Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Kingston

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,368 a month against $1,668 in Kingston, rent and utilities included – about $3,600 less a year. The total is higher in Kingston despite lower rent and utilities.

Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,368
/mo nomad
Kingston
🇯🇲 Jamaica
$1,668
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Kingston

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Kingston actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,668 in Kingston.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,368
  • Kingston $1,668

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,314 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,812 in Kingston.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,314
  • Kingston $2,812

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,260 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,955 in Kingston.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,260
  • Kingston $3,955

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 18% less than in Kingston, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 1% above, Kingston 24% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Kingston
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33 Rp 59.9K
$13.29 JMD 2,099
-74.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.18 Rp 633.2K
$73.8 JMD 11.7K
-52.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.80 Rp 104.5K
$8.14 JMD 1,285
-28.75%
Cappuccino
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$5.45 JMD 861
-49.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 Rp 29.5K
$1.14 JMD 180
43.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
$0.72 JMD 115
15.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.70 Rp 48.6K
$2.16 JMD 341
25.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 Rp 77.4K
$3.11 JMD 491
38.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Kingston
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 Rp 27.1K
$4.19 JMD 661
-64.20%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 Rp 41.4K
$3.78 JMD 598
-39.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
$1.61 JMD 254
-26.71%
Eggs
$2.14 Rp 38.6K
$3.48 JMD 550
-38.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.48 Rp 314.6K
$11.40 JMD 1,801
53.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.03 Rp 72.5K
$6.35 JMD 1,003
-36.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.23 Rp 220.1K
$10.40 JMD 1,644
17.60%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 Rp 63.9K
$6.05 JMD 957
-41.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$3.82 JMD 604
-58.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
$7.25 JMD 1,146
-69.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.93 Rp 34.7K
$3.06 JMD 484
-36.93%
Potato (1kg)
$1.88 Rp 33.9K
$3.21 JMD 506
-41.43%
Onion (1kg)
$2.29 Rp 41.3K
$2.62 JMD 415
-12.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 17.9K
$3.13 JMD 494
-68.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 Rp 9,475
$1.44 JMD 228
-63.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
$9.48 JMD 1,498
-75.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.01 Rp 414.2K
$11.36 JMD 1,795
102.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 Rp 42.2K
$2.86 JMD 453
-18.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 Rp 52.4K
$3.88 JMD 613
-25.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Kingston
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 Rp 4,315
$0.75 JMD 119
-68.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.82 Rp 158.7K
$37.27 JMD 5,888
-76.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,684
$1.22 JMD 192
-60.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,233
$3.20 JMD 505
-85.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 Rp 98.2K
$6.31 JMD 996
-13.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 Rp 15.9K
$1.39 JMD 219
-36.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K Rp 442.2M
$44.3K JMD 7.0M
-44.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2K Rp 561.4M
$32.8K JMD 5.2M
-4.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Kingston
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 Rp 1.5M
$167 JMD 26.4K
-50.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 116.0K
$29.86 JMD 4,717
-78.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.57 Rp 334.2K
$53.4 JMD 8,443
-65.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Kingston
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.8 Rp 1.0M
$61.9 JMD 9,787
-9.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.11 Rp 326.0K
$17.61 JMD 2,782
2.84%
Cinema Ticket
$4.38 Rp 78.9K
$13.15 JMD 2,078
-66.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Kingston
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$493 Rp 8.9M
$359 JMD 56.7K
37.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,754 Rp 103.6M
$8,382 JMD 1.3M
-31.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Kingston
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.19 Rp 831.4K
$23.75 JMD 3,752
94.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.33 Rp 636.0K
$31.13 JMD 4,918
13.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$76.9 JMD 12.2K
2.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$100 JMD 15.9K
-21.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Kingston
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,142 Rp 20.6M
$975 JMD 154.0K
17.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$676 Rp 12.2M
$563 JMD 89.0K
20.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,503 Rp 63.1M
$2,142 JMD 338.5K
63.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,700 Rp 30.6M
$1,421 JMD 224.6K
19.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 Rp 50.1M
$2,876 JMD 454.4K
-3.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
$2,044 JMD 323.0K
9.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Kingston
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$735 JMD 116.1K
-77.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
9.45
45.82%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 11, 2026

Last update for Kingston: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$676
Kingston
$563 16.7% $113
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$290
Kingston
$384 32.3% $94
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$109
Kingston
$221 103% $112
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$108
Kingston
$250 132% $142
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Kingston
$105 2.8% $3
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$65
Kingston
$88 36.7% $24
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$13
Kingston
$57 358% $45

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,142 in Ubud, Bali and $975 in Kingston. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kingston pays 347% 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: $35.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $74.0 in Kingston for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $290 vs $384 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇯🇲 Kingston
🕒 Local time
04:14 4:14 AM
15:14 3:14 PM
13 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
660,000 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JMD, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,238 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Jamaican Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JMD (1,000 JMD = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JMD (1,000 JMD = 5.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Kingston 18,340 km ≈ 23 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Kingston

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Kingston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Kingston?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 22% lower than in Kingston. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or in Kingston?
On paper, salaries run 347% lower in Kingston. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali compared to Kingston?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,142 in Ubud, Bali versus $975 in Kingston. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Kingston?
Childcare runs $493 in Ubud, Bali versus $359 in Kingston. 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 in Kingston?
Supermarket bills run roughly 32% higher in Kingston. 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 in Kingston?
At $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,668 in Kingston, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Kingston. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Kingston?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,368 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Kingston?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Kingston 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 Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Kingston. 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

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