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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,394 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,245 in Jamestown, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,551 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,731 in Jamestown, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,708 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,217 in Jamestown, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 12% more than Jamestown, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Jamestown is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 Rp 60.2K

$16.06 SHP 11.95

-78.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.38 Rp 573.6K

$48.07 SHP 35.79

-32.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.00 Rp 88.6K

$8.71 SHP 6.49

-42.59%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 50.0K

$3.12 SHP 2.33

-9.62%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.4K

$1.14 SHP 0.85

21.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.0K

$1.19 SHP 0.89

-38.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 Rp 52.8K

$4.87 SHP 3.63

-38.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 Rp 70.3K

$2.70 SHP 2.01

47.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 Rp 31.8K

$1.82 SHP 1.36

-1.65%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 43.7K

$1.58 SHP 1.18

55.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.2K

$1.33 SHP 0.99

-9.77%

Eggs

$2.39 Rp 42.3K

$4.33 SHP 3.22

-44.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 Rp 255.1K

$8.24 SHP 6.13

74.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.28 Rp 75.9K

$11.05 SHP 8.23

-61.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.82 Rp 209.4K

$10.86 SHP 8.08

8.84%

Apples (1kg)

$3.78 Rp 67.0K

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 28.9K

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 Rp 49.6K

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 Rp 40.0K

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 Rp 35.3K

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 Rp 39.2K

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 Rp 18.9K

$2.76 SHP 2.05

-61.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 Rp 13.5K

$2.18 SHP 1.62

-65.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 55.4K

$10.98 SHP 8.17

-71.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.81 Rp 421.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 Rp 50.3K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.2K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,726

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 148.2K

$40.19 SHP 29.92

-79.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,034

$2.79 SHP 2.08

-83.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,578

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 Rp 105.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

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

$25.8K Rp 457.2M

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

$31.8K Rp 563.4M

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

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

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

$4.14 Rp 73.3K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.12 Rp 427.2K

$108 SHP 80.3

-77.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.8 Rp 1.7M

$6.69 SHP 4.98

1361.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.64 Rp 117.7K

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 71.5K

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

$297 Rp 5.3M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,590 Rp 116.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 Rp 976.8K

$41.07 SHP 30.58

34.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.51 Rp 682.1K

$20.47 SHP 15.24

88.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$47.43 SHP 35.31

81.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.0 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 Rp 17.5M

$669 SHP 498

47.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$665 Rp 11.8M

$600 SHP 446

10.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,446 Rp 61.0M

$708 SHP 527

386.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,042 Rp 36.2M

$711 SHP 529

187.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,829 Rp 50.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,282 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$169 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

6.2

114.19%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 14, 2026

Last update for Jamestown: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $985 in Ubud, Bali versus $669 in Jamestown. 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 $48.00 in Jamestown. Groceries tell a different story – $299 in Ubud, Bali vs $206 in Jamestown – so Jamestown 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 Jamestown: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,091 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,868 in Jamestown. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 380% less in Jamestown. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Groceries cost about 45% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jamestown, where all-in costs run around $1,245, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,394. In Jamestown it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Jamestown – 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 Jamestown. 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.