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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,374 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,901 in Locarno, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,313 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,558 in Locarno, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,252 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $6,215 in Locarno, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 53% cheaper than Locarno, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Locarno sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 2%, Locarno by 115%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Locarno
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32 Rp 59.4K
$27.18 CHF 22.71
-87.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.33 Rp 631.4K
$118 CHF 98.7
-70.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.33 Rp 95.3K
$17.68 CHF 14.77
-69.85%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
$4.95 CHF 4.14
-44.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 Rp 30.9K
$5.31 CHF 4.43
-67.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 Rp 14.3K
$4.25 CHF 3.55
-81.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 Rp 52.7K
$8.29 CHF 6.93
-64.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44 Rp 79.3K
$5.97 CHF 4.99
-25.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Locarno
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 Rp 26.8K
$2.18 CHF 1.82
-31.19%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 Rp 41.1K
$3.87 CHF 3.23
-40.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.10 Rp 19.6K
$3.13 CHF 2.61
-64.86%
Eggs
$2.16 Rp 38.6K
$7.20 CHF 6.02
-70.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.09 Rp 305.4K
$25.62 CHF 21.41
-33.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.88 Rp 69.3K
$16.21 CHF 13.54
-76.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.92 Rp 213.0K
$35.68 CHF 29.82
-66.59%
Apples (1kg)
$3.57 Rp 63.7K
$2.97 CHF 2.48
20.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 Rp 28.3K
$1.64 CHF 1.37
-3.66%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.36 Rp 42.2K
$2.04 CHF 1.71
15.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.1K
$3.50 CHF 2.93
-43.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
$1.22 CHF 1.02
48.36%
Onion (1kg)
$2.39 Rp 42.7K
$1.78 CHF 1.48
34.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 Rp 18.2K
$1.87 CHF 1.57
-45.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 Rp 8,782
$1.16 CHF 0.97
-57.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25 Rp 40.1K
$10.77 CHF 9.00
-79.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.30 Rp 398.5K
$13.13 CHF 10.97
69.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.37 Rp 42.3K
$3.04 CHF 2.54
-22.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 Rp 51.7K
$3.01 CHF 2.52
-3.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Locarno
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,452
$2.57 CHF 2.14
-90.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.55 Rp 152.8K
$95.4 CHF 79.8
-91.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,897
$12.25 CHF 10.23
-96.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,547
$2.41 CHF 2.01
-82.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.66 Rp 101.2K
$60.3 CHF 50.4
-90.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$2.24 CHF 1.88
-63.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7K Rp 424.2M
$38.7K CHF 32.3K
-38.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.0K Rp 553.6M
$38.8K CHF 32.5K
-20.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Locarno
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.3 Rp 1.5M
$478 CHF 399
-82.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.30 Rp 112.6K
$26.82 CHF 22.41
-76.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.63 Rp 333.0K
$57.0 CHF 47.65
-67.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Locarno
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.7 Rp 978.1K
$70.8 CHF 59.2
-22.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.45 Rp 329.7K
$30.21 CHF 25.24
-38.93%
Cinema Ticket
$4.24 Rp 75.8K
$19.52 CHF 16.31
-78.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Locarno
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$484 Rp 8.7M
$1,415 CHF 1,182
-65.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,590 Rp 99.9M
$18.9K CHF 15.8K
-70.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Locarno
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.77 Rp 818.0K
$94.9 CHF 79.3
-51.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.69 Rp 637.9K
$56.3 CHF 47.05
-36.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
$97.4 CHF 81.4
-19.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.1 Rp 1.4M
$116 CHF 97.3
-31.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Locarno
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,147 Rp 20.5M
$1,012 CHF 846
13.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$678 Rp 12.1M
$1,022 CHF 854
-33.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,504 Rp 62.6M
$2,384 CHF 1,992
46.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,688 Rp 30.2M
$2,185 CHF 1,826
-22.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,788 Rp 49.8M
$8,014 CHF 6,696
-65.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,257 Rp 40.3M
$6,002 CHF 5,015
-62.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Locarno
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 2.9M
$6,622 CHF 5,533
-97.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
1.93
613.99%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 28, 2026

Last update for Locarno: September 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,147 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,012 in Locarno. 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 3912% higher in Locarno, 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 $35.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $118 in Locarno. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $493 – 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 Locarno: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Locarno cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Locarno is pricier by about 111%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,062 per month in Ubud, Bali and $4,352 in Locarno. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 1016% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $484 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,415 in Locarno. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Locarno?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,374, than in Locarno at $2,901. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Locarno it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ubud, Bali or Locarno more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ubud, Bali – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Locarno?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Locarno makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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