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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,128 in Knysna, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,643 in Knysna, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,157 in Knysna, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 26% more than Knysna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Knysna is 16% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 64.3K

$8.36 R 138

-57.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 590.3K

$36.43 R 603

-10.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 89.3K

$4.77 R 79.0

3.77%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.9K

$2.22 R 36.77

22.07%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.2K

$1.10 R 18.20

21.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.78 R 12.94

-10.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.7K

$2.15 R 35.69

35.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 71.4K

$2.22 R 36.71

78.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.6K

$1.17 R 19.35

54.70%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.4K

$0.89 R 14.66

183.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.9K

$1.65 R 27.38

-29.70%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 44.4K

$2.62 R 43.35

-6.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 265.3K

$9.70 R 161

51.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.9K

$4.36 R 72.3

-0.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 218.9K

$6.70 R 111

81.19%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 69.3K

$1.42 R 23.46

170.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 28.1K

$1.67 R 27.73

-6.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 51.1K

$1.24 R 20.51

128.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.9K

$1.58 R 26.18

47.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.5K

$1.46 R 24.22

30.82%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.7K

$1.40 R 23.17

57.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.3K

$1.09 R 18.08

-7.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 14.0K

$0.94 R 15.58

-17.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.8K

$2.74 R 45.36

21.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 428.1K

$4.84 R 80.2

390.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 50.3K

$1.40 R 23.16

99.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.6K

$1.65 R 27.35

73.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,848

$1.63 R 27.00

-83.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 144.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,231

$1.09 R 18.12

-57.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,117

$0.93 R 15.48

-51.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 109.9K

$4.01 R 66.4

52.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.3K

$1.36 R 22.58

-41.91%

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

$26.1K Rp 471.6M

$22.4K R 371.6K

16.54%

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

$32.1K Rp 579.3M

$21.8K R 360.8K

47.45%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$87.4 R 1,447

-8.54%

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

$4.06 Rp 73.3K

$22.16 R 367

-81.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 424.2K

$41.18 R 682

-42.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$44.74 R 741

120.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 119.6K

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.8K

$6.87 R 114

-39.59%

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

$304 Rp 5.5M

$236 R 3,913

28.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 119.3M

$4,327 R 71.7K

52.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 1.0M

$49.75 R 824

11.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 690.9K

$32.15 R 532

19.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$110 R 1,818

-19.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$78.9 R 1,306

-1.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.2M

$475 R 7,873

111.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.2M

$445 R 7,366

51.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 62.1M

$770 R 12.7K

347.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.8M

$721 R 11.9K

182.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 51.2M

$1,050 R 17.4K

170.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.8M

$1,037 R 17.2K

118.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$955 R 15.8K

-82.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

12.25

8.41%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Knysna: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $475 in Knysna. 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 478% higher in Knysna, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $36.00 in Knysna. Groceries tell a different story – $302 in Ubud, Bali vs $181 in Knysna – so Knysna wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Knysna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 26%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,692 in Knysna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali and $1,128 in Knysna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $236 in Knysna. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Knysna, where all-in costs run around $1,128, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Knysna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Knysna – 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 Knysna. 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.