😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,111 in Lake Balaton.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,684 in Lake Balaton.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,275 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,257 in Lake Balaton.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 24% more expensive than in Lake Balaton, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Lake Balaton is 19% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Lake Balaton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33Rp 58.7K
$8.76Ft 2,744
-61.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.82Rp 630.7K
$46.68Ft 14.6K
-23.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.63Rp 99.1K
$8.54Ft 2,675
-34.07%
Cappuccino
$2.82Rp 49.7K
$2.00Ft 627
41.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75Rp 30.8K
$1.36Ft 425
28.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80Rp 14.0K
$1.01Ft 315
-20.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.04Rp 53.6K
$1.89Ft 592
60.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30Rp 75.7K
$2.11Ft 660
103.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Lake Balaton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.61Rp 28.3K
$1.05Ft 329
53.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.27Rp 39.9K
$1.56Ft 489
45.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17Rp 20.6K
$1.90Ft 596
-38.42%
Eggs
$2.17Rp 38.2K
$2.70Ft 845
-19.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.63Rp 310.5K
$9.46Ft 2,962
86.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.05Rp 71.4K
$5.80Ft 1,818
-30.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.18Rp 214.5K
$11.96Ft 3,745
1.84%
Apples(1kg)
$3.62Rp 63.7K
$1.80Ft 564
101.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64Rp 28.8K
$2.00Ft 626
-18.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31Rp 40.6K
$1.99Ft 623
16.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.96Rp 34.5K
$2.92Ft 914
-32.88%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84Rp 32.5K
$1.06Ft 331
73.58%
Onion(1kg)
$2.37Rp 41.7K
$1.18Ft 368
100.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05Rp 18.5K
$1.49Ft 466
-29.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54Rp 9,560
$0.51Ft 161
5.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.30Rp 40.6K
$6.91Ft 2,165
-66.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.08Rp 406.4K
$5.81Ft 1,819
297.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34Rp 41.2K
$1.03Ft 324
127.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07Rp 54.0K
$1.48Ft 462
107.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Lake Balaton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25Rp 4,365
$1.14Ft 356
-78.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.42Rp 165.9K
$25.47Ft 7,978
-63.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.49Rp 8,631
$2.83Ft 888
-82.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.47Rp 8,349
$1.13Ft 353
-58.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.60Rp 98.6K
$17.46Ft 5,468
-67.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.2K
$1.67Ft 524
-51.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0KRp 440.3M
$25.5KFt 8.0M
-2.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1KRp 547.0M
$30.4KFt 9.5M
2.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Lake Balaton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.7Rp 1.5M
$142Ft 44.4K
-41.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49Rp 114.2K
$26.40Ft 8,268
-75.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.79Rp 330.8K
$19.81Ft 6,206
-5.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Lake Balaton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.2Rp 972.6K
$46.80Ft 14.7K
18.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.21Rp 320.6K
$17.10Ft 5,358
6.49%
Cinema Ticket
$4.30Rp 75.7K
$7.23Ft 2,266
-40.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Lake Balaton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$494Rp 8.7M
$298Ft 93.4K
65.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,917Rp 104.2M
$6,424Ft 2.0M
-7.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Lake Balaton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.28Rp 814.8K
$71.5Ft 22.4K
-35.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.44Rp 641.6K
$27.54Ft 8,627
32.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.7Rp 1.4M
$73.2Ft 22.9K
10.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.8Rp 1.4M
$78.9Ft 24.7K
-0.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Lake Balaton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,114Rp 19.6M
$439Ft 137.4K
154.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$693Rp 12.2M
$341Ft 106.8K
103.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,639Rp 64.1M
$639Ft 200.2K
469.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,712Rp 30.1M
$525Ft 164.5K
226.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,761Rp 48.6M
$2,974Ft 931.6K
-7.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,293Rp 40.4M
$2,270Ft 711.1K
0.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Lake Balaton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$167Rp 2.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
7.4
86.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026
Last update for Lake Balaton: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali and $439 in Lake Balaton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $47.00 in Lake Balaton. Groceries flip the comparison at $294 vs $219, with Lake Balaton 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 Lake Balaton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lake Balaton cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Lake Balaton is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,067 in Ubud, Bali and $1,666 in Lake Balaton to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Lake Balaton?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $439 in Lake Balaton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $494 in Ubud, Bali versus $298 in Lake Balaton. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Lake Balaton?
Supermarket bills run roughly 34% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Lake Balaton?
At $1,111 in Lake Balaton versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Lake Balaton but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Lake Balaton the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Lake Balaton more family-friendly?
For families, Lake Balaton is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Lake Balaton?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Lake Balaton are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Lake Balaton gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% 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