Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Koh Lipe

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,353 a month against $2,098 in Koh Lipe, rent and utilities included – about $8,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,353
/mo nomad
Koh Lipe
🇹🇭 Thailand
$2,098
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Koh Lipe

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 Koh Lipe actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,353 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,098 in Koh Lipe.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,353
  • Koh Lipe $2,098

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,592 in Koh Lipe.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,297
  • Koh Lipe $3,592

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,241 in Ubud, Bali versus $5,086 in Koh Lipe.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,241
  • Koh Lipe $5,086

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 36% less than in Koh Lipe, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 0% above, Koh Lipe 55% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Koh Lipe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.23 Rp 58.1K
$6.97 ฿233
-53.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.88 Rp 627.8K
$52.3 ฿1,748
-33.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.70 Rp 102.5K
$13.86 ฿463
-58.87%
Cappuccino
$2.62 Rp 47.1K
$4.54 ฿152
-42.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 Rp 31.0K
$1.51 ฿50.5
13.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$0.74 ฿24.70
9.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 47.7K
$3.97 ฿133
-33.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37 Rp 78.6K
$6.11 ฿204
-28.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Koh Lipe
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$2.14 ฿71.6
-26.64%
White Bread (500g)
$2.19 Rp 39.5K
$1.77 ฿59.3
23.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
$1.88 ฿63.0
-37.23%
Eggs
$2.16 Rp 38.8K
$2.73 ฿91.4
-20.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.65 Rp 317.7K
$24.27 ฿811
-27.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.78 Rp 68.0K
$4.17 ฿139
-9.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.95 Rp 215.1K
$13.98 ฿467
-14.52%
Apples (1kg)
$3.60 Rp 64.8K
$3.74 ฿125
-3.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.6K
$2.10 ฿70.1
-24.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.6K
$2.79 ฿93.3
-17.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
$2.62 ฿87.5
-27.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
$1.83 ฿61.1
-2.73%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.9K
$1.67 ฿55.9
39.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 Rp 18.0K
$1.38 ฿46.28
-27.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 Rp 9,509
$0.68 ฿22.89
-22.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.29 Rp 41.1K
$5.52 ฿185
-58.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.07 Rp 397.3K
$22.90 ฿765
-3.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 Rp 42.2K
$2.19 ฿73.3
7.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 Rp 53.6K
$3.59 ฿120
-16.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Koh Lipe
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 Rp 4,112
$3.44 ฿115
-93.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.90 Rp 160.2K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.47 Rp 8,466
$4.46 ฿149
-89.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,737
$1.59 ฿53.1
-72.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.47 Rp 98.4K
$5.83 ฿195
-6.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
$2.21 ฿74.0
-62.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9K Rp 429.8M
$40.4K ฿1.3M
-40.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8K Rp 590.1M
$40.0K ฿1.3M
-18.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Koh Lipe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.0 Rp 1.4M
$113 ฿3,773
-29.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.56 Rp 118.1K
$12.73 ฿425
-48.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.60 Rp 334.8K
$20.03 ฿669
-7.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Koh Lipe
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.1 Rp 974.1K
$66.6 ฿2,225
-18.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.28 Rp 329.0K
$13.60 ฿454
34.41%
Cinema Ticket
$4.25 Rp 76.5K
$9.45 ฿316
-55.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Koh Lipe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$493 Rp 8.9M
$696 ฿23.3K
-29.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,597 Rp 100.7M
$14.5K ฿483.5K
-61.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Koh Lipe
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.58 Rp 820.4K
$67.4 ฿2,253
-32.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.96 Rp 629.4K
$29.63 ฿990
17.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 Rp 1.4M
$102 ฿3,424
-24.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.5 Rp 1.4M
$92.5 ฿3,090
-15.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Koh Lipe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,131 Rp 20.4M
$1,835 ฿61.3K
-38.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$1,181 ฿39.5K
-43.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,613 Rp 65.0M
$5,300 ฿177.1K
-31.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,702 Rp 30.6M
$3,000 ฿100.3K
-43.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,717 Rp 48.9M
$8,628 ฿288.3K
-68.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
$6,214 ฿207.7K
-63.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Koh Lipe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
5.57
147.40%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 19, 2026

Last update for Koh Lipe: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$673
Koh Lipe
$1.2K 75.5% $508
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$287
Koh Lipe
$335 16.8% $48
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$107
Koh Lipe
$131 23.3% $25
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$106
Koh Lipe
$193 81.2% $86
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$105
Koh Lipe
$146 38.5% $40
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$63
Koh Lipe
$85 36.5% $23
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$12
Koh Lipe
$26 * 111% $14

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,131 in Ubud, Bali and $1,835 in Koh Lipe. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $35.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $52.0 in Koh Lipe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $287 vs $335 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇹🇭 Koh Lipe
🕒 Local time
00:11 12:11 AM
23:11 11:11 PM
1 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
800
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Koh Lipe 2,430 km ≈ 3 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Koh Lipe

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 Koh Lipe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Koh Lipe?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 55% lower than in Koh Lipe. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali and in Koh Lipe?
You'd need roughly $2,030 in Ubud, Bali and $3,147 in Koh Lipe to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali compared to Koh Lipe?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,131 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,835 in Koh Lipe. 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 Koh Lipe?
Childcare runs $493 in Ubud, Bali versus $696 in Koh Lipe. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Koh Lipe?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $52.0 in Koh Lipe. 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 Koh Lipe?
At $1,353 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,098 in Koh Lipe, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Koh Lipe. 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 Koh Lipe?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,353 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 Koh Lipe?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Koh Lipe 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 55% less than in Koh Lipe. 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

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?