😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $917 in Margate.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,412 in Margate.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,732 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,907 in Margate.
😐Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 57% more expensive than Margate, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 7% above, Margate is 32% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Margate
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57Rp 61.9K
$7.05R 118
-49.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58Rp 564.7K
$28.46R 477
14.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.07Rp 87.8K
$3.40R 57.0
49.12%
Cappuccino
$2.83Rp 49.0K
$1.23R 20.55
130.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34Rp 23.2K
$0.67R 11.27
100.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69Rp 12.0K
$0.37R 6.25
86.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.99Rp 51.8K
$2.01R 33.69
48.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85Rp 66.7K
$1.36R 22.86
183.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Margate
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74Rp 30.2K
$0.81R 13.59
114.81%
White Bread(500g)
$2.54Rp 44.0K
$0.80R 13.42
217.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19Rp 20.6K
$1.20R 20.21
-0.83%
Eggs
$2.43Rp 42.0K
$2.20R 36.92
10.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.66Rp 254.1K
$4.86R 81.6
201.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.18Rp 72.4K
$2.47R 41.49
69.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94Rp 206.9K
$3.50R 58.8
241.14%
Apples(1kg)
$3.69Rp 63.9K
$1.37R 22.92
169.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61Rp 27.8K
$1.40R 23.55
15.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.69Rp 46.5K
$1.23R 20.62
118.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 40.4K
$1.29R 21.68
80.62%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 33.0K
$0.99R 16.62
92.93%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19Rp 37.9K
$1.19R 19.95
84.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 18.3K
$0.97R 16.33
9.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72Rp 12.5K
$0.95R 15.97
-24.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13Rp 54.3K
$1.44R 24.23
117.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.49Rp 407.1K
$3.60R 60.3
552.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74Rp 47.5K
$0.93R 15.59
194.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88Rp 49.9K
$1.37R 22.97
110.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Margate
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,029
$1.07R 17.89
-72.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.17Rp 141.6K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 7,863
$0.71R 11.94
-36.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42Rp 7,305
$0.58R 9.64
-27.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.16Rp 106.7K
$4.39R 73.6
40.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84Rp 14.6K
$1.34R 22.40
-37.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2KRp 454.9M
$20.1KR 336.6K
30.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5KRp 562.9M
$24.5KR 411.3K
32.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Margate
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.4Rp 1.4M
$146R 2,452
-46.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95Rp 68.5K
$29.77R 499
-86.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40Rp 423.0K
$33.93R 569
-28.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Margate
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$96.5Rp 1.7M
$31.19R 523
209.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35Rp 110.0K
$3.44R 57.7
84.59%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04Rp 70.0K
$3.68R 61.8
9.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Margate
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$303Rp 5.2M
$206R 3,453
46.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,523Rp 113.1M
$4,675R 78.4K
39.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Margate
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8Rp 933.1K
$41.44R 695
29.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98Rp 658.3K
$30.51R 512
24.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.8Rp 1.5M
$95.6R 1,603
-9.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9Rp 1.4M
$71.6R 1,201
10.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Margate
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,012Rp 17.5M
$369R 6,182
174.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$674Rp 11.7M
$335R 5,625
101.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,390Rp 58.8M
$694R 11.6K
388.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,098Rp 36.4M
$684R 11.5K
206.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,985Rp 51.7M
$534R 8,962
458.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,339Rp 40.5M
$555R 9,310
321.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Margate
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$173Rp 3.0M
$1,517R 25.4K
-88.58%
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: April 28, 2026
Last update for Margate: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali and $369 in Margate. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Margate pays 776% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $28.00 in Margate for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $129 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 57% 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 Margate?
On paper, Margate earns 776% less. 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 vs Margate?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $369 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 Margate?
Childcare runs $303 in Ubud, Bali versus $206 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 vs Margate?
Dining out is cheaper in Margate – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $33.00 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 Margate?
At $917 in Margate versus $1,438 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 $917 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 57% 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