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 $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $363 in Kumbakonam, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $574 in Kumbakonam, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $786 in Kumbakonam, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 296% more than Kumbakonam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 7% 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 61.9K
$1.88 ₹178
89.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58 Rp 564.7K
$11.86 ₹1,126
174.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 Rp 87.8K
$3.98 ₹377
27.39%
Cappuccino
$2.83 Rp 49.0K
$0.97 ₹91.8
191.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 23.2K
$0.45 ₹42.96
197.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
$0.17 ₹15.70
305.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 51.8K
$1.87 ₹178
59.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 66.7K
$2.27 ₹215
69.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Kumbakonam
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 30.2K
$0.60 ₹56.9
190.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.54 Rp 44.0K
$0.49 ₹46.92
418.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
$0.69 ₹65.1
72.46%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 42.0K
$0.68 ₹64.4
257.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.66 Rp 254.1K
$7.22 ₹685
103.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.18 Rp 72.4K
$2.83 ₹269
47.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 Rp 206.9K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.69 Rp 63.9K
$2.19 ₹208
68.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.8K
$0.87 ₹82.5
85.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 Rp 46.5K
$1.30 ₹123
106.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 40.4K
$0.37 ₹34.78
529.73%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.0K
$0.40 ₹37.77
377.50%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 37.9K
$0.39 ₹37.03
461.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
$0.56 ₹53.2
89.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
$0.32 ₹30.79
125.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 Rp 54.3K
$4.04 ₹384
-22.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 407.1K
$7.98 ₹758
194.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 Rp 47.5K
$1.92 ₹182
42.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 Rp 49.9K
$3.54 ₹336
-18.64%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$6.09 ₹578
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Kumbakonam
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,029
$0.30 ₹28.79
-3.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 141.6K
$8.52 ₹809
-4.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 7,863
$1.53 ₹146
-70.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,305
$0.28 ₹26.20
50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.16 Rp 106.7K
$1.78 ₹169
246.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 14.6K
$1.21 ₹115
-30.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K Rp 454.9M
$17.5K ₹1.7M
49.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 562.9M
$24.0K ₹2.3M
35.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Kumbakonam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$26.50 ₹2,516
195.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95 Rp 68.5K
$3.41 ₹324
15.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40 Rp 423.0K
$9.48 ₹900
157.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Kumbakonam
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
$14.25 ₹1,353
577.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 110.0K
$6.85 ₹650
-7.30%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 70.0K
$2.94 ₹279
37.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Kumbakonam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 Rp 5.2M
$79.4 ₹7,536
281.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,523 Rp 113.1M
$805 ₹76.4K
710.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Kumbakonam
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 Rp 933.1K
$26.21 ₹2,488
105.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98 Rp 658.3K
$22.37 ₹2,124
69.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
$49.10 ₹4,662
76.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
$36.36 ₹3,452
116.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Kumbakonam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
$69.3 ₹6,579
1360.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 Rp 11.7M
$58.5 ₹5,552
1053.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,390 Rp 58.8M
$169 ₹16.1K
1904.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,098 Rp 36.4M
$129 ₹12.2K
1528.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,985 Rp 51.7M
$1,006 ₹95.5K
196.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,339 Rp 40.5M
$462 ₹43.9K
405.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Kumbakonam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$173 Rp 3.0M
$194 ₹18.4K
-10.53%
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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Kumbakonam: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $69.3 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 12% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $12.00 in Kumbakonam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $116 – 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 296%, 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 $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $545 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 4% less in Kumbakonam. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Ubud, Bali and $79.4 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 Ubud, Bali or Kumbakonam?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kumbakonam, where all-in costs run around $363, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. 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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