😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $900 in Margate.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,460 in Margate.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,275 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,020 in Margate.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 53% more expensive than in Margate, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Margate is 35% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Margate
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33Rp 58.7K
$7.84R 126
-57.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.82Rp 630.7K
$37.39R 602
-4.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.63Rp 99.1K
$6.20R 99.8
-9.19%
Cappuccino
$2.82Rp 49.7K
$1.87R 30.09
50.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75Rp 30.8K
$1.07R 17.26
63.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80Rp 14.0K
$0.85R 13.74
-5.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.04Rp 53.6K
$2.46R 39.61
23.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30Rp 75.7K
$2.35R 37.87
82.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Margate
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.61Rp 28.3K
$1.02R 16.36
57.84%
White Bread(500g)
$2.27Rp 39.9K
$0.96R 15.39
136.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17Rp 20.6K
$1.16R 18.60
0.86%
Eggs
$2.17Rp 38.2K
$2.47R 39.85
-12.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.63Rp 310.5K
$5.21R 83.9
238.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.05Rp 71.4K
$3.46R 55.6
17.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.18Rp 214.5K
$6.01R 96.7
102.66%
Apples(1kg)
$3.62Rp 63.7K
$1.24R 20.02
191.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64Rp 28.8K
$1.22R 19.62
34.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31Rp 40.6K
$1.10R 17.68
110.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.96Rp 34.5K
$1.50R 24.20
30.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84Rp 32.5K
$1.06R 17.09
73.58%
Onion(1kg)
$2.37Rp 41.7K
$1.37R 22.05
72.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05Rp 18.5K
$1.18R 19.04
-11.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54Rp 9,560
$1.01R 16.33
-46.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.30Rp 40.6K
$1.74R 27.95
32.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.08Rp 406.4K
$3.73R 60.0
518.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34Rp 41.2K
$1.45R 23.36
61.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07Rp 54.0K
$1.89R 30.49
62.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Margate
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25Rp 4,365
$1.53R 24.65
-83.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.42Rp 165.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.49Rp 8,631
$0.49R 7.86
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.47Rp 8,349
$0.72R 11.52
-34.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.60Rp 98.6K
$7.83R 126
-28.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.2K
$1.39R 22.40
-41.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0KRp 440.3M
$36.5KR 587.8K
-31.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1KRp 547.0M
$33.0KR 531.5K
-5.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Margate
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.7Rp 1.5M
$61.5R 991
34.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49Rp 114.2K
$18.61R 300
-65.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.79Rp 330.8K
$34.81R 561
-46.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Margate
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.2Rp 972.6K
$32.77R 528
68.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.21Rp 320.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.30Rp 75.7K
$4.32R 69.5
-0.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Margate
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$494Rp 8.7M
$332R 5,353
48.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,917Rp 104.2M
$7,836R 126.2K
-24.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Margate
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.28Rp 814.8K
$56.3R 906
-17.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.44Rp 641.6K
$18.52R 298
96.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.7Rp 1.4M
$76.0R 1,224
6.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.8Rp 1.4M
$50.7R 816
55.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Margate
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,114Rp 19.6M
$432R 6,957
157.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$693Rp 12.2M
$382R 6,159
81.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,639Rp 64.1M
$817R 13.2K
345.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,712Rp 30.1M
$781R 12.6K
119.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,761Rp 48.6M
$877R 14.1K
214.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,293Rp 40.4M
$681R 11.0K
236.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Margate
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$167Rp 2.9M
$1,538R 24.8K
-89.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
11.81
16.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026
Last update for Margate: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali and $432 in Margate. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Margate pays 821% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $37.00 in Margate. Groceries flip the comparison at $294 vs $152, with Margate cheaper for home cooking.
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 53% 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 821% 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: $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $432 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 $494 in Ubud, Bali versus $332 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 $37.00 versus $36.00 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 $900 in Margate versus $1,378 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 $900 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 53% 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