Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Los Cabos

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,331 a month against $1,428 in Los Cabos, rent and utilities included – about $1,200 less a year. The total is higher in Los Cabos despite lower rent and utilities.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Los Cabos, Mexico
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,331
/mo nomad
Los Cabos
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,428
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Los Cabos

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Los Cabos actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,331 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,428 in Los Cabos.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,331
  • Los Cabos $1,428

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,242 in Los Cabos.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,255
  • Los Cabos $2,242

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,180 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,056 in Los Cabos.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,180
  • Los Cabos $3,056

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 7% less than in Los Cabos, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 2% below, Los Cabos is 6% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Los Cabos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.38 Rp 61.3K
$21.85 MX$411
-84.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.65 Rp 628.8K
$43.11 MX$811
-19.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.57 Rp 101.2K
$13.70 MX$258
-59.34%
Cappuccino
$2.62 Rp 47.5K
$4.97 MX$93.6
-47.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 Rp 27.9K
$2.33 MX$43.89
-33.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 Rp 11.6K
$2.05 MX$38.51
-68.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.67 Rp 48.4K
$5.09 MX$95.9
-47.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26 Rp 77.4K
$7.91 MX$149
-46.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Los Cabos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 Rp 26.5K
$1.57 MX$29.60
-7.01%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 Rp 41.6K
$2.87 MX$54.0
-20.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 20.1K
$2.26 MX$42.62
-50.88%
Eggs
$2.10 Rp 38.1K
$2.40 MX$45.12
-12.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 Rp 289.3K
$9.15 MX$172
74.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.88 Rp 70.5K
$9.26 MX$174
-58.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.40 Rp 206.9K
$17.61 MX$331
-35.26%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 Rp 64.5K
$4.14 MX$78.0
-14.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 Rp 27.9K
$1.74 MX$32.76
-11.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
$2.77 MX$52.1
-19.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.8K
$2.41 MX$45.34
-18.26%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 Rp 33.7K
$2.29 MX$43.19
-18.78%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 43.9K
$2.53 MX$47.56
-4.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 Rp 18.6K
$1.25 MX$23.47
-18.40%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 Rp 9,479
$0.84 MX$15.74
-38.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.20 Rp 39.9K
$4.34 MX$81.6
-49.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.79 Rp 395.4K
$10.33 MX$194
110.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 Rp 42.2K
$1.58 MX$29.76
47.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.9K
$3.14 MX$59.0
-5.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Los Cabos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,544
$1.32 MX$24.91
-81.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 148.4K
$30.58 MX$575
-73.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,944
$2.59 MX$48.68
-83.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 Rp 8,493
$1.95 MX$36.70
-75.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.60 Rp 101.6K
$10.58 MX$199
-47.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
$1.35 MX$25.48
-38.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K Rp 443.7M
$23.9K MX$449.9K
2.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 575.2M
$23.7K MX$445.8K
33.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Los Cabos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.5 Rp 1.4M
$56.4 MX$1,060
37.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.14 Rp 111.5K
$26.64 MX$501
-76.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.92 Rp 343.3K
$24.30 MX$457
-22.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Los Cabos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 Rp 925.4K
$32.29 MX$608
57.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.25 Rp 331.2K
$19.82 MX$373
-7.92%
Cinema Ticket
$4.38 Rp 79.5K
$4.40 MX$82.9
-0.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Los Cabos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$492 Rp 8.9M
$211 MX$3,978
132.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K Rp 221.8M
$4,437 MX$83.5K
175.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Los Cabos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.16 Rp 819.6K
$92.7 MX$1,744
-51.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.89 Rp 633.2K
$40.62 MX$764
-14.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
$121 MX$2,279
-35.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$87.2 MX$1,641
-10.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Los Cabos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 Rp 19.6M
$585 MX$11.0K
84.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 Rp 12.1M
$438 MX$8,244
51.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,510 Rp 63.7M
$1,020 MX$19.2K
244.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,671 Rp 30.3M
$768 MX$14.5K
117.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,340 Rp 42.5M
$1,923 MX$36.2K
21.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,236 Rp 40.6M
$1,127 MX$21.2K
98.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Los Cabos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
$813 MX$15.3K
-79.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
11.31
21.84%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: November 1, 2026

Last update for Los Cabos: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$665
Los Cabos
$438 34.1% $227
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$279
Los Cabos
$306 9.4% $26
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$106
Los Cabos
$154 44.6% $47
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$106
Los Cabos
$334 216% $229
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$103
Los Cabos
$107 4.6% $4.8
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$60
Los Cabos
$41 31.2% $19
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$12
Los Cabos
$48 303% $36

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,078 in Ubud, Bali and $585 in Los Cabos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Los Cabos pays about 4.9 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $35 in Ubud, Bali vs $43 in Los Cabos for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $279 vs $306 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇲🇽 Los Cabos
🕒 Local time
13:02 1:02 PM
22:02 10:02 PM
15 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
202,694
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 18,148 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,295 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.93 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 18.82 MXN (100 MXN = 5.31 USD). 1 EUR = 21.05 MXN (100 MXN = 4.75 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Los Cabos 14,950 km ≈ 19 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Los Cabos

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Los Cabos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Los Cabos?
Ubud, Bali is about 7% cheaper overall, especially in eating out, clothing, and transport. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ubud, Bali or Los Cabos?
On paper, salaries run 80% lower in Ubud, Bali. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Los Cabos?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,078 in Ubud, Bali versus $585 in Los Cabos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or in Los Cabos?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $35 versus $43 in Los Cabos. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali and in Los Cabos?
All in, you’ll spend $1,331 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,428 in Los Cabos – Ubud, Bali is about 7% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Is $1,000 enough to cover costs in Ubud, Bali or in Los Cabos?
Both cities are expensive relative to $1,000. Ubud, Bali is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Is it better to live in Ubud, Bali or in Los Cabos?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Ubud, Bali wins on affordability, Los Cabos on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?