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 $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $636 in Lucena, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,023 in Lucena, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,275 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,410 in Lucena, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 117% more than Lucena, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Lucena is 54% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

$1.52 ₱95.5

119.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

$19.60 ₱1,229

82.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

$1.70 ₱107

231.18%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

$1.33 ₱83.2

112.03%

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

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

$0.34 ₱21.04

414.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

$0.29 ₱18.24

175.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

$1.35 ₱84.4

125.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$1.34 ₱84.3

220.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

$1.73 ₱109

-6.94%

White Bread (500g)

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

$1.18 ₱74.1

92.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

$0.86 ₱54.2

36.05%

Eggs

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

$1.80 ₱113

20.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

$6.86 ₱430

157.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

$4.28 ₱268

-5.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

$6.93 ₱434

75.76%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

$4.06 ₱254

-10.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

$1.39 ₱87.3

17.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

$3.50 ₱219

-34.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

$1.13 ₱71.1

73.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

$2.36 ₱148

-22.03%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

$3.47 ₱217

-31.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

$1.40 ₱87.7

-25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 Rp 9,560

$0.93 ₱58.1

-41.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

$2.73 ₱171

-15.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

$7.43 ₱466

210.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

$1.34 ₱83.7

74.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

$1.77 ₱111

73.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,365

$0.27 ₱17.06

-7.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

$11.34 ₱711

-16.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,631

$0.76 ₱47.84

-35.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 Rp 8,349

$0.23 ₱14.44

104.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

$2.63 ₱165

112.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

$1.15 ₱71.9

-29.57%

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

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

$21.3K ₱1.3M

17.44%

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

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

$18.9K ₱1.2M

63.96%

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

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

$47.96 ₱3,007

72.48%

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

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

$6.27 ₱393

3.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

$11.40 ₱715

64.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

$32.64 ₱2,046

69.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

$4.76 ₱299

282.56%

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$7.30 ₱458

-41.10%

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

$494 Rp 8.7M

$73.2 ₱4,587

575.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

$2,486 ₱155.9K

137.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

$35.67 ₱2,237

29.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

$22.68 ₱1,422

60.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

$79.4 ₱4,978

1.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

$77.3 ₱4,847

1.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

$270 ₱16.9K

313.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$693 Rp 12.2M

$169 ₱10.6K

309.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

$491 ₱30.8K

641.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

$353 ₱22.2K

384.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

$2,551 ₱159.9K

8.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

$1,045 ₱65.5K

119.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 2.9M

$316 ₱19.8K

-47.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

96.86%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Last update for Lucena: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $270 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 89% 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $20.00 in Lucena. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $294 vs $207 – 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: $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, $636 in Lucena – roughly 117% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,067 per month in Ubud, Bali and $954 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.

Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Ubud, Bali and $73.2 in Lucena. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 42% 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 $636, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,378. 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 $636 in Lucena to $1,378 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.