$16.03 E£815
140.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.52 Rp 97.3K
$3.92 E£199
40.82%
Cappuccino
$2.64 Rp 46.6K
$1.09 E£55.5
142.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 Rp 29.5K
$0.31 E£15.96
438.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 Rp 13.6K
$0.13 E£6.57
492.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.63 Rp 46.4K
$1.36 E£69.0
93.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28 Rp 75.5K
$2.02 E£103
111.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Ismailia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 Rp 27.3K
$0.89 E£45.09
74.16%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 Rp 39.2K
$0.41 E£20.62
441.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 Rp 19.8K
$0.65 E£32.78
73.85%
Eggs
$2.09 Rp 36.8K
$1.22 E£62.0
71.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.39 Rp 306.7K
$3.84 E£195
352.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.87 Rp 68.2K
$4.31 E£219
-10.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.55 Rp 221.3K
$7.67 E£390
63.62%
Apples (1kg)
$3.62 Rp 63.8K
$1.57 E£79.9
130.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.5K
$0.54 E£27.37
188.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.35 Rp 41.5K
$0.45 E£22.71
422.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 Rp 36.2K
$0.37 E£18.66
456.76%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 33.5K
$0.27 E£13.80
603.70%
Onion (1kg)
$2.34 Rp 41.2K
$0.33 E£16.97
609.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 Rp 18.2K
$0.25 E£12.72
312.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 9,780
$0.18 E£9.23
205.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25 Rp 39.7K
$2.03 E£103
10.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.81 Rp 419.7K
$5.80 E£295
310.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31 Rp 40.8K
$1.11 E£56.4
108.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 Rp 49.4K
$2.02 E£103
38.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Ismailia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,802
$0.27 E£13.76
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.66 Rp 152.7K
$3.91 E£199
121.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,489
$0.41 E£20.65
17.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 7,864
$0.45 E£22.94
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.72 Rp 100.8K
$2.01 E£102
184.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 Rp 13.4K
$0.43 E£21.86
76.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5K Rp 431.7M
$29.0K E£1.5M
-15.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 566.3M
$16.0K E£813.8K
100.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Ismailia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.6 Rp 1.5M
$14.02 E£713
495.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.46 Rp 113.8K
$7.41 E£376
-12.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.99 Rp 334.9K
$8.09 E£411
134.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Ismailia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.0 Rp 986.9K
$10.40 E£529
438.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.62 Rp 328.2K
$19.59 E£996
-4.95%
Cinema Ticket
$4.28 Rp 75.5K
$2.03 E£103
110.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Ismailia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$487 Rp 8.6M
$69.5 E£3,532
600.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,856 Rp 103.2M
$1,253 E£63.7K
367.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Ismailia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.56 Rp 803.2K
$14.00 E£711
225.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.38 Rp 641.4K
$9.70 E£493
275.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.0 Rp 1.4M
$124 E£6,309
-33.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
$29.02 E£1,475
177.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Ismailia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,117 Rp 19.7M
$81.0 E£4,115
1279.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$701 Rp 12.4M
$33.04 E£1,679
2021.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,537 Rp 62.4M
$127 E£6,460
2682.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,762 Rp 31.1M
$78.0 E£3,965
2159.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,826 Rp 49.8M
$491 E£25.0K
475.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,292 Rp 40.4M
$139 E£7,052
1551.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Ismailia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$170 Rp 3.0M
$107 E£5,424
59.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
21.33
-35.40%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ismailia: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,117 in Ubud, Bali and $81.0 in Ismailia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ubud, Bali pays 59% 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: $39.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $16.00 in Ismailia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $117 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 296% 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 59% 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: $1,117 in Ubud, Bali versus $81.0 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 $487 in Ubud, Bali versus $69.5 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 150% 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 $353 in Ismailia versus $1,396 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 $353 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 296% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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