Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Los Cabos Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Los Cabos

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,419 in Los Cabos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,348 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,325 in Los Cabos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,232 in Los Cabos.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 4% less than in Los Cabos, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 0% above, Los Cabos 4% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Los Cabos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44 Rp 61.0K
$24.08 MX$415
-85.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.31 Rp 644.0K
$46.22 MX$796
-21.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.71 Rp 101.2K
$13.68 MX$236
-58.26%
Cappuccino
$2.67 Rp 47.4K
$5.30 MX$91.3
-49.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 Rp 31.0K
$2.43 MX$41.88
-27.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 Rp 15.5K
$2.11 MX$36.37
-58.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 Rp 52.4K
$5.04 MX$86.7
-41.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52 Rp 80.1K
$8.87 MX$153
-49.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Los Cabos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
$1.70 MX$29.34
-4.71%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
$3.14 MX$54.0
-25.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 19.6K
$2.42 MX$41.71
-54.13%
Eggs
$2.20 Rp 39.0K
$2.45 MX$42.26
-10.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.69 Rp 313.8K
$9.68 MX$167
82.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.10 Rp 72.7K
$10.35 MX$178
-60.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.18 Rp 216.0K
$18.88 MX$325
-35.49%
Apples (1kg)
$3.71 Rp 65.7K
$4.44 MX$76.4
-16.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.2K
$1.80 MX$31.04
-11.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.5K
$3.00 MX$51.6
-24.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.95 Rp 34.6K
$2.67 MX$45.99
-26.97%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.8K
$2.50 MX$42.98
-23.60%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
$2.70 MX$46.53
-13.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 17.9K
$1.40 MX$24.09
-27.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 9,788
$0.91 MX$15.61
-39.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 Rp 39.6K
$4.77 MX$82.1
-53.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.07 Rp 409.2K
$11.54 MX$199
99.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 Rp 42.9K
$1.66 MX$28.54
45.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 Rp 53.1K
$3.27 MX$56.3
-8.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Los Cabos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,821
$0.72 MX$12.33
-62.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.98 Rp 159.3K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,580
$2.83 MX$48.72
-83.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,691
$2.16 MX$37.12
-80.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.64 Rp 100.1K
$11.23 MX$193
-49.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
$1.52 MX$26.20
-47.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K Rp 442.4M
$22.6K MX$390.0K
10.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 562.4M
$25.7K MX$443.0K
23.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Los Cabos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
$62.7 MX$1,080
29.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49 Rp 115.2K
$29.37 MX$506
-77.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.77 Rp 332.9K
$26.32 MX$453
-28.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Los Cabos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.9 Rp 1.0M
$37.04 MX$638
53.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.73 Rp 332.2K
$21.47 MX$370
-12.76%
Cinema Ticket
$4.54 Rp 80.5K
$4.71 MX$81.1
-3.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Los Cabos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$481 Rp 8.5M
$242 MX$4,165
98.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,711 Rp 101.3M
$4,816 MX$82.9K
18.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Los Cabos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.52 Rp 807.3K
$98.6 MX$1,698
-53.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.88 Rp 636.4K
$44.45 MX$765
-19.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
$132 MX$2,271
-39.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
$93.5 MX$1,609
-15.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Los Cabos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,115 Rp 19.8M
$656 MX$11.3K
69.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$698 Rp 12.4M
$421 MX$7,250
65.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,637 Rp 64.5M
$1,117 MX$19.2K
225.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,737 Rp 30.8M
$820 MX$14.1K
111.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 Rp 49.4M
$1,923 MX$33.1K
44.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,290 Rp 40.6M
$1,223 MX$21.1K
87.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Los Cabos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$168 Rp 3.0M
$878 MX$15.1K
-80.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
11.3
21.95%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Los Cabos: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali and $656 in Los Cabos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Los Cabos pays 422% 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: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $46.00 in Los Cabos for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $295 vs $331 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 Los Cabos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Los Cabos cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 4% gap 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 422% lower in Los Cabos. 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: $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $656 in Los Cabos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Los Cabos?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Los Cabos. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali and in Los Cabos?
All in, you'll spend $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,419 in Los Cabos – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Los Cabos?
At $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,419 in Los Cabos, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Los Cabos. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Los Cabos more family-friendly?
For families, Ubud, Bali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Los Cabos, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Los Cabos?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Los Cabos 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Los Cabos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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