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 $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,030 in Jimma, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,424 in Jimma, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,818 in Jimma, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 40% more than Jimma, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Ubud, Bali sits 7% above the global median, while Jimma is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 61.9K

$4.72 ETB 737

-24.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

$1.19 ETB 186

137.82%

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

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

$0.60 ETB 94.0

123.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

$0.44 ETB 68.6

56.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

$1.21 ETB 189

147.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

$1.48 ETB 231

160.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

$1.17 ETB 183

48.72%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

$0.40 ETB 61.8

535.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$1.13 ETB 177

5.31%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

$4.26 ETB 665

-42.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

$11.59 ETB 1,812

-63.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

$11.66 ETB 1,823

2.40%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

$2.28 ETB 357

61.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

$1.15 ETB 180

40.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

$3.48 ETB 544

-22.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

$0.61 ETB 95.1

281.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

$0.61 ETB 95.1

213.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

$3.52 ETB 550

-37.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

$0.55 ETB 86.5

30.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

$6.97 ETB 1,090

237.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

$1.19 ETB 185

130.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

$1.49 ETB 232

93.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,029

$0.24 ETB 37.66

20.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

$13.70 ETB 2,141

-40.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,863

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,305

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

$1.79 ETB 280

244.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

$1.75 ETB 274

-52.00%

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

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

$52.8K ETB 8.2M

-50.28%

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

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

$57.3K ETB 8.9M

-43.28%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$64.7 ETB 10.1K

21.30%

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

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

$15.01 ETB 2,346

-73.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

$321 ETB 50.1K

-92.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

$34.37 ETB 5,372

180.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

$92.7 ETB 14.5K

-59.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

$141 ETB 22.0K

-38.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$114 ETB 17.8K

-30.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

$212 ETB 33.2K

376.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.7M

$162 ETB 25.4K

315.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

$422 ETB 66.0K

702.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

$326 ETB 51.0K

543.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

$2,341 ETB 365.8K

27.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

$1,196 ETB 186.9K

95.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

$232 ETB 36.3K

-25.42%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Jimma: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $212 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 34% 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 40%, 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 $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,545 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 46% 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 68% 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 $1,030, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. 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.