😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $344 in Ismailia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,540 in Ubud, Bali versus $582 in Ismailia.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Ubud, Bali versus $819 in Ismailia.
😐Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 312% more expensive than Ismailia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 6% above, Ismailia is 74% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Ismailia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56Rp 63.9K
$3.58E£186
-0.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73Rp 586.8K
$15.66E£813
109.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.95Rp 88.7K
$4.50E£234
10.00%
Cappuccino
$2.71Rp 48.6K
$0.95E£49.38
185.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34Rp 24.1K
$0.27E£13.84
396.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70Rp 12.5K
$0.11E£5.62
536.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92Rp 52.3K
$1.20E£62.3
143.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96Rp 70.9K
$1.96E£102
102.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Ismailia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81Rp 32.4K
$0.85E£44.28
112.94%
White Bread(500g)
$2.52Rp 45.1K
$0.41E£21.35
514.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.16Rp 20.8K
$0.66E£34.11
75.76%
Eggs
$2.46Rp 44.1K
$1.40E£72.5
75.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.71Rp 263.7K
$3.01E£156
388.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.32Rp 77.4K
$3.72E£193
16.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.14Rp 217.5K
$7.78E£404
56.04%
Apples(1kg)
$3.84Rp 68.8K
$1.46E£76.0
163.01%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56Rp 27.9K
$0.54E£28.01
188.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.83Rp 50.8K
$0.41E£21.36
590.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 41.7K
$0.29E£14.90
703.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 34.3K
$0.37E£19.45
416.22%
Onion(1kg)
$2.20Rp 39.5K
$0.41E£21.39
436.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01Rp 18.2K
$0.19E£9.75
431.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78Rp 13.9K
$0.17E£8.61
358.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32Rp 59.4K
$1.63E£84.6
103.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.74Rp 425.5K
$5.85E£303
305.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79Rp 50.0K
$1.02E£53.1
173.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86Rp 51.3K
$1.95E£101
46.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Ismailia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,819
$0.25E£12.93
8.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.03Rp 143.9K
$4.04E£210
98.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.46Rp 8,181
$0.33E£17.19
39.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45Rp 8,068
$0.45E£23.58
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.10Rp 109.3K
$1.94E£101
214.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79Rp 14.2K
$0.33E£17.32
139.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1KRp 468.8M
$30.1KE£1.6M
-13.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1KRp 575.8M
$16.1KE£835.7K
99.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Ismailia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.9Rp 1.4M
$11.33E£588
605.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06Rp 72.9K
$5.68E£295
-28.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52Rp 421.6K
$7.72E£401
204.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Ismailia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.7Rp 1.8M
$11.67E£606
745.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63Rp 118.8K
$19.66E£1,020
-66.28%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15Rp 74.3K
$2.01E£104
106.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Ismailia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304Rp 5.4M
$86.9E£4,509
249.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,613Rp 118.5M
$1,214E£63.0K
444.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Ismailia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5Rp 995.6K
$12.65E£657
339.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31Rp 686.7K
$10.12E£525
278.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.6Rp 1.6M
$107E£5,537
-16.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9Rp 1.4M
$49.96E£2,593
55.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Ismailia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,006Rp 18.0M
$89.7E£4,653
1022.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$675Rp 12.1M
$39.40E£2,045
1614.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,442Rp 61.7M
$142E£7,384
2319.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039Rp 36.6M
$88.5E£4,591
2205.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,841Rp 50.9M
$485E£25.2K
485.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,264Rp 40.6M
$133E£6,897
1603.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Ismailia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$165Rp 3.0M
$107E£5,570
53.98%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Ismailia: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali and $89.7 in Ismailia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ubud, Bali pays 54% 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: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $16.00 in Ismailia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $302 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 312% 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 Ismailia?
Ubud, Bali pays 54% more on average, 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 vs Ismailia?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $89.7 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 Ismailia?
Childcare runs $304 in Ubud, Bali versus $86.9 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 Ismailia?
Supermarket bills run roughly 172% 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 Ismailia?
At $344 in Ismailia versus $1,419 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 $344 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 312% 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