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 $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,062 in La Serena, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,582 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,796 in La Serena, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,757 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,530 in La Serena, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 33% more than La Serena, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while La Serena is 21% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.42 Rp 58.7K

$8.21 CLP 7,336

-58.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 Rp 566.5K

$50.7 CLP 45.3K

-35.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.08 Rp 87.3K

$8.62 CLP 7,699

-41.07%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 48.5K

$2.99 CLP 2,674

-5.69%

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

$1.37 Rp 23.5K

$1.15 CLP 1,026

19.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 Rp 12.2K

$0.68 CLP 611

4.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 Rp 51.0K

$2.13 CLP 1,902

39.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 Rp 67.2K

$4.09 CLP 3,652

-4.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 Rp 30.0K

$1.26 CLP 1,125

38.89%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 43.2K

$2.54 CLP 2,269

-0.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 Rp 20.8K

$1.59 CLP 1,416

-23.90%

Eggs

$2.33 Rp 40.1K

$4.10 CLP 3,659

-43.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 249.2K

$12.76 CLP 11.4K

13.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.36 Rp 74.9K

$6.12 CLP 5,462

-28.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.05 Rp 207.0K

$13.12 CLP 11.7K

-8.16%

Apples (1kg)

$3.82 Rp 65.6K

$1.92 CLP 1,711

98.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.7K

$1.88 CLP 1,678

-14.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 Rp 46.5K

$1.40 CLP 1,248

92.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 Rp 38.3K

$1.49 CLP 1,329

49.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 32.6K

$1.19 CLP 1,063

59.66%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 Rp 37.5K

$1.25 CLP 1,120

74.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 Rp 17.7K

$1.12 CLP 997

-8.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 Rp 13.3K

$0.89 CLP 794

-13.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 Rp 54.7K

$5.48 CLP 4,891

-41.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.23 Rp 399.2K

$5.49 CLP 4,905

323.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 Rp 48.9K

$1.03 CLP 923

176.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 Rp 46.7K

$2.13 CLP 1,901

27.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,022

$1.10 CLP 985

-73.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.43 Rp 144.8K

$38.47 CLP 34.4K

-78.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,344

$0.71 CLP 638

-30.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 7,812

$2.13 CLP 1,899

-78.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.28 Rp 107.8K

$12.72 CLP 11.4K

-50.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 14.6K

$1.43 CLP 1,278

-40.56%

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

$26.1K Rp 447.8M

$21.2K CLP 18.9M

22.92%

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

$31.5K Rp 541.8M

$12.8K CLP 11.4M

146.38%

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

$79.8 Rp 1.4M

$93.5 CLP 83.5K

-14.68%

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

$4.09 Rp 70.3K

$11.68 CLP 10.4K

-64.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.06 Rp 413.6K

$22.57 CLP 20.2K

6.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.2 Rp 1.7M

$39.59 CLP 35.4K

142.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.53 Rp 112.2K

$21.73 CLP 19.4K

-69.95%

Cinema Ticket

$4.13 Rp 71.1K

$8.41 CLP 7,515

-50.89%

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

$297 Rp 5.1M

$433 CLP 386.4K

-31.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,661 Rp 114.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.0 Rp 944.5K

$45.67 CLP 40.8K

20.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.75 Rp 666.0K

$64.8 CLP 57.9K

-40.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.6 Rp 1.5M

$98.8 CLP 88.2K

-9.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$109 CLP 97.8K

-27.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,018 Rp 17.5M

$366 CLP 327.0K

178.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$660 Rp 11.3M

$286 CLP 255.2K

130.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,435 Rp 59.0M

$1,051 CLP 938.6K

226.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,053 Rp 35.3M

$706 CLP 630.7K

190.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,981 Rp 51.2M

$2,262 CLP 2.0M

31.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,368 Rp 40.7M

$1,468 CLP 1.3M

61.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$172 Rp 3.0M

$788 CLP 703.4K

-78.15%

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: April 21, 2026

Last update for La Serena: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,018 in Ubud, Bali versus $366 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 358% 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 $33 in Ubud, Bali versus $51 in La Serena. Groceries tell a different story – $299 in Ubud, Bali vs $244 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 33%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,592 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 $1,408 in Ubud, Bali and $1,062 in La Serena. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 356% 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 $1,062, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. 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.