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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,394 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,033 in Jimma, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,551 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,422 in Jimma, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,708 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,810 in Jimma, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 35% more than Jimma, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Jimma is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 Rp 60.2K

$4.70 ETB 742

-27.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.38 Rp 573.6K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.00 Rp 88.6K

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 50.0K

$1.19 ETB 188

136.97%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.4K

$0.57 ETB 89.3

142.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.0K

$0.44 ETB 70.2

65.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 Rp 52.8K

$1.20 ETB 189

148.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 Rp 70.3K

$1.44 ETB 227

175.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 Rp 31.8K

$1.14 ETB 180

57.02%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 43.7K

$0.37 ETB 57.9

564.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.2K

$1.13 ETB 179

6.19%

Eggs

$2.39 Rp 42.3K

$4.19 ETB 663

-42.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 Rp 255.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.28 Rp 75.9K

$11.60 ETB 1,833

-63.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.82 Rp 209.4K

$11.38 ETB 1,799

3.87%

Apples (1kg)

$3.78 Rp 67.0K

$2.36 ETB 373

60.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 28.9K

$1.13 ETB 178

44.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 Rp 49.6K

$3.52 ETB 556

-20.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 Rp 40.0K

$0.59 ETB 93.4

283.05%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 Rp 35.3K

$0.60 ETB 94.9

233.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 Rp 39.2K

$3.38 ETB 534

-34.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 Rp 18.9K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 Rp 13.5K

$0.56 ETB 88.9

35.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 55.4K

Wine (Bottle)

$23.81 Rp 421.9K

$7.15 ETB 1,130

233.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 Rp 50.3K

$1.14 ETB 180

149.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.2K

$1.48 ETB 234

87.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,726

$0.22 ETB 34.59

22.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 148.2K

$14.01 ETB 2,214

-40.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,034

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,578

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 Rp 105.9K

$1.70 ETB 269

251.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

$1.79 ETB 283

-55.31%

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

$25.8K Rp 457.2M

$51.2K ETB 8.1M

-49.57%

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

$31.8K Rp 563.4M

$57.3K ETB 9.1M

-44.49%

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

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

$62.5 ETB 9,874

29.20%

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

$4.14 Rp 73.3K

$15.13 ETB 2,391

-72.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.12 Rp 427.2K

$318 ETB 50.2K

-92.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.8 Rp 1.7M

$34.65 ETB 5,475

182.11%

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

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.51 Rp 682.1K

$91.1 ETB 14.4K

-57.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$140 ETB 22.1K

-38.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.0 Rp 1.4M

$116 ETB 18.3K

-32.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 Rp 17.5M

$214 ETB 33.8K

360.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$665 Rp 11.8M

$162 ETB 25.6K

310.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,446 Rp 61.0M

$435 ETB 68.7K

692.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,042 Rp 36.2M

$325 ETB 51.3K

529.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,829 Rp 50.1M

$2,360 ETB 372.9K

19.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,282 Rp 40.4M

$1,165 ETB 184.0K

95.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$169 Rp 3.0M

$236 ETB 37.2K

-28.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

47.56%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 14, 2026

Last update for Jimma: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $985 in Ubud, Bali versus $214 in Jimma. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 39% higher in Jimma, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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 Jimma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 35%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $1,549 in Jimma. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 48% 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.

Public transport costs about 67% less in Jimma. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jimma, where all-in costs run around $1,033, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,394. In Jimma it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Jimma – 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 Jimma. 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.