Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Laurel, MD Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Laurel, MD

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,395 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,693 in Laurel, MD.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,559 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,269 in Laurel, MD.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,724 in Ubud, Bali versus $5,844 in Laurel, MD.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 48% less than in Laurel, MD, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 4% above, Laurel, MD 100% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Laurel, MD
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.48 Rp 59.7K
$12.20 $12.20
-71.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.88 Rp 564.0K
$50.9 $50.9
-35.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.09 Rp 87.3K
$10.17 $10.17
-49.95%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 47.1K
$4.90 $4.90
-43.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 23.7K
$2.05 $2.05
-32.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 Rp 12.2K
$2.05 $2.05
-65.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.88 Rp 49.4K
$6.46 $6.46
-55.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.87 Rp 66.4K
$7.68 $7.68
-49.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Laurel, MD
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 Rp 30.7K
$0.99 $0.99
80.81%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 Rp 42.0K
$3.60 $3.60
-31.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 Rp 20.7K
$7.33 $7.33
-83.49%
Eggs
$2.39 Rp 40.9K
$3.89 $3.89
-38.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.70 Rp 252.1K
$18.77 $18.77
-21.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.24 Rp 72.7K
$19.84 $19.84
-78.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.08 Rp 207.1K
$13.39 $13.39
-9.78%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 Rp 62.9K
$6.29 $6.29
-41.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.6K
$2.88 $2.88
-44.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.72 Rp 46.6K
$8.21 $8.21
-66.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 Rp 39.0K
$10.91 $10.91
-79.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 32.6K
$2.80 $2.80
-32.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.30 Rp 39.4K
$2.16 $2.16
6.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 Rp 17.4K
$2.87 $2.87
-64.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 13.4K
$2.95 $2.95
-73.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.24 Rp 55.7K
$7.87 $7.87
-58.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.06 Rp 412.7K
$17.70 $17.70
35.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.84 Rp 48.7K
$1.70 $1.70
67.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 47.8K
$3.78 $3.78
-26.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Laurel, MD
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,610
$2.01 $2.01
-86.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.24 Rp 141.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 7,708
$4.48 $4.48
-89.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,305
$1.63 $1.63
-73.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.02 Rp 103.3K
$29.47 $29.47
-79.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 Rp 14.7K
$0.84 $0.84
2.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 447.1M
$26.4K $26.4K
-1.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 543.7M
$24.9K $24.9K
27.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Laurel, MD
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.3 Rp 1.3M
$161 $161
-51.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.00 Rp 68.5K
$53.2 $53.2
-92.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.35 Rp 417.7K
$66.3 $66.3
-63.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Laurel, MD
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$95.8 Rp 1.6M
$42.51 $42.51
125.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.46 Rp 110.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.01 Rp 68.7K
$12.99 $12.99
-69.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Laurel, MD
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$302 Rp 5.2M
$1,821 $1,821
-83.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,545 Rp 112.3M
$23.5K $23.5K
-72.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Laurel, MD
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 Rp 916.3K
$38.55 $38.55
38.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.55 Rp 661.2K
$29.63 $29.63
30.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.1 Rp 1.5M
$90.6 $90.6
-1.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
$121 $121
-34.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Laurel, MD
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,016 Rp 17.4M
$1,582 $1,582
-35.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$672 Rp 11.5M
$1,390 $1,390
-51.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,368 Rp 57.8M
$2,631 $2,631
28.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,108 Rp 36.2M
$2,989 $2,989
-29.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,001 Rp 51.5M
$2,195 $2,195
36.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,337 Rp 40.1M
$2,502 $2,502
-6.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Laurel, MD
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$178 Rp 3.0M
$5,346 $5,346
-96.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
6.55
102.75%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 12, 2026

Last update for Laurel, MD: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,016 in Ubud, Bali and $1,582 in Laurel, MD. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Laurel, MD pays 2912% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33 in Ubud, Bali vs $51 in Laurel, MD for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $300 vs $534 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

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 Laurel, MD: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and Laurel, MD?
Ubud, Bali and Laurel, MD differ by about 93% in total monthly costs ($1,395 vs $2,693 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Laurel, MD earns 2912% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and Laurel, MD?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,016 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,582 in Laurel, MD. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 78% higher in Laurel, MD. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Laurel, MD?
All in, you'll spend $1,395 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $2,693 in Laurel, MD – a 93% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,395 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,693 in Laurel, MD, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Laurel, MD. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Laurel, MD?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ubud, Bali or Laurel, MD safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Laurel, MD are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ubud, Bali or Laurel, MD?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 93% less than in Laurel, MD. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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