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 $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $302 in Kottayam, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $490 in Kottayam, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $679 in Kottayam, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 365% more than Kottayam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% 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 64.0K

$1.14 ₹109

213.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

$9.63 ₹916

237.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

$4.16 ₹396

16.83%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

$0.59 ₹56.3

366.10%

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

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

$0.40 ₹38.06

230.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.15 ₹14.37

366.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

$1.43 ₹136

103.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

$2.99 ₹285

26.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

$0.63 ₹59.9

171.43%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

$0.43 ₹40.76

474.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$0.78 ₹73.7

53.85%

Eggs

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

$0.88 ₹83.7

177.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

$2.30 ₹219

525.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

$2.92 ₹277

47.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

$2.27 ₹216

62.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

$0.66 ₹63.1

134.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

$1.13 ₹107

146.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

$0.48 ₹45.82

385.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

$0.47 ₹45.03

319.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

$0.48 ₹45.85

381.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.39 ₹37.49

171.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$0.33 ₹31.14

121.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

$4.01 ₹381

-18.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

$4.04 ₹384

464.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

$1.76 ₹167

59.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$3.54 ₹337

-21.47%

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

$4.54 ₹431

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

$0.28 ₹26.49

3.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

$8.76 ₹833

-7.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,047

$1.18 ₹112

-61.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

$0.30 ₹28.12

50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

$1.58 ₹150

294.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

$1.18 ₹112

-27.97%

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

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

$9,471 ₹900.7K

174.29%

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

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

$14.9K ₹1.4M

112.19%

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

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

$27.63 ₹2,628

192.25%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

$3.39 ₹322

19.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

$8.28 ₹787

194.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

$8.52 ₹810

1046.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

$11.58 ₹1,102

-44.30%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

$2.02 ₹193

100.00%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$57.5 ₹5,466

429.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

$1,556 ₹148.0K

325.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

$23.59 ₹2,243

129.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

$17.48 ₹1,663

121.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$25.90 ₹2,463

232.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

$17.35 ₹1,650

341.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

$137 ₹13.0K

618.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.8M

$58.5 ₹5,562

1025.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

$292 ₹27.8K

1053.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

$161 ₹15.3K

1183.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

$943 ₹89.7K

190.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

$554 ₹52.7K

302.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

$283 ₹26.9K

-42.20%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Kottayam: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 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 73% 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: $297 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 365% 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 $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $453 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 $1,404 in Ubud, Bali and $302 in Kottayam. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 9% 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 $302, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. 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 $302 versus $1,404 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.