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 $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,041 in Jimma, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,436 in Jimma, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,831 in Jimma, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 31% more than Jimma, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Jimma is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 Rp 60.9K

$4.65 ETB 748

-26.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.31 Rp 643.0K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 Rp 101.0K

Cappuccino

$2.67 Rp 47.3K

$1.15 ETB 184

132.17%

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

$1.75 Rp 31.0K

$0.56 ETB 89.8

212.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 Rp 15.4K

$0.44 ETB 70.9

97.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.3K

$2.84 ETB 456

3.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 Rp 80.0K

$1.42 ETB 228

218.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$1.18 ETB 189

37.29%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$0.37 ETB 58.7

529.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 Rp 19.6K

$1.13 ETB 181

-1.77%

Eggs

$2.20 Rp 39.0K

$4.14 ETB 665

-46.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.69 Rp 313.3K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 Rp 72.5K

$11.56 ETB 1,858

-64.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 215.6K

$11.62 ETB 1,866

4.82%

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 Rp 65.6K

$2.34 ETB 377

58.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.1K

$1.18 ETB 190

34.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.4K

$3.53 ETB 566

-35.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 Rp 34.6K

$0.60 ETB 96.6

225.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.7K

$0.56 ETB 89.7

241.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$3.56 ETB 572

-34.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 17.8K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,773

$0.59 ETB 95.1

-6.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 Rp 39.5K

Wine (Bottle)

$23.07 Rp 408.6K

$6.76 ETB 1,086

241.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 Rp 42.8K

$1.14 ETB 184

112.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.1K

$1.45 ETB 234

106.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,814

$0.24 ETB 38.62

12.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.98 Rp 159.1K

$13.99 ETB 2,247

-35.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,566

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,679

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.64 Rp 99.9K

$1.78 ETB 286

216.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

$1.76 ETB 283

-54.55%

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

$24.9K Rp 441.7M

$52.3K ETB 8.4M

-52.28%

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

$31.7K Rp 561.5M

$57.7K ETB 9.3M

-45.02%

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

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

$62.7 ETB 10.1K

29.86%

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

$6.49 Rp 115.0K

$36.62 ETB 5,883

-82.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.77 Rp 332.4K

$316 ETB 50.7K

-94.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

$34.41 ETB 5,528

65.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 Rp 331.7K

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 Rp 80.4K

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

$481 Rp 8.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,711 Rp 101.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.52 Rp 806.0K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 Rp 635.4K

$91.9 ETB 14.8K

-60.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$139 ETB 22.4K

-42.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

$116 ETB 18.6K

-31.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 Rp 19.7M

$216 ETB 34.6K

417.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$698 Rp 12.4M

$161 ETB 25.8K

334.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,637 Rp 64.4M

$424 ETB 68.1K

758.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

$322 ETB 51.7K

439.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.3M

$2,328 ETB 374.0K

19.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.5M

$1,154 ETB 185.4K

98.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 Rp 3.0M

$230 ETB 37.0K

-27.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

53.11%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Jimma: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $216 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 37% 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 31%, 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 $2,052 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,561 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 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.

Public transport costs about 56% 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 $1,041, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. 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.