Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Knoxville, TN

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,348 a month against $2,566 in Knoxville, TN, rent and utilities included – about $14,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,348
/mo nomad
Knoxville, TN
🇺🇸 United States
$2,566
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Knoxville, TN

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 Knoxville, TN actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,348 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,566 in Knoxville, TN.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,348
  • Knoxville, TN $2,566

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,312 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,815 in Knoxville, TN.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,312
  • Knoxville, TN $3,815

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,276 in Ubud, Bali versus $5,064 in Knoxville, TN.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,276
  • Knoxville, TN $5,064

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 47% less than in Knoxville, TN, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 1% above, Knoxville, TN 92% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Knoxville, TN
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33 Rp 59.6K
$17.48 $17.48
-80.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.42 Rp 633.1K
$76.4 $76.4
-53.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.76 Rp 102.9K
$10.14 $10.14
-43.20%
Cappuccino
$2.63 Rp 47.0K
$5.35 $5.35
-50.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 Rp 31.0K
$2.69 $2.69
-35.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 Rp 13.8K
$2.73 $2.73
-71.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
$6.31 $6.31
-57.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52 Rp 80.8K
$6.65 $6.65
-32.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Knoxville, TN
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 Rp 27.4K
$1.08 $1.08
41.67%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 Rp 39.2K
$3.48 $3.48
-36.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.22 Rp 21.8K
$4.76 $4.76
-74.37%
Eggs
$2.14 Rp 38.2K
$4.27 $4.27
-49.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.73 Rp 316.9K
$9.93 $9.93
78.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.86 Rp 68.9K
$9.34 $9.34
-58.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.03 Rp 215.0K
$15.20 $15.20
-20.86%
Apples (1kg)
$3.61 Rp 64.5K
$6.76 $6.76
-46.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 Rp 27.1K
$1.49 $1.49
1.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.32 Rp 41.4K
$2.72 $2.72
-14.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.00 Rp 35.8K
$5.47 $5.47
-63.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.81 Rp 32.4K
$2.22 $2.22
-18.47%
Onion (1kg)
$2.39 Rp 42.7K
$4.14 $4.14
-42.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 17.8K
$2.33 $2.33
-57.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 Rp 9,373
$2.19 $2.19
-76.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.18 Rp 39.0K
$9.84 $9.84
-77.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.98 Rp 410.7K
$14.74 $14.74
55.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40 Rp 42.8K
$1.93 $1.93
24.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 Rp 53.6K
$3.11 $3.11
-3.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Knoxville, TN
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 Rp 4,255
$1.01 $1.01
-76.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.99 Rp 125.0K
$30.07 $30.07
-76.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,876
$4.96 $4.96
-91.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,582
$1.58 $1.58
-73.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 Rp 97.4K
$30.43 $30.43
-82.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 15.1K
$0.94 $0.94
-10.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3K Rp 434.8M
$37.7K $37.7K
-35.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K Rp 570.0M
$27.3K $27.3K
16.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Knoxville, TN
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
$219 $219
-63.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.58 Rp 117.6K
$73.9 $73.9
-91.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.24 Rp 326.1K
$53.3 $53.3
-65.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Knoxville, TN
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.1 Rp 985.4K
$29.46 $29.46
87.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.51 Rp 330.9K
$21.85 $21.85
-15.29%
Cinema Ticket
$4.24 Rp 75.9K
$15.40 $15.40
-72.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Knoxville, TN
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$486 Rp 8.7M
$1,230 $1,230
-60.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,676 Rp 101.5M
$24.0K $24.0K
-76.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Knoxville, TN
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.18 Rp 807.6K
$49.76 $49.76
-9.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.57 Rp 617.9K
$45.35 $45.35
-23.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.2 Rp 1.4M
$109 $109
-27.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.6 Rp 1.4M
$122 $122
-36.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Knoxville, TN
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,127 Rp 20.1M
$1,767 $1,767
-36.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 Rp 12.1M
$1,264 $1,264
-46.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,618 Rp 64.7M
$2,902 $2,902
24.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,735 Rp 31.0M
$2,166 $2,166
-19.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,829 Rp 50.6M
$4,689 $4,689
-39.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,307 Rp 41.2M
$2,267 $2,267
1.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Knoxville, TN
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
$3,623 $3,623
-95.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
6.64
107.53%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 5, 2026

Last update for Knoxville, TN: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$674
Knoxville, TN
$1.3K 87.6% $590
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$290
Knoxville, TN
$381 31.3% $91
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$108
Knoxville, TN
$301 179% $193
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$106
Knoxville, TN
$147 37.7% $40
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$106
Knoxville, TN
$346 227% $240
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$64
Knoxville, TN
$60 5.3% $3.3
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$11
Knoxville, TN
$47 347% $36

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,127 in Ubud, Bali and $1,767 in Knoxville, TN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Knoxville, TN pays 2087% 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 $76.0 in Knoxville, TN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $290 vs $381 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇺🇸 Knoxville, TN
🕒 Local time
20:39 8:39 PM
08:39 8:39 AM
12 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
190,740
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 17,875 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.59 USD). 1 EUR = 20,030 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.99 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Knoxville, TN 16,400 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Knoxville, TN

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 Knoxville, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Knoxville, TN?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 90% lower than in Knoxville, TN. 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 Knoxville, TN?
On paper, salaries run 2087% lower in Knoxville, TN. 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 Knoxville, TN?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,127 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,767 in Knoxville, TN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Knoxville, TN?
Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Knoxville, TN. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Knoxville, TN?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $76.0 in Knoxville, TN. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Knoxville, TN?
At $1,348 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,566 in Knoxville, TN, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Knoxville, TN. 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 Knoxville, TN?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,348 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 Knoxville, TN?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Knoxville, TN 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 90% less than in Knoxville, TN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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