Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Merrillville, IN Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Merrillville, IN

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,504 in Merrillville, IN.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,575 in Merrillville, IN.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,275 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,647 in Merrillville, IN.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 45% less than in Merrillville, IN, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 0% above, Merrillville, IN 82% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

$15.15 $15.15

-78.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

$55.1 $55.1

-34.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

$10.05 $10.05

-43.98%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

$4.61 $4.61

-38.83%

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

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

$2.33 $2.33

-24.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

$2.27 $2.27

-64.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

$3.89 $3.89

-21.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$5.37 $5.37

-19.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

$0.78 $0.78

106.41%

White Bread (500g)

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

$2.84 $2.84

-20.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

$4.56 $4.56

-74.34%

Eggs

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

$4.76 $4.76

-54.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

$11.49 $11.49

53.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

$9.86 $9.86

-58.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

$20.52 $20.52

-40.64%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

$6.01 $6.01

-39.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

$1.21 $1.21

35.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

$4.50 $4.50

-48.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

$5.59 $5.59

-64.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

$3.69 $3.69

-50.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

$4.40 $4.40

-46.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

$2.46 $2.46

-57.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 Rp 9,560

$1.27 $1.27

-57.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

$8.61 $8.61

-73.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

$11.84 $11.84

94.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

$1.98 $1.98

18.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

$3.48 $3.48

-11.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,365

$2.07 $2.07

-87.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,631

$4.87 $4.87

-89.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 Rp 8,349

$1.89 $1.89

-75.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

$50.5 $50.5

-88.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

$0.90 $0.90

-10.00%

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

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

$37.2K $37.2K

-32.74%

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

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

$28.6K $28.6K

8.64%

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

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

$233 $233

-64.57%

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

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

$62.4 $62.4

-89.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

$66.5 $66.5

-71.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

$36.07 $36.07

53.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$14.94 $14.94

-71.22%

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

$494 Rp 8.7M

$1,357 $1,357

-63.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

$26.6K $26.6K

-77.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

$51.8 $51.8

-10.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

$39.45 $39.45

-7.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

$102 $102

-21.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

$95.3 $95.3

-17.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

$1,778 $1,778

-37.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$693 Rp 12.2M

$1,152 $1,152

-39.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

$2,760 $2,760

31.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

$2,368 $2,368

-27.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

$3,128 $3,128

-11.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

$2,580 $2,580

-11.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 2.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

6.34

117.35%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Last update for Merrillville, IN: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali and $1,778 in Merrillville, IN. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $55.0 in Merrillville, IN for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $294 vs $388 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 Merrillville, IN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali and Merrillville, IN differ by about 82% in total monthly costs ($1,378 vs $2,504 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,067 in Ubud, Bali and $3,756 in Merrillville, IN to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,778 in Merrillville, IN. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 32% higher in Merrillville, IN. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $2,504 in Merrillville, IN – a 82% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,504 in Merrillville, IN, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Merrillville, IN. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Merrillville, IN are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 82% less than in Merrillville, IN. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.