Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Menlo Park, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Menlo Park, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,701 in Menlo Park, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $6,712 in Menlo Park, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,732 in Ubud, Bali versus $9,723 in Menlo Park, CA.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 61% less than in Menlo Park, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 7% above, Menlo Park, CA 176% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Menlo Park, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 61.9K
$29.54 $29.54
-87.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58 Rp 564.7K
$90.8 $90.8
-64.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 Rp 87.8K
$12.17 $12.17
-58.34%
Cappuccino
$2.83 Rp 49.0K
$5.03 $5.03
-43.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 23.2K
$2.54 $2.54
-47.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
$1.30 $1.30
-46.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 51.8K
$7.89 $7.89
-62.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 66.7K
$8.12 $8.12
-52.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Menlo Park, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 30.2K
$1.47 $1.47
18.37%
White Bread (500g)
$2.54 Rp 44.0K
$4.74 $4.74
-46.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
$3.09 $3.09
-61.49%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 42.0K
$6.69 $6.69
-63.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.66 Rp 254.1K
$11.14 $11.14
31.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.18 Rp 72.4K
$11.07 $11.07
-62.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 Rp 206.9K
$12.43 $12.43
-3.94%
Apples (1kg)
$3.69 Rp 63.9K
$4.65 $4.65
-20.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.8K
$2.17 $2.17
-25.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 Rp 46.5K
$4.35 $4.35
-38.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 40.4K
$5.09 $5.09
-54.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.0K
$2.89 $2.89
-33.91%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 37.9K
$3.37 $3.37
-35.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
$2.19 $2.19
-51.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
$2.73 $2.73
-73.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 Rp 54.3K
$8.65 $8.65
-63.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 407.1K
$11.81 $11.81
98.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 Rp 47.5K
$1.69 $1.69
62.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 Rp 49.9K
$2.37 $2.37
21.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Menlo Park, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,029
$4.40 $4.40
-93.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 141.6K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 7,863
$3.40 $3.40
-86.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,305
$1.95 $1.95
-78.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.16 Rp 106.7K
$30.45 $30.45
-79.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 14.6K
$1.30 $1.30
-35.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K Rp 454.9M
$24.2K $24.2K
8.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 562.9M
$26.2K $26.2K
24.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Menlo Park, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$245 $245
-68.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95 Rp 68.5K
$39.20 $39.20
-89.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40 Rp 423.0K
$71.6 $71.6
-65.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Menlo Park, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
$43.52 $43.52
121.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 110.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 70.0K
$15.26 $15.26
-73.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Menlo Park, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 Rp 5.2M
$2,636 $2,636
-88.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,523 Rp 113.1M
$38.3K $38.3K
-82.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Menlo Park, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 Rp 933.1K
$56.3 $56.3
-4.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98 Rp 658.3K
$39.25 $39.25
-3.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
$91.2 $91.2
-4.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
$78.6 $78.6
0.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Menlo Park, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
$3,194 $3,194
-68.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 Rp 11.7M
$2,249 $2,249
-70.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,390 Rp 58.8M
$6,351 $6,351
-46.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,098 Rp 36.4M
$6,621 $6,621
-68.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,985 Rp 51.7M
$21.5K $21.5K
-86.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,339 Rp 40.5M
$16.4K $16.4K
-85.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Menlo Park, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$173 Rp 3.0M
$4,855 $4,855
-96.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
6.55
102.75%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Last update for Menlo Park, CA: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali and $3,194 in Menlo Park, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Menlo Park, CA pays 2704% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $91.0 in Menlo Park, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $400 per month, with Ubud, Bali 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 Menlo Park, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Menlo Park, CA cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 157% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ubud, Bali or Menlo Park, CA?
On paper, Menlo Park, CA earns 2704% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Menlo Park, CA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,194 in Menlo Park, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $303 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,636 in Menlo Park, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or Menlo Park, CA?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $91.0 in Menlo Park, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Menlo Park, CA?
At $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,701 in Menlo Park, CA, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Menlo Park, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Menlo Park, CA more family-friendly?
For families, Ubud, Bali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Menlo Park, CA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Menlo Park, CA?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Menlo Park, CA 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 157% less than in Menlo Park, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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