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 $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $297 in Kottayam, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $486 in Kottayam, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $676 in Kottayam, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 384% more than Kottayam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 7% above the global median, while Kottayam is 78% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 61.9K

$1.17 ₹111

205.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

$9.70 ₹921

235.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

$4.04 ₹383

25.50%

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

$0.59 ₹56.2

379.66%

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

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

$0.38 ₹36.04

252.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

$0.15 ₹14.27

360.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

$1.41 ₹134

112.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

$2.95 ₹280

30.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

$0.59 ₹56.2

194.92%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

$0.47 ₹44.67

440.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$0.78 ₹73.7

52.56%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

$0.82 ₹78.2

196.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

$2.35 ₹223

523.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

$3.05 ₹289

37.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

$2.36 ₹224

56.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

$0.67 ₹63.5

140.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

$1.13 ₹107

138.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

$0.48 ₹45.66

385.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

$0.47 ₹45.09

306.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

$0.45 ₹42.90

386.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

$0.40 ₹37.80

165.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

$0.36 ₹33.79

100.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

$4.17 ₹396

-24.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

$4.05 ₹385

480.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

$1.70 ₹161

61.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

$3.44 ₹326

-16.28%

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

$4.65 ₹441

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,029

$0.28 ₹26.40

3.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

$8.48 ₹805

-3.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,863

$1.13 ₹107

-60.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,305

$0.30 ₹28.18

40.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

$1.67 ₹158

268.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

$1.17 ₹111

-28.21%

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

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

$9,235 ₹876.7K

184.18%

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

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

$15.2K ₹1.4M

113.43%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$27.01 ₹2,564

190.34%

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

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

$3.38 ₹321

16.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

$8.59 ₹816

184.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

$8.86 ₹841

989.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

$11.46 ₹1,088

-44.59%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

$1.99 ₹189

103.02%

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

$58.7 ₹5,576

415.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

$1,538 ₹146.1K

323.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

$22.81 ₹2,166

136.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

$17.55 ₹1,666

116.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

$25.40 ₹2,411

241.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$17.53 ₹1,664

349.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

$137 ₹13.0K

637.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.7M

$57.4 ₹5,453

1074.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

$296 ₹28.1K

1045.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

$166 ₹15.7K

1165.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

$948 ₹90.0K

214.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

$555 ₹52.7K

321.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

$265 ₹25.1K

-34.59%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Kottayam: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 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 53% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $10.00 in Kottayam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $94.0 – 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 384% 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 $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $446 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 $1,438 in Ubud, Bali and $297 in Kottayam. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 4% 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 $297, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. 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 $297 versus $1,438 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.