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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $488 in Lucena, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $859 in Lucena, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,230 in Lucena, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 188% more than Lucena, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Lucena is 63% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.0K

$1.65 ₱102

109.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 580.1K

$8.80 ₱542

267.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 86.9K

$1.89 ₱116

156.08%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

$1.07 ₱65.8

157.01%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

$0.67 ₱41.29

105.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

$0.35 ₱21.39

114.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.7K

$0.93 ₱57.0

221.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.1K

$1.46 ₱90.0

163.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

$1.67 ₱103

4.19%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$1.27 ₱78.0

93.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

$0.88 ₱54.3

32.95%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.6K

$1.99 ₱123

22.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 260.2K

$7.06 ₱435

105.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 78.0K

$1.38 ₱85.2

215.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 214.9K

$2.61 ₱161

359.00%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.7K

$0.93 ₱57.3

300.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$1.07 ₱66.1

52.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.2K

$0.85 ₱52.5

222.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

$0.73 ₱44.69

206.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.4K

$1.09 ₱67.0

76.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

$1.12 ₱68.8

103.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$1.21 ₱74.7

-12.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$0.73 ₱45.02

-1.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 58.9K

$3.09 ₱191

6.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.1K

$7.73 ₱476

200.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.8K

$1.53 ₱94.5

81.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.0K

$0.87 ₱53.8

213.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,778

$0.29 ₱17.82

-6.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,659

$0.78 ₱47.75

-38.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,532

$0.27 ₱16.75

55.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.6K

$2.18 ₱134

185.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$1.15 ₱70.5

-29.57%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.6K Rp 477.4M

$25.4K ₱1.6M

4.85%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.2K Rp 577.4M

$20.2K ₱1.2M

59.44%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$62.5 ₱3,848

25.34%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.07 Rp 73.0K

$7.25 ₱446

-43.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 436.4K

$12.64 ₱778

92.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$33.56 ₱2,066

193.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.7K

$4.49 ₱277

41.20%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.5K

$7.04 ₱433

-43.32%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$305 Rp 5.5M

$82.3 ₱5,068

270.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.2M

$2,736 ₱168.4K

142.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 971.2K

$31.71 ₱1,952

70.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 678.2K

$29.11 ₱1,792

29.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

$53.5 ₱3,293

62.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

$95.5 ₱5,881

-20.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.8M

$131 ₱8,094

654.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.1M

$78.8 ₱4,849

754.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.5M

$591 ₱36.4K

471.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

$399 ₱24.5K

414.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.3M

$2,119 ₱130.4K

32.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 39.9M

$1,072 ₱66.0K

107.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$323 ₱19.9K

-48.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

8.13

63.35%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Lucena: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $131 in Lucena. 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 94% higher in Lucena, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $9.00 in Lucena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $139 – making Lucena 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 Lucena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, $488 in Lucena – roughly 188% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $733 in Lucena. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lucena, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali and $9.00 in Lucena. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 114% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lucena, where all-in costs run around $488, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In Lucena it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $488 in Lucena to $1,408 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Lucena. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.