Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Leuven Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Leuven

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,394 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,225 in Leuven.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,551 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,341 in Leuven.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,708 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,457 in Leuven.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 37% less than in Leuven, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 5% above, Leuven 67% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Leuven
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.40 Rp 60.2K
$17.46 €15.03
-80.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.38 Rp 573.6K
$93.3 €80.3
-65.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.00 Rp 88.6K
$11.53 €9.93
-56.63%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 50.0K
$4.21 €3.63
-33.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 24.4K
$3.41 €2.94
-59.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.0K
$3.51 €3.02
-79.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.98 Rp 52.8K
$4.84 €4.17
-38.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97 Rp 70.3K
$3.67 €3.16
8.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Leuven
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 Rp 31.8K
$1.39 €1.20
28.78%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 43.7K
$2.18 €1.88
12.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.2K
$2.98 €2.57
-59.73%
Eggs
$2.39 Rp 42.3K
$3.41 €2.93
-29.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.40 Rp 255.1K
$11.95 €10.29
20.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.28 Rp 75.9K
$13.08 €11.27
-67.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.82 Rp 209.4K
$17.18 €14.79
-31.20%
Apples (1kg)
$3.78 Rp 67.0K
$2.76 €2.38
36.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 28.9K
$2.35 €2.02
-30.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.80 Rp 49.6K
$2.01 €1.73
39.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 Rp 40.0K
$2.64 €2.28
-14.39%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 Rp 35.3K
$2.17 €1.87
-7.83%
Onion (1kg)
$2.21 Rp 39.2K
$1.71 €1.47
29.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 Rp 18.9K
$1.52 €1.31
-29.61%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 Rp 13.5K
$1.26 €1.09
-39.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 Rp 55.4K
$12.48 €10.75
-74.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.81 Rp 421.9K
$7.44 €6.41
220.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.84 Rp 50.3K
$2.30 €1.98
23.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.2K
$2.16 €1.86
28.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Leuven
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,726
$2.83 €2.44
-90.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.37 Rp 148.2K
$37.30 €32.12
-77.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,034
$6.42 €5.53
-92.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,578
$2.65 €2.28
-83.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.98 Rp 105.9K
$34.60 €29.80
-82.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
$1.86 €1.60
-56.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.8K Rp 457.2M
$29.9K €25.8K
-13.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.8K Rp 563.4M
$28.7K €24.8K
10.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Leuven
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.7 Rp 1.4M
$181 €156
-55.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.14 Rp 73.3K
$21.40 €18.43
-80.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.12 Rp 427.2K
$48.98 €42.17
-50.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Leuven
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$97.8 Rp 1.7M
$46.70 €40.21
109.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.64 Rp 117.7K
$16.81 €14.48
-60.50%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 71.5K
$14.54 €12.52
-72.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Leuven
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$297 Rp 5.3M
$652 €562
-54.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,590 Rp 116.7M
$13.6K €11.7K
-51.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Leuven
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 Rp 976.8K
$104 €89.6
-47.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.51 Rp 682.1K
$31.94 €27.50
20.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
$92.6 €79.8
-7.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.0 Rp 1.4M
$130 €112
-40.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Leuven
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$985 Rp 17.5M
$994 €856
-0.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 Rp 11.8M
$1,082 €932
-38.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,446 Rp 61.0M
$2,133 €1,837
61.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,042 Rp 36.2M
$1,728 €1,488
18.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,829 Rp 50.1M
$5,765 €4,964
-50.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,282 Rp 40.4M
$3,776 €3,251
-39.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Leuven
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$169 Rp 3.0M
$3,524 €3,035
-95.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
3.83
246.74%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 14, 2026

Last update for Leuven: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $985 in Ubud, Bali and $994 in Leuven. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Leuven pays 1982% 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: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $93.0 in Leuven for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $299 vs $325 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 Leuven: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Leuven?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 60% lower than in Leuven. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or Leuven?
On paper, Leuven earns 1982% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali vs Leuven?
Rent for a central apartment: $985 in Ubud, Bali versus $994 in Leuven. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or Leuven?
Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Leuven. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Ubud, Bali vs Leuven?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $93.0 in Leuven. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or Leuven?
At $1,394 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,225 in Leuven, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Leuven. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Leuven?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,394 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Leuven?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Leuven 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 60% less than in Leuven. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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