🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,380 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,582 in Lexington, MA.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,496 in Lexington, MA.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,356 in Ubud, Bali versus $6,409 in Lexington, MA.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 47% less than in Lexington, MA, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali2% above, Lexington, MA90% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Lexington, MA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.30Rp 59.0K
$20.26$20.26
-83.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.28Rp 684.1K
$75.1$75.1
-49.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.48Rp 98.0K
$16.24$16.24
-66.26%
Cappuccino
$2.63Rp 47.1K
$4.91$4.91
-46.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65Rp 29.6K
$2.75$2.75
-40.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70Rp 12.6K
$1.98$1.98
-64.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.63Rp 47.1K
$6.97$6.97
-62.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25Rp 76.0K
$8.14$8.14
-47.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Lexington, MA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.52Rp 27.2K
$1.05$1.05
44.76%
White Bread(500g)
$2.33Rp 41.6K
$3.96$3.96
-41.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.07Rp 19.2K
$3.91$3.91
-72.63%
Eggs
$2.07Rp 37.0K
$4.74$4.74
-56.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.34Rp 309.9K
$11.63$11.63
49.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.06Rp 72.5K
$10.28$10.28
-60.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.11Rp 216.4K
$14.80$14.80
-18.18%
Apples(1kg)
$3.70Rp 66.2K
$4.82$4.82
-23.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55Rp 27.7K
$1.85$1.85
-16.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.35Rp 41.9K
$4.25$4.25
-44.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99Rp 35.5K
$4.46$4.46
-55.38%
Potato(1kg)
$1.89Rp 33.8K
$2.73$2.73
-30.77%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18Rp 39.0K
$2.92$2.92
-25.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03Rp 18.4K
$2.08$2.08
-50.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52Rp 9,209
$2.41$2.41
-78.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.29Rp 41.0K
$10.46$10.46
-78.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.66Rp 422.8K
$14.21$14.21
66.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.32Rp 41.5K
$2.00$2.00
16.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77Rp 49.5K
$3.90$3.90
-28.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Lexington, MA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25Rp 4,415
$2.14$2.14
-88.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.60Rp 153.6K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.46Rp 8,134
$2.96$2.96
-84.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43Rp 7,671
$1.92$1.92
-77.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.60Rp 100.0K
$27.55$27.55
-79.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.80Rp 14.3K
$0.98$0.98
-18.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.1KRp 431.5M
$39.1K$39.1K
-38.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6KRp 564.6M
$25.7K$25.7K
23.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Lexington, MA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.1Rp 1.4M
$198$198
-59.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.51Rp 116.3K
$58.6$58.6
-88.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.71Rp 334.3K
$69.5$69.5
-73.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Lexington, MA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.7Rp 995.3K
$41.02$41.02
35.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.19Rp 325.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.34Rp 77.5K
$13.92$13.92
-68.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Lexington, MA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$478Rp 8.5M
$1,433$1,433
-66.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,798Rp 103.6M
$23.5K$23.5K
-75.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Lexington, MA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.95Rp 839.0K
$56.8$56.8
-17.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.69Rp 637.8K
$44.51$44.51
-19.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.5Rp 1.4M
$89.9$89.9
-11.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.8Rp 1.4M
$105$105
-23.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Lexington, MA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,138Rp 20.3M
$1,513$1,513
-24.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$691Rp 12.4M
$1,342$1,342
-48.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,595Rp 64.2M
$2,347$2,347
53.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,712Rp 30.6M
$3,532$3,532
-51.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,809Rp 50.2M
$2,764$2,764
1.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,295Rp 41.0M
$2,402$2,402
-4.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Lexington, MA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$171Rp 3.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
6.12
125.16%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 11, 2026
Last update for Lexington, MA: August 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,138 in Ubud, Bali and $1,513 in Lexington, MA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $75.0 in Lexington, MA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $387 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 Lexington, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and in Lexington, MA?
Ubud, Bali and Lexington, MA differ by about 87% in total monthly costs ($1,380 vs $2,582 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Ubud, Bali compared to Lexington, MA?
You'd need roughly $2,070 in Ubud, Bali and $3,873 in Lexington, MA to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Lexington, MA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,138 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,513 in Lexington, MA. 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 33% higher in Lexington, MA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Lexington, MA?
All in, you'll spend $1,380 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $2,582 in Lexington, MA – a 87% 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 $1,380 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,582 in Lexington, MA, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Lexington, MA. 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 Lexington, MA?
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 Lexington, MA safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Lexington, MA 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 Lexington, MA?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 87% less than in Lexington, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared