Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Lake Charles, LA Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Lake Charles, LA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,397 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,667 in Lake Charles, LA, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,588 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,925 in Lake Charles, LA, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,778 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $5,183 in Lake Charles, LA, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 48% cheaper than Lake Charles, LA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Lake Charles, LA sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 5%, Lake Charles, LA by 100%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.43 Rp 61.4K

$25.83 $25.83

-86.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.97 Rp 572.4K

$91.4 $91.4

-65.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.05 Rp 90.4K

$9.94 $9.94

-49.20%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.6K

$4.31 $4.31

-37.12%

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

$1.39 Rp 24.9K

$1.68 $1.68

-17.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 Rp 13.3K

$2.08 $2.08

-64.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 Rp 51.8K

$6.16 $6.16

-53.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 67.9K

$8.11 $8.11

-53.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 Rp 32.1K

$1.33 $1.33

34.59%

White Bread (500g)

$2.51 Rp 44.9K

$4.16 $4.16

-39.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 Rp 21.7K

$6.09 $6.09

-80.13%

Eggs

$2.37 Rp 42.4K

$4.51 $4.51

-47.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.43 Rp 258.4K

$14.67 $14.67

-1.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.15 Rp 74.3K

$11.12 $11.12

-62.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.11 Rp 216.9K

$14.56 $14.56

-16.83%

Apples (1kg)

$3.77 Rp 67.5K

$4.37 $4.37

-13.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.1K

$1.27 $1.27

28.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 Rp 48.5K

$1.90 $1.90

42.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 Rp 40.4K

$5.33 $5.33

-57.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.93 Rp 34.5K

$4.01 $4.01

-51.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 39.3K

$2.24 $2.24

-2.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 Rp 18.2K

$2.25 $2.25

-54.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.8K

$3.04 $3.04

-76.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 Rp 57.0K

$8.45 $8.45

-62.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.84 Rp 426.8K

$16.68 $16.68

42.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 Rp 49.7K

$2.04 $2.04

35.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

$3.61 $3.61

-23.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,786

$2.06 $2.06

-86.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.20 Rp 146.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,653

$3.54 $3.54

-86.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,545

$1.53 $1.53

-72.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.03 Rp 107.9K

$34.90 $34.90

-82.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 Rp 14.7K

$0.83 $0.83

-1.20%

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

$26.6K Rp 475.6M

$35.6K $35.6K

-25.34%

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

$32.2K Rp 576.6M

$28.1K $28.1K

14.43%

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

$78.3 Rp 1.4M

$237 $237

-67.03%

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

$3.91 Rp 70.1K

$58.6 $58.6

-93.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.91 Rp 428.2K

$60.4 $60.4

-60.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.2 Rp 1.7M

$42.51 $42.51

126.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.53 Rp 116.8K

$14.25 $14.25

-54.18%

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 Rp 71.9K

$11.56 $11.56

-65.31%

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

$303 Rp 5.4M

$1,571 $1,571

-80.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,551 Rp 117.3M

$10.2K $10.2K

-35.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.3 Rp 990.4K

$48.11 $48.11

14.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.32 Rp 686.1K

$41.22 $41.22

-7.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.5 Rp 1.6M

$76.5 $76.5

15.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

$102 $102

-24.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.6M

$1,593 $1,593

-38.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$682 Rp 12.2M

$1,366 $1,366

-50.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,420 Rp 61.2M

$2,617 $2,617

30.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,075 Rp 37.1M

$2,243 $2,243

-7.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,762 Rp 49.5M

$1,400 $1,400

97.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,243 Rp 40.2M

$1,375 $1,375

63.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$169 Rp 3.0M

$3,692 $3,692

-95.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

6.57

102.13%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 22, 2026

Last update for Lake Charles, LA: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,593 in Lake Charles, LA. 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 2088% higher in Lake Charles, LA, 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $91.0 in Lake Charles, LA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $417 – 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 Lake Charles, LA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lake Charles, LA costs about 91% more than Ubud, Bali, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,096 per month in Ubud, Bali and $4,000 in Lake Charles, LA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, 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 $1,397 in Ubud, Bali and $2,667 in Lake Charles, LA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,571 in Lake Charles, LA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,397, than in Lake Charles, LA at $2,667. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lake Charles, LA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,397 versus $2,667 in Lake Charles, LA. 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 Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lake Charles, LA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.