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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $359 in Kumbakonam, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,557 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $582 in Kumbakonam, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,723 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $806 in Kumbakonam, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 288% more than Kumbakonam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Kumbakonam is 73% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Kumbakonam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.5K
$1.89 ₹180
88.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.32 Rp 583.4K
$11.71 ₹1,117
176.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.01 Rp 90.4K
$4.01 ₹383
24.94%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 51.0K
$0.96 ₹91.8
193.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 Rp 24.4K
$0.48 ₹46.23
181.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
$0.18 ₹17.42
305.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.93 Rp 53.0K
$1.88 ₹179
55.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94 Rp 71.1K
$2.34 ₹224
68.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Kumbakonam
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
$0.60 ₹57.2
196.67%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 Rp 44.2K
$0.52 ₹49.63
371.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 Rp 20.7K
$0.74 ₹70.8
55.41%
Eggs
$2.41 Rp 43.6K
$0.71 ₹67.7
239.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 Rp 258.7K
$6.99 ₹666
105.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.19 Rp 75.6K
$2.98 ₹285
40.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.06 Rp 217.7K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.64 Rp 65.7K
$2.19 ₹209
66.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$0.86 ₹81.6
82.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 50.3K
$1.32 ₹125
111.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.5K
$0.36 ₹34.49
522.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 Rp 35.7K
$0.40 ₹38.01
395.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
$0.42 ₹40.46
442.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 Rp 19.0K
$0.60 ₹56.9
75.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$0.36 ₹33.95
119.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.19 Rp 57.6K
$4.06 ₹387
-21.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 424.1K
$7.15 ₹682
228.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 Rp 52.3K
$1.82 ₹174
59.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 Rp 49.7K
$3.40 ₹325
-18.82%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$6.09 ₹581
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Kumbakonam
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,813
$0.30 ₹29.00
-10.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.37 Rp 151.1K
$8.59 ₹819
-2.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,167
$1.55 ₹148
-70.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,298
$0.28 ₹26.56
64.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.07 Rp 109.6K
$1.73 ₹165
250.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
$1.16 ₹111
-25.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 480.0M
$17.4K ₹1.7M
52.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 587.6M
$24.7K ₹2.4M
31.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Kumbakonam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.0 Rp 1.4M
$25.93 ₹2,473
204.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09 Rp 73.9K
$3.59 ₹342
13.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.85 Rp 430.5K
$9.80 ₹934
143.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Kumbakonam
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.8 Rp 1.8M
$14.30 ₹1,364
590.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 114.7K
$7.16 ₹682
-11.31%
Cinema Ticket
$4.01 Rp 72.3K
$2.93 ₹279
36.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Kumbakonam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$297 Rp 5.4M
$80.6 ₹7,691
268.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,602 Rp 119.2M
$808 ₹77.0K
717.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Kumbakonam
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 Rp 964.5K
$26.26 ₹2,504
103.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.11 Rp 688.1K
$22.49 ₹2,145
69.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.7 Rp 1.6M
$49.75 ₹4,745
78.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.6 Rp 1.4M
$35.91 ₹3,425
113.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Kumbakonam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,020 Rp 18.4M
$69.9 ₹6,661
1359.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 Rp 12.3M
$57.6 ₹5,493
1081.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,469 Rp 62.6M
$166 ₹15.9K
1985.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,090 Rp 37.7M
$128 ₹12.2K
1536.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,729 Rp 49.3M
$1,022 ₹97.5K
166.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,295 Rp 41.4M
$509 ₹48.5K
351.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Kumbakonam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
$186 ₹17.7K
-12.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
9.31
42.64%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Last update for Kumbakonam: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $69.9 in Kumbakonam. 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 14% higher in Kumbakonam, 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 $12.00 in Kumbakonam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $115 – making Kumbakonam 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 Kumbakonam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kumbakonam cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 288%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,088 per month in Ubud, Bali and $538 in Kumbakonam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kumbakonam, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 3% less in Kumbakonam. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $297 per month in Ubud, Bali and $80.6 in Kumbakonam. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Kumbakonam?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kumbakonam, where all-in costs run around $359, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. In Kumbakonam it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ubud, Bali or Kumbakonam more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kumbakonam – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Kumbakonam?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kumbakonam. 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.

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