Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and La Serena Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and La Serena

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,064 in La Serena, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,557 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,803 in La Serena, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,723 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,541 in La Serena, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 31% more than La Serena, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while La Serena is 20% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.5K

$8.16 CLP 7,597

-56.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.32 Rp 583.4K

$51.8 CLP 48.2K

-37.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.01 Rp 90.4K

$8.67 CLP 8,063

-42.21%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 51.0K

$3.03 CLP 2,819

-6.93%

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

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

$1.16 CLP 1,080

16.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

$0.67 CLP 620

8.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 Rp 53.0K

$2.14 CLP 1,991

36.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 Rp 71.1K

$4.09 CLP 3,810

-3.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 Rp 32.1K

$1.30 CLP 1,211

36.92%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 Rp 44.2K

$2.53 CLP 2,358

-3.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

$1.54 CLP 1,429

-25.32%

Eggs

$2.41 Rp 43.6K

$3.90 CLP 3,630

-38.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 Rp 258.7K

$13.25 CLP 12.3K

8.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.19 Rp 75.6K

$6.24 CLP 5,809

-32.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.06 Rp 217.7K

$13.35 CLP 12.4K

-9.66%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 Rp 65.7K

$2.00 CLP 1,857

82.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.3K

$1.82 CLP 1,690

-13.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 50.3K

$1.34 CLP 1,249

108.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.5K

$1.48 CLP 1,380

51.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 Rp 35.7K

$1.25 CLP 1,161

58.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 41.1K

$1.26 CLP 1,173

80.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 19.0K

$1.08 CLP 1,000

-2.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$0.95 CLP 887

-16.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 Rp 57.6K

$5.37 CLP 4,997

-40.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 424.1K

$5.23 CLP 4,867

349.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 52.3K

$1.01 CLP 939

187.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 Rp 49.7K

$2.23 CLP 2,071

23.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,813

$1.09 CLP 1,017

-75.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 151.1K

$38.45 CLP 35.8K

-78.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,167

$0.74 CLP 687

-39.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,298

$2.06 CLP 1,915

-77.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 Rp 109.6K

$13.03 CLP 12.1K

-53.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

$1.43 CLP 1,328

-39.86%

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

$26.6K Rp 480.0M

$20.6K CLP 19.1M

29.25%

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

$32.5K Rp 587.6M

$13.1K CLP 12.2M

148.23%

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

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

$93.3 CLP 86.8K

-15.29%

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

$4.09 Rp 73.9K

$11.35 CLP 10.6K

-63.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.85 Rp 430.5K

$22.00 CLP 20.5K

8.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

$35.74 CLP 33.3K

176.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 114.7K

$21.13 CLP 19.7K

-69.95%

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 Rp 72.3K

$8.84 CLP 8,228

-54.64%

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

$297 Rp 5.4M

$439 CLP 408.9K

-32.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,602 Rp 119.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 Rp 964.5K

$46.67 CLP 43.4K

14.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.11 Rp 688.1K

$30.63 CLP 28.5K

24.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

$95.6 CLP 89.0K

-7.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

$109 CLP 101.4K

-29.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 Rp 18.4M

$369 CLP 343.6K

176.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 Rp 12.3M

$285 CLP 265.4K

138.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,469 Rp 62.6M

$1,035 CLP 962.7K

235.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 Rp 37.7M

$707 CLP 657.5K

195.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,729 Rp 49.3M

$2,158 CLP 2.0M

26.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,295 Rp 41.4M

$1,354 CLP 1.3M

69.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 Rp 3.0M

$739 CLP 687.6K

-77.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

6.5

104.31%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Last update for La Serena: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $369 in La Serena. 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 351% higher in La Serena, 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 $52.0 in La Serena. Groceries tell a different story – $298 in Ubud, Bali vs $247 in La Serena – so La Serena wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 La Serena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 31%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,088 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,597 in La Serena. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in La Serena, 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 $1,392 in Ubud, Bali and $1,064 in La Serena. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 359% less in La Serena. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in La Serena, where all-in costs run around $1,064, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. In La Serena it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward La Serena – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 La Serena. 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.