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 $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,675 in Lake Charles, LA, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,582 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,929 in Lake Charles, LA, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,757 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $5,183 in Lake Charles, LA, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 47% 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%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.42 Rp 58.7K
$26.19 $26.19
-86.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96 Rp 566.5K
$91.7 $91.7
-64.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.08 Rp 87.3K
$10.14 $10.14
-49.90%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 48.5K
$4.35 $4.35
-35.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 Rp 23.5K
$1.67 $1.67
-17.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 Rp 12.2K
$2.15 $2.15
-66.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.97 Rp 51.0K
$5.82 $5.82
-48.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 Rp 67.2K
$7.93 $7.93
-50.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.75 Rp 30.0K
$1.32 $1.32
32.58%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 43.2K
$4.09 $4.09
-38.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 Rp 20.8K
$6.01 $6.01
-79.87%
Eggs
$2.33 Rp 40.1K
$4.50 $4.50
-48.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 Rp 249.2K
$14.78 $14.78
-1.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.36 Rp 74.9K
$11.34 $11.34
-61.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.05 Rp 207.0K
$14.75 $14.75
-18.31%
Apples (1kg)
$3.82 Rp 65.6K
$4.32 $4.32
-11.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.7K
$1.28 $1.28
25.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.70 Rp 46.5K
$2.01 $2.01
34.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 38.3K
$5.19 $5.19
-57.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 32.6K
$4.02 $4.02
-52.74%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 Rp 37.5K
$2.15 $2.15
1.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 Rp 17.7K
$2.27 $2.27
-54.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 Rp 13.3K
$2.93 $2.93
-73.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.18 Rp 54.7K
$8.72 $8.72
-63.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.23 Rp 399.2K
$17.14 $17.14
35.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.85 Rp 48.9K
$2.09 $2.09
36.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 Rp 46.7K
$3.61 $3.61
-24.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,022
$1.95 $1.95
-85.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.43 Rp 144.8K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.49 Rp 8,344
$3.58 $3.58
-86.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 7,812
$1.45 $1.45
-68.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.28 Rp 107.8K
$34.75 $34.75
-81.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 14.6K
$0.83 $0.83
2.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 447.8M
$34.7K $34.7K
-25.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5K Rp 541.8M
$27.9K $27.9K
12.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.8 Rp 1.4M
$239 $239
-66.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09 Rp 70.3K
$58.2 $58.2
-92.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.06 Rp 413.6K
$59.8 $59.8
-59.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.2 Rp 1.7M
$42.45 $42.45
126.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.53 Rp 112.2K
$14.18 $14.18
-53.95%
Cinema Ticket
$4.13 Rp 71.1K
$11.43 $11.43
-63.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$297 Rp 5.1M
$1,594 $1,594
-81.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,661 Rp 114.5M
$10.2K $10.2K
-34.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.0 Rp 944.5K
$47.13 $47.13
16.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.75 Rp 666.0K
$40.52 $40.52
-4.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.6 Rp 1.5M
$77.2 $77.2
16.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
$101 $101
-21.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,018 Rp 17.5M
$1,574 $1,574
-35.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$660 Rp 11.3M
$1,329 $1,329
-50.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,435 Rp 59.0M
$2,614 $2,614
31.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,053 Rp 35.3M
$2,207 $2,207
-6.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,981 Rp 51.2M
$1,367 $1,367
118.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,368 Rp 40.7M
$1,357 $1,357
74.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Lake Charles, LA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$172 Rp 3.0M
$3,676 $3,676
-95.32%
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: April 21, 2026

Last update for Lake Charles, LA: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,018 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,574 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 2036% 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 $33 in Ubud, Bali versus $92 in Lake Charles, LA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $299 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
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Lake Charles, LA?
Lake Charles, LA costs about 90% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali vs Lake Charles, LA?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $4,012 in Lake Charles, LA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ubud, Bali or Lake Charles, LA?
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.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Lake Charles, LA?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,408 in Ubud, Bali and $2,675 in Lake Charles, LA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and Lake Charles, LA?
Kindergarten costs $297 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,594 in Lake Charles, LA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or Lake Charles, LA?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,408, than in Lake Charles, LA at $2,675. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lake Charles, LA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Lake Charles, LA?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,408 versus $2,675 in Lake Charles, LA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Lake Charles, LA?
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.
Should I move to Ubud, Bali or Lake Charles, LA?
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.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities