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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $301 in Kottayam, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,557 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $498 in Kottayam, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,723 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $695 in Kottayam, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 363% more than Kottayam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Kottayam is 77% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.6K

$1.15 ₹110

210.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.32 Rp 584.4K

$9.67 ₹925

234.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.01 Rp 90.5K

$4.04 ₹386

24.01%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 51.1K

$0.56 ₹53.3

403.57%

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

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

$0.38 ₹36.18

255.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

$0.13 ₹12.59

461.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 Rp 53.0K

$1.36 ₹130

115.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 Rp 71.2K

$2.94 ₹281

34.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 Rp 32.2K

$0.58 ₹55.5

206.90%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 Rp 44.3K

$0.44 ₹41.74

456.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 Rp 20.8K

$0.73 ₹69.4

57.53%

Eggs

$2.41 Rp 43.7K

$0.86 ₹82.4

180.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 Rp 259.1K

$2.36 ₹226

507.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.19 Rp 75.7K

$3.03 ₹290

38.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.06 Rp 218.1K

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 Rp 65.8K

$2.26 ₹216

61.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.3K

$0.65 ₹62.6

141.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 50.4K

$1.14 ₹109

144.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.5K

$0.49 ₹47.11

357.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 Rp 35.8K

$0.51 ₹49.01

288.24%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 41.2K

$0.46 ₹43.53

395.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 19.1K

$0.40 ₹37.85

162.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$0.35 ₹33.76

125.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 Rp 57.7K

$4.24 ₹405

-24.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 424.8K

$3.82 ₹365

514.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 52.4K

$1.69 ₹162

71.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 Rp 49.8K

$3.59 ₹343

-23.12%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$4.46 ₹427

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,821

$0.30 ₹29.04

-10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 151.3K

$8.58 ₹820

-2.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,180

$1.19 ₹114

-62.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,311

$0.30 ₹28.52

53.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 Rp 109.7K

$1.58 ₹151

284.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

$1.22 ₹116

-29.51%

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

$26.6K Rp 480.7M

$9,361 ₹895.3K

184.01%

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

$32.5K Rp 588.6M

$15.4K ₹1.5M

111.13%

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

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

$26.75 ₹2,558

195.40%

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

$4.09 Rp 74.0K

$3.46 ₹331

18.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.85 Rp 431.2K

$8.46 ₹809

181.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

$8.49 ₹812

1063.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 114.9K

$11.55 ₹1,105

-45.02%

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 Rp 72.5K

$1.99 ₹191

101.51%

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

$297 Rp 5.4M

$58.3 ₹5,574

410.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,602 Rp 119.4M

$1,559 ₹149.1K

323.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 Rp 966.0K

$22.87 ₹2,188

133.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.11 Rp 689.2K

$17.42 ₹1,666

118.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

$25.21 ₹2,411

251.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

$17.22 ₹1,647

344.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 Rp 18.4M

$137 ₹13.1K

645.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 Rp 12.3M

$59.0 ₹5,643

1052.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,469 Rp 62.7M

$295 ₹28.2K

1077.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 Rp 37.8M

$164 ₹15.7K

1171.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,729 Rp 49.3M

$930 ₹88.9K

193.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,295 Rp 41.5M

$557 ₹53.2K

312.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 Rp 3.0M

$290 ₹27.8K

-43.63%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

9.36

41.88%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Last update for Kottayam: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $137 in Kottayam. 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 77% higher in Kottayam, 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $10.00 in Kottayam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $93.0 – making Kottayam the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Kottayam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 363% more than Kottayam, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,088 per month in Ubud, Bali and $451 in Kottayam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Kottayam, 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 $1,392 in Ubud, Bali and $301 in Kottayam. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 3% less in Kottayam. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kottayam, where all-in costs run around $301, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. In Kottayam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kottayam costs $301 versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Kottayam. 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.