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 $1,394 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,053 in La Serena, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,551 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,798 in La Serena, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,708 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,543 in La Serena, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 32% more than La Serena, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

$3.40 Rp 60.2K

$7.97 CLP 7,060

-57.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.38 Rp 573.6K

$50.6 CLP 44.8K

-35.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.00 Rp 88.6K

$8.52 CLP 7,543

-41.31%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 50.0K

$2.96 CLP 2,624

-4.73%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.4K

$1.10 CLP 977

25.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.0K

$0.68 CLP 599

7.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 Rp 52.8K

$2.13 CLP 1,889

39.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 Rp 70.3K

$4.02 CLP 3,563

-1.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 Rp 31.8K

$1.29 CLP 1,142

38.76%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 43.7K

$2.54 CLP 2,254

-3.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.2K

$1.60 CLP 1,421

-25.00%

Eggs

$2.39 Rp 42.3K

$3.98 CLP 3,521

-39.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 Rp 255.1K

$13.25 CLP 11.7K

8.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.28 Rp 75.9K

$6.09 CLP 5,396

-29.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.82 Rp 209.4K

$13.23 CLP 11.7K

-10.66%

Apples (1kg)

$3.78 Rp 67.0K

$1.89 CLP 1,673

100.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 28.9K

$1.85 CLP 1,643

-11.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 Rp 49.6K

$1.35 CLP 1,191

107.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 Rp 40.0K

$1.53 CLP 1,352

47.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 Rp 35.3K

$1.25 CLP 1,109

60.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 Rp 39.2K

$1.28 CLP 1,132

72.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 Rp 18.9K

$1.12 CLP 996

-4.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 Rp 13.5K

$0.97 CLP 856

-21.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 55.4K

$5.38 CLP 4,761

-41.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.81 Rp 421.9K

$5.52 CLP 4,886

331.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 Rp 50.3K

$0.99 CLP 880

186.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.2K

$2.17 CLP 1,919

28.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,726

$1.10 CLP 970

-75.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 148.2K

$37.99 CLP 33.6K

-77.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,034

$0.73 CLP 650

-38.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,578

$2.04 CLP 1,809

-78.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 Rp 105.9K

$13.10 CLP 11.6K

-54.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

$1.43 CLP 1,267

-44.06%

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

$25.8K Rp 457.2M

$20.7K CLP 18.4M

24.56%

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

$31.8K Rp 563.4M

$13.1K CLP 11.6M

143.22%

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

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

$91.7 CLP 81.3K

-11.98%

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

$4.14 Rp 73.3K

$11.56 CLP 10.2K

-64.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.12 Rp 427.2K

$22.11 CLP 19.6K

9.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.8 Rp 1.7M

$35.87 CLP 31.8K

172.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.64 Rp 117.7K

$21.47 CLP 19.0K

-69.07%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 71.5K

$8.53 CLP 7,555

-52.64%

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

$297 Rp 5.3M

$441 CLP 390.4K

-32.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,590 Rp 116.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 Rp 976.8K

$46.17 CLP 40.9K

19.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.51 Rp 682.1K

$29.77 CLP 26.4K

29.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$97.6 CLP 86.4K

-11.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.0 Rp 1.4M

$110 CLP 97.1K

-28.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 Rp 17.5M

$362 CLP 320.8K

172.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$665 Rp 11.8M

$291 CLP 258.1K

128.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,446 Rp 61.0M

$1,069 CLP 946.7K

222.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,042 Rp 36.2M

$706 CLP 625.0K

189.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,829 Rp 50.1M

$2,224 CLP 2.0M

27.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,282 Rp 40.4M

$1,450 CLP 1.3M

57.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$169 Rp 3.0M

$781 CLP 691.9K

-78.34%

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for La Serena: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $985 in Ubud, Bali versus $362 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 362% 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 $51.0 in La Serena. Groceries tell a different story – $299 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 32%, 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 $2,091 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,579 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 $1,394 in Ubud, Bali and $1,053 in La Serena. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 354% 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 $1,053, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,394. 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.