Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Montego Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Montego Bay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,374 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,203 in Montego Bay, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,313 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,180 in Montego Bay, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,252 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,157 in Montego Bay, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 14% more than Montego Bay, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Ubud, Bali sits 2% above the global median, while Montego Bay is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.32 Rp 59.8K

$10.90 JMD 1,715

-69.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.33 Rp 635.6K

$76.1 JMD 12.0K

-53.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.33 Rp 95.9K

$8.59 JMD 1,352

-37.95%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.5K

$5.39 JMD 849

-48.98%

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

$1.73 Rp 31.1K

$0.86 JMD 136

101.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 Rp 14.4K

$0.70 JMD 110

14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 53.0K

$2.24 JMD 352

31.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.44 Rp 79.9K

$3.18 JMD 501

39.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 Rp 27.0K

$3.33 JMD 525

-54.95%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 Rp 41.3K

$2.68 JMD 421

-14.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 Rp 19.8K

$1.41 JMD 222

-21.99%

Eggs

$2.16 Rp 38.9K

$3.50 JMD 551

-38.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.09 Rp 307.4K

$11.56 JMD 1,819

47.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.88 Rp 69.8K

$6.40 JMD 1,008

-39.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.92 Rp 214.4K

$9.01 JMD 1,419

32.30%

Apples (1kg)

$3.57 Rp 64.1K

$4.22 JMD 665

-15.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 Rp 28.5K

$2.47 JMD 389

-36.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.36 Rp 42.5K

$7.44 JMD 1,171

-68.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.4K

$2.50 JMD 393

-21.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 Rp 32.5K

$2.54 JMD 400

-28.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.39 Rp 43.0K

$2.70 JMD 424

-11.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 Rp 18.3K

$2.48 JMD 391

-58.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 Rp 8,841

$0.76 JMD 120

-35.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 Rp 40.4K

$9.69 JMD 1,525

-76.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.30 Rp 401.2K

$11.58 JMD 1,822

92.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 Rp 42.6K

$2.83 JMD 446

-16.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 52.1K

$3.95 JMD 621

-26.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,482

$0.98 JMD 154

-74.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.55 Rp 153.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 Rp 7,950

$0.98 JMD 154

-55.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,598

$3.11 JMD 490

-86.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.66 Rp 101.9K

$6.19 JMD 975

-8.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.7K

$1.33 JMD 209

-39.10%

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

$23.7K Rp 427.1M

$44.4K JMD 7.0M

-46.51%

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

$31.0K Rp 557.4M

$33.4K JMD 5.3M

-7.19%

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

$82.3 Rp 1.5M

$173 JMD 27.2K

-52.36%

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

$6.30 Rp 113.3K

$22.41 JMD 3,526

-71.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.63 Rp 335.3K

$48.53 JMD 7,637

-61.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 Rp 984.7K

$43.88 JMD 6,906

24.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.45 Rp 331.9K

Cinema Ticket

$4.24 Rp 76.3K

$8.37 JMD 1,317

-49.34%

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

$484 Rp 8.7M

$366 JMD 57.5K

32.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,590 Rp 100.6M

$8,226 JMD 1.3M

-32.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.77 Rp 823.5K

$23.22 JMD 3,655

97.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.69 Rp 642.2K

$31.88 JMD 5,018

11.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.3 Rp 1.4M

$69.8 JMD 11.0K

12.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.1 Rp 1.4M

$102 JMD 16.0K

-21.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,147 Rp 20.6M

$313 JMD 49.2K

266.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$678 Rp 12.2M

$224 JMD 35.2K

203.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,504 Rp 63.0M

$945 JMD 148.8K

270.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,688 Rp 30.4M

$954 JMD 150.2K

76.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,788 Rp 50.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,257 Rp 40.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$607 JMD 95.6K

-72.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

9.45

45.82%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 28, 2026

Last update for Montego Bay: September 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,147 in Ubud, Bali versus $313 in Montego Bay. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 268% higher in Montego Bay, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $76.0 in Montego Bay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $329 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Montego Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 14% more than Montego Bay, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,062 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,805 in Montego Bay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Montego Bay, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali and $76.0 in Montego Bay. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 15% cheaper in Ubud, Bali – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Montego Bay, where all-in costs run around $1,203, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,374. In Montego Bay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Montego Bay costs $1,203 versus $1,374 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Montego Bay. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.