Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Lae Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Lae

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,212 in Lae, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,277 in Lae, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,342 in Lae, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 17% more than Lae, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Lae is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

$10.60 PGK 46.23

-66.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

$54.6 PGK 238

-40.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

$2.82 PGK 12.30

-3.90%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

$0.83 PGK 3.60

61.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.63 PGK 2.73

11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

$3.70 PGK 16.15

-21.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

$5.74 PGK 25.05

-31.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

$2.11 PGK 9.22

-14.22%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

$1.53 PGK 6.68

64.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

$1.34 PGK 5.86

-13.43%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

$4.31 PGK 18.81

-42.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

$10.13 PGK 44.19

45.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

$9.70 PGK 42.29

-55.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

$11.51 PGK 50.2

5.47%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

$4.84 PGK 21.12

-20.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

$2.92 PGK 12.73

-46.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

$6.70 PGK 29.22

-57.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

$1.72 PGK 7.52

35.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

$3.67 PGK 16.00

-47.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

$2.54 PGK 11.09

-13.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

$0.70 PGK 3.03

44.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$1.00 PGK 4.34

-22.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

$7.04 PGK 30.69

-52.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

$12.75 PGK 55.6

86.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

$2.79 PGK 12.15

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

$4.56 PGK 19.89

-37.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,800

$0.35 PGK 1.51

-22.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,150

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,037

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$1.17 PGK 5.10

-32.48%

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

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

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

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

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

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$7,912 PGK 34.5K

-87.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$758 PGK 3,306

-10.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

$1,416 PGK 6,178

143.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$159 PGK 695

3.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Lae: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $7,912 in Lae. 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 4% higher in Ubud, Bali, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $55.0 in Lae. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $329 – making Ubud, Bali 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 Lae: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 17% more than Lae, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,819 in Lae. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lae, 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 $1,419 in Ubud, Bali and $1,212 in Lae. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Ubud, Bali – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Lae, where all-in costs run around $1,212, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Lae it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Lae costs $1,212 versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Lae. 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.