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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,395 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,502 in Kos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,559 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,330 in Kos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,724 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,157 in Kos.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 7% less than in Kos, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 4% above, Kos 12% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Kos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.48 Rp 59.7K
$17.15 €14.59
-79.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.88 Rp 564.0K
$75.8 €64.5
-56.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.09 Rp 87.3K
$11.97 €10.18
-57.48%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 47.1K
$4.82 €4.10
-42.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 23.7K
$3.30 €2.81
-58.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 Rp 12.2K
$1.10 €0.94
-35.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.88 Rp 49.4K
$4.65 €3.96
-38.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.87 Rp 66.4K
$7.05 €6.00
-45.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Kos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 Rp 30.7K
$2.45 €2.08
-26.94%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 Rp 42.0K
$1.63 €1.38
50.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 Rp 20.7K
$2.49 €2.12
-51.41%
Eggs
$2.39 Rp 40.9K
$4.17 €3.55
-42.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.70 Rp 252.1K
$13.39 €11.40
9.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.24 Rp 72.7K
$9.71 €8.26
-56.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.08 Rp 207.1K
$13.77 €11.71
-12.27%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 Rp 62.9K
$2.22 €1.89
64.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.6K
$2.14 €1.82
-24.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.72 Rp 46.6K
$1.48 €1.26
83.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 Rp 39.0K
$2.04 €1.73
11.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 32.6K
$1.27 €1.08
49.61%
Onion (1kg)
$2.30 Rp 39.4K
$1.25 €1.07
84.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 Rp 17.4K
$0.98 €0.84
4.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 13.4K
$0.80 €0.68
-2.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.24 Rp 55.7K
$5.29 €4.51
-38.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.06 Rp 412.7K
$7.25 €6.17
231.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.84 Rp 48.7K
$2.00 €1.70
42.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 47.8K
$2.80 €2.39
-0.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Kos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,610
$1.53 €1.30
-82.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.24 Rp 141.4K
$45.64 €38.84
-81.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 7,708
$4.58 €3.90
-90.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,305
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.02 Rp 103.3K
$13.82 €11.76
-56.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 Rp 14.7K
$2.17 €1.85
-60.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 447.1M
$31.2K €26.5K
-16.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 543.7M
$27.0K €23.0K
17.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Kos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.3 Rp 1.3M
$213 €181
-63.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.00 Rp 68.5K
$22.88 €19.47
-82.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.35 Rp 417.7K
$36.02 €30.65
-32.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Kos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$95.8 Rp 1.6M
$49.12 €41.80
94.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.46 Rp 110.7K
$26.38 €22.45
-75.51%
Cinema Ticket
$4.01 Rp 68.7K
$9.41 €8.01
-57.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Kos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$302 Rp 5.2M
$420 €358
-28.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,545 Rp 112.3M
$6,074 €5,169
7.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Kos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 Rp 916.3K
$90.0 €76.6
-40.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.55 Rp 661.2K
$38.36 €32.64
0.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.1 Rp 1.5M
$88.3 €75.2
0.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
$108 €91.9
-26.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Kos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,016 Rp 17.4M
$485 €412
109.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$672 Rp 11.5M
$377 €321
78.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,368 Rp 57.8M
$755 €642
346.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,108 Rp 36.2M
$619 €527
240.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,001 Rp 51.5M
$3,435 €2,923
-12.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,337 Rp 40.1M
$2,236 €1,903
4.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Kos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$178 Rp 3.0M
$944 €803
-81.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
4.43
199.77%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 12, 2026

Last update for Kos: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,016 in Ubud, Bali and $485 in Kos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kos pays 432% 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: $33 in Ubud, Bali vs $76 in Kos. Groceries flip the comparison at $300 vs $287, with Kos cheaper for home cooking.

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 Kos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Kos?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Kos. 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 Kos?
On paper, Kos earns 432% less. 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 vs Kos?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,016 in Ubud, Bali versus $485 in Kos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Ubud, Bali vs Kos?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $76.0 in Kos. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Kos?
All in, you'll spend $1,395 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,502 in Kos – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or Kos?
At $1,395 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,502 in Kos, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Kos. 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 Kos?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,395 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 Kos?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Kos 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 8% less than in Kos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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