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 $1,394 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $364 in Kumbakonam, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,551 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $570 in Kumbakonam, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,708 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $776 in Kumbakonam, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 283% 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
$3.40 Rp 60.6K
$1.84 ₹173
84.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.38 Rp 577.1K
$11.69 ₹1,102
176.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.00 Rp 89.1K
$4.16 ₹393
20.19%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 50.3K
$0.91 ₹85.5
209.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 24.5K
$0.49 ₹45.80
181.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.0K
$0.18 ₹16.60
305.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.98 Rp 53.2K
$1.88 ₹178
58.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97 Rp 70.8K
$2.29 ₹216
73.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Kumbakonam
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 Rp 32.0K
$0.62 ₹58.5
188.71%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
$0.54 ₹50.5
355.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.4K
$0.69 ₹65.3
73.91%
Eggs
$2.39 Rp 42.6K
$0.71 ₹67.1
236.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.40 Rp 256.6K
$7.30 ₹689
97.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.28 Rp 76.4K
$2.92 ₹276
46.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.82 Rp 210.6K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.78 Rp 67.4K
$2.12 ₹200
78.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.1K
$0.87 ₹81.8
87.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.80 Rp 49.9K
$1.30 ₹122
115.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 Rp 40.3K
$0.40 ₹37.57
465.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 Rp 35.6K
$0.42 ₹39.78
376.19%
Onion (1kg)
$2.21 Rp 39.4K
$0.39 ₹37.18
466.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 Rp 19.1K
$0.55 ₹52.1
94.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 Rp 13.6K
$0.33 ₹30.95
130.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 Rp 55.7K
$3.93 ₹370
-20.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.81 Rp 424.4K
$7.87 ₹742
202.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.84 Rp 50.6K
$1.91 ₹181
48.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.5K
$3.39 ₹320
-17.99%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$6.35 ₹599
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Kumbakonam
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,755
$0.28 ₹26.22
-3.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.37 Rp 149.1K
$8.76 ₹826
-4.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,082
$1.53 ₹144
-70.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,624
$0.28 ₹26.08
53.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.98 Rp 106.5K
$1.70 ₹160
251.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 14.3K
$1.17 ₹110
-31.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.8K Rp 459.9M
$17.5K ₹1.6M
47.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.8K Rp 566.8M
$24.0K ₹2.3M
32.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Kumbakonam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.7 Rp 1.4M
$25.95 ₹2,448
211.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.14 Rp 73.7K
$3.54 ₹334
16.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.12 Rp 429.8K
$9.77 ₹921
146.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Kumbakonam
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$97.8 Rp 1.7M
$14.26 ₹1,345
585.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.64 Rp 118.4K
$7.00 ₹660
-5.14%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 71.9K
$2.87 ₹271
40.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Kumbakonam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$297 Rp 5.3M
$79.9 ₹7,536
271.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,590 Rp 117.4M
$805 ₹75.9K
718.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Kumbakonam
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 Rp 982.6K
$25.43 ₹2,399
116.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.51 Rp 686.2K
$22.49 ₹2,121
71.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
$50.1 ₹4,723
72.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.0 Rp 1.4M
$35.75 ₹3,372
118.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Kumbakonam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$985 Rp 17.6M
$70.1 ₹6,614
1305.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 Rp 11.8M
$59.0 ₹5,561
1027.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,446 Rp 61.4M
$165 ₹15.6K
1984.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,042 Rp 36.4M
$130 ₹12.2K
1476.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,829 Rp 50.4M
$855 ₹80.7K
230.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,282 Rp 40.7M
$522 ₹49.2K
337.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Kumbakonam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$169 Rp 3.0M
$187 ₹17.6K
-9.28%
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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Kumbakonam: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $985 in Ubud, Bali versus $70.1 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 10% 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: $299 vs $117 – 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 283%, 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 $2,091 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 5% 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 $79.9 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 $364, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,394. 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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