😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,394 in Ubud, Bali versus $928 in Margate.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,551 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,430 in Margate.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,708 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,931 in Margate.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 50% more expensive than in Margate, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Margate is 30% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Margate
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.40Rp 60.6K
$6.96R 114
-51.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.38Rp 577.1K
$27.51R 452
17.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.00Rp 89.1K
$3.53R 58.1
41.64%
Cappuccino
$2.82Rp 50.3K
$1.23R 20.19
129.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38Rp 24.5K
$0.73R 11.98
89.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73Rp 13.0K
$0.38R 6.22
92.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.98Rp 53.2K
$1.92R 31.54
55.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97Rp 70.8K
$1.38R 22.66
187.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Margate
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79Rp 32.0K
$0.82R 13.43
118.29%
White Bread(500g)
$2.46Rp 43.9K
$0.74R 12.15
232.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20Rp 21.4K
$1.26R 20.67
-4.76%
Eggs
$2.39Rp 42.6K
$2.18R 35.79
9.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.40Rp 256.6K
$4.87R 80.0
195.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.28Rp 76.4K
$2.40R 39.53
78.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82Rp 210.6K
$3.34R 54.9
253.89%
Apples(1kg)
$3.78Rp 67.4K
$1.42R 23.29
166.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63Rp 29.1K
$1.36R 22.39
19.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.80Rp 49.9K
$1.27R 20.95
120.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26Rp 40.3K
$1.30R 21.30
73.85%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00Rp 35.6K
$1.00R 16.41
100.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.21Rp 39.4K
$1.23R 20.29
79.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07Rp 19.1K
$1.02R 16.77
4.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76Rp 13.6K
$0.87R 14.38
-12.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13Rp 55.7K
$1.46R 23.92
114.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.81Rp 424.4K
$3.71R 60.9
541.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.84Rp 50.6K
$0.91R 15.03
212.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78Rp 49.5K
$1.36R 22.35
104.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Margate
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,755
$1.07R 17.59
-74.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.37Rp 149.1K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 8,082
$0.70R 11.50
-35.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43Rp 7,624
$0.59R 9.62
-27.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.98Rp 106.5K
$4.60R 75.5
30.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.80Rp 14.3K
$1.26R 20.77
-36.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.8KRp 459.9M
$19.9KR 327.0K
29.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.8KRp 566.8M
$24.4KR 401.4K
30.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Margate
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.7Rp 1.4M
$142R 2,329
-43.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.14Rp 73.7K
$29.58R 486
-86.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.12Rp 429.8K
$34.09R 560
-29.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Margate
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$97.8Rp 1.7M
$31.09R 511
214.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.64Rp 118.4K
$3.33R 54.7
99.40%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04Rp 71.9K
$3.60R 59.2
12.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Margate
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$297Rp 5.3M
$204R 3,356
45.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,590Rp 117.4M
$4,687R 77.0K
40.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Margate
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1Rp 982.6K
$41.39R 680
33.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.51Rp 686.2K
$30.17R 496
27.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.1Rp 1.5M
$93.5R 1,537
-7.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.0Rp 1.4M
$74.2R 1,220
5.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Margate
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$985Rp 17.6M
$366R 6,017
169.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$665Rp 11.8M
$329R 5,408
102.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,446Rp 61.4M
$675R 11.1K
410.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,042Rp 36.4M
$697R 11.5K
193.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,829Rp 50.4M
$899R 14.8K
214.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,282Rp 40.7M
$721R 11.9K
216.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Margate
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$169Rp 3.0M
$1,534R 25.2K
-88.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
12.01
10.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 14, 2026
Last update for Margate: June 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $985 in Ubud, Bali and $366 in Margate. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Margate pays 806% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $28.00 in Margate for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $299 vs $128 per month, with Margate 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 Margate: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Margate?
Margate wins on cost – living expenses run 50% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Margate the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or in Margate?
On paper, salaries run 806% lower in Margate. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali compared to Margate?
Rent for a central apartment: $985 in Ubud, Bali versus $366 in Margate. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Margate?
Childcare runs $297 in Ubud, Bali versus $204 in Margate. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Margate?
Dining out is cheaper in Margate – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Margate?
At $928 in Margate versus $1,394 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Margate but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Margate the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Margate?
Both work as nomad bases, but Margate delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $928 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Margate hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Margate?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Margate 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Margate gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared