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 $1,396 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,217 in Lake Charles, LA, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,206 in Lake Charles, LA, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,273 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,194 in Lake Charles, LA, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 37% 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 2%, Lake Charles, LA by 61%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.37 Rp 59.5K

$25.21 $25.21

-86.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.59 Rp 680.4K

$69.6 $69.6

-44.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.52 Rp 97.3K

$11.22 $11.22

-50.80%

Cappuccino

$2.64 Rp 46.6K

$5.30 $5.30

-50.19%

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

$1.67 Rp 29.5K

$1.98 $1.98

-15.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

$1.23 $1.23

-37.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.63 Rp 46.4K

$5.10 $5.10

-48.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.28 Rp 75.5K

$6.18 $6.18

-30.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 Rp 27.3K

$1.33 $1.33

16.54%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 Rp 39.2K

$4.05 $4.05

-45.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 Rp 19.8K

$6.32 $6.32

-82.12%

Eggs

$2.09 Rp 36.8K

$5.50 $5.50

-62.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 Rp 306.7K

$16.43 $16.43

5.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.87 Rp 68.2K

$10.08 $10.08

-61.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.55 Rp 221.3K

$15.74 $15.74

-20.27%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.8K

$4.31 $4.31

-16.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.5K

$1.32 $1.32

18.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 Rp 41.5K

$1.90 $1.90

23.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 Rp 36.2K

$5.49 $5.49

-62.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 33.5K

$4.26 $4.26

-55.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

$2.20 $2.20

6.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 Rp 18.2K

$2.19 $2.19

-52.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,781

$2.54 $2.54

-78.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 Rp 39.7K

$8.71 $8.71

-74.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.81 Rp 419.8K

$16.89 $16.89

40.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 Rp 40.8K

$2.53 $2.53

-8.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 Rp 49.4K

$3.87 $3.87

-27.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,803

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.66 Rp 152.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,490

$3.41 $3.41

-85.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 7,865

$1.51 $1.51

-70.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.72 Rp 100.8K

$34.44 $34.44

-83.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

$0.82 $0.82

-7.32%

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

$24.5K Rp 431.7M

$35.2K $35.2K

-30.53%

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

$32.1K Rp 566.4M

$25.7K $25.7K

25.22%

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

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

$265 $265

-68.47%

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

$6.46 Rp 113.8K

$69.0 $69.0

-90.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.99 Rp 334.9K

$58.0 $58.0

-67.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 Rp 987.0K

$31.55 $31.55

77.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.62 Rp 328.3K

$14.28 $14.28

30.39%

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 Rp 75.5K

$11.81 $11.81

-63.76%

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

$487 Rp 8.6M

$1,581 $1,581

-69.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,856 Rp 103.3M

$10.4K $10.4K

-43.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.56 Rp 803.3K

$24.66 $24.66

84.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.38 Rp 641.5K

$42.70 $42.70

-14.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 Rp 1.4M

$60.4 $60.4

35.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$119 $119

-32.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,117 Rp 19.7M

$1,009 $1,009

10.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 Rp 12.4M

$896 $896

-21.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,537 Rp 62.4M

$1,517 $1,517

133.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,762 Rp 31.1M

$1,257 $1,257

40.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,826 Rp 49.8M

$1,398 $1,398

102.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,292 Rp 40.4M

$1,367 $1,367

67.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 Rp 3.0M

$3,698 $3,698

-95.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

6.07

127.02%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Last update for Lake Charles, LA: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,117 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,009 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 2078% 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 $39.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $70.0 in Lake Charles, LA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $423 – 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 59% 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 $2,095 per month in Ubud, Bali and $3,326 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 $1,396 in Ubud, Bali and $2,217 in Lake Charles, LA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $487 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,581 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 $1,396, than in Lake Charles, LA at $2,217. 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 $1,396 versus $2,217 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.