😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,018 in Kuruman.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,540 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,559 in Kuruman.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,100 in Kuruman.
😐Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 39% more expensive than Kuruman, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 6% above, Kuruman is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Kuruman
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56Rp 63.9K
$8.44R 138
-57.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73Rp 586.8K
$33.40R 546
-2.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.95Rp 88.7K
$4.94R 80.7
0.20%
Cappuccino
$2.71Rp 48.6K
$1.70R 27.82
59.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34Rp 24.1K
$1.11R 18.19
20.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70Rp 12.5K
$0.58R 9.45
20.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92Rp 52.3K
$2.21R 36.18
32.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96Rp 70.9K
$2.49R 40.68
59.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Kuruman
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81Rp 32.4K
$1.15R 18.73
57.39%
White Bread(500g)
$2.52Rp 45.1K
$1.04R 17.00
142.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.16Rp 20.8K
$1.63R 26.65
-28.83%
Eggs
$2.46Rp 44.1K
$2.46R 40.23
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.71Rp 263.7K
$7.48R 122
96.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.32Rp 77.4K
$4.66R 76.2
-7.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.14Rp 217.5K
$6.78R 111
79.06%
Apples(1kg)
$3.84Rp 68.8K
$1.68R 27.47
128.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56Rp 27.9K
$1.48R 24.15
5.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.83Rp 50.8K
$1.49R 24.36
89.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 41.7K
$1.60R 26.12
45.63%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 34.3K
$1.33R 21.74
43.61%
Onion(1kg)
$2.20Rp 39.5K
$1.18R 19.36
86.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01Rp 18.2K
$1.06R 17.32
-4.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78Rp 13.9K
$0.91R 14.86
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32Rp 59.4K
$2.87R 46.89
15.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.74Rp 425.5K
$4.89R 80.0
385.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79Rp 50.0K
$1.33R 21.67
109.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86Rp 51.3K
$1.70R 27.86
68.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Kuruman
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,819
$1.67R 27.24
-83.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.03Rp 143.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.46Rp 8,181
$1.11R 18.08
-58.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45Rp 8,068
$0.88R 14.32
-48.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.10Rp 109.3K
$3.93R 64.3
55.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79Rp 14.2K
$1.29R 21.04
-38.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1KRp 468.8M
$21.0KR 342.8K
24.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1KRp 575.8M
$24.0KR 392.8K
33.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Kuruman
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.9Rp 1.4M
$116R 1,900
-31.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06Rp 72.9K
$34.92R 571
-88.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52Rp 421.6K
$41.90R 685
-43.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Kuruman
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.7Rp 1.8M
$31.14R 509
216.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63Rp 118.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.15Rp 74.3K
$6.87R 112
-39.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Kuruman
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304Rp 5.4M
$195R 3,186
55.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,613Rp 118.5M
$4,368R 71.4K
51.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Kuruman
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5Rp 995.6K
$49.56R 810
12.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31Rp 686.7K
$31.79R 520
20.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.6Rp 1.6M
$86.9R 1,421
1.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9Rp 1.4M
$79.6R 1,302
-2.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Kuruman
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,006Rp 18.0M
$370R 6,043
172.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$675Rp 12.1M
$327R 5,353
106.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,442Rp 61.7M
$699R 11.4K
392.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039Rp 36.6M
$689R 11.3K
195.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,841Rp 50.9M
$805R 13.2K
252.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,264Rp 40.6M
$809R 13.2K
179.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Kuruman
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$165Rp 3.0M
$1,118R 18.3K
-85.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
11.51
15.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Last update for Kuruman: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali and $370 in Kuruman. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kuruman pays 576% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $33.00 in Kuruman. Groceries flip the comparison at $302 vs $177, with Kuruman cheaper for home cooking.
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 Kuruman: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and Kuruman?
Ubud, Bali and Kuruman differ by about 39% in total monthly costs ($1,419 vs $1,018 including rent). Kuruman is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Kuruman earns 576% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and Kuruman?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $370 in Kuruman. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ubud, Bali and Kuruman?
Childcare runs $304 in Ubud, Bali versus $195 in Kuruman. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Kuruman – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,018 in Kuruman versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kuruman but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Kuruman the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Kuruman?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ubud, Bali or Kuruman safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Kuruman are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ubud, Bali or Kuruman?
Expats usually find Kuruman gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared