Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Montanita Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Montanita

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $897 in Montanita.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,335 in Montanita.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,773 in Montanita.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 57% more expensive than in Montanita, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Montanita is 33% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Montanita
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45 Rp 62.1K
$3.43 $3.43
0.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 Rp 581.1K
$28.49 $28.49
13.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.84 Rp 87.1K
$7.60 $7.60
-36.32%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
$2.41 $2.41
14.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 24.9K
$0.89 $0.89
55.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
$0.67 $0.67
11.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 53.8K
$1.97 $1.97
51.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 69.2K
$3.52 $3.52
9.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Montanita
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 31.2K
$1.09 $1.09
59.63%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 44.2K
$1.71 $1.71
43.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
$1.56 $1.56
-25.00%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 43.7K
$2.15 $2.15
13.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 Rp 260.6K
$5.39 $5.39
169.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.35 Rp 78.2K
$5.67 $5.67
-23.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.98 Rp 215.3K
$6.32 $6.32
89.56%
Apples (1kg)
$3.72 Rp 66.8K
$1.99 $1.99
86.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
$1.20 $1.20
35.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.74 Rp 49.3K
$1.09 $1.09
151.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
$1.08 $1.08
107.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 Rp 34.5K
$1.44 $1.44
33.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.9K
$1.07 $1.07
113.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$0.52 $0.52
103.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
$0.98 $0.98
-26.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29 Rp 59.0K
$6.06 $6.06
-45.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.19 Rp 416.8K
$10.17 $10.17
128.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$1.54 $1.54
80.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$2.48 $2.48
10.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Montanita
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,786
$0.34 $0.34
-20.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.11 Rp 145.7K
$24.32 $24.32
-66.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,675
$1.53 $1.53
-68.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,545
$0.97 $0.97
-56.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.22 Rp 111.8K
$9.86 $9.86
-36.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$0.62 $0.62
30.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 478.2M
$24.6K $24.6K
8.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K Rp 578.5M
$28.7K $28.7K
11.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Montanita
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$40.33 $40.33
94.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07 Rp 73.1K
$13.65 $13.65
-70.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33 Rp 437.1K
$30.56 $30.56
-20.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Montanita
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
$30.42 $30.42
224.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34 Rp 113.9K
$14.80 $14.80
-57.16%
Cinema Ticket
$3.99 Rp 71.6K
$7.49 $7.49
-46.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Montanita
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 Rp 5.5M
$255 $255
19.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,642 Rp 119.4M
$5,624 $5,624
18.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Montanita
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 Rp 972.9K
$56.8 $56.8
-4.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81 Rp 679.4K
$43.85 $43.85
-13.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
$101 $101
-13.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
$75.4 $75.4
1.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Montanita
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$992 Rp 17.8M
$337 $337
194.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$317 $317
112.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,375 Rp 60.7M
$621 $621
443.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
$499 $499
310.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,805 Rp 50.4M
$1,239 $1,239
126.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,227 Rp 40.0M
$1,017 $1,017
118.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Montanita
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
10
32.80%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Montanita: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Ubud, Bali and $337 in Montanita. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $28.00 in Montanita for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $187 per month, with Montanita 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 Montanita: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montanita cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Montanita is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Eating Out. The 57% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,112 in Ubud, Bali and $1,345 in Montanita 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.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Montanita?
Rent for a central apartment: $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $337 in Montanita. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $305 in Ubud, Bali versus $255 in Montanita. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Montanita?
Supermarket bills run roughly 59% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Montanita?
At $897 in Montanita versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Montanita but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Montanita the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Montanita more family-friendly?
For families, Montanita is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Montanita?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Montanita 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 Montanita 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.

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