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 $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,287 in Montego Bay, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,759 in Montego Bay, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,231 in Montego Bay, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 12% more than Montego Bay, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Ubud, Bali sits 7% above the global median, while Montego Bay is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 61.9K

$7.69 JMD 1,208

-53.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

$50.9 JMD 7,988

-35.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

$7.30 JMD 1,147

-30.55%

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

$4.38 JMD 688

-35.39%

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

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

$1.37 JMD 216

-2.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

$0.71 JMD 112

-2.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

$2.48 JMD 389

20.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

$3.08 JMD 484

25.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

$2.52 JMD 396

-30.95%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

$2.68 JMD 421

-5.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$1.57 JMD 246

-24.20%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

$3.60 JMD 565

-32.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

$11.03 JMD 1,732

32.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

$6.43 JMD 1,010

-34.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

$7.77 JMD 1,220

53.67%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

$3.37 JMD 529

9.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

$3.09 JMD 486

-47.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

$2.84 JMD 445

-5.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

$1.76 JMD 277

32.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

$2.12 JMD 333

-9.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

$1.13 JMD 177

93.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

$1.91 JMD 300

-44.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

$0.93 JMD 146

-22.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

$8.61 JMD 1,352

-63.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

$11.46 JMD 1,800

104.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

$2.11 JMD 331

29.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

$3.06 JMD 481

-5.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,029

$0.93 JMD 146

-68.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,863

$0.93 JMD 146

-51.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,305

$3.22 JMD 505

-86.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

$6.37 JMD 1,001

-3.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

$1.24 JMD 195

-32.26%

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

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

$42.3K JMD 6.6M

-37.95%

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

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

$34.1K JMD 5.4M

-4.76%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$163 JMD 25.6K

-51.83%

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

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

$21.26 JMD 3,339

-81.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

$47.70 JMD 7,491

-48.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

$37.35 JMD 5,866

158.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

$7.54 JMD 1,185

-46.42%

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

$62.6 JMD 9,827

383.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

$1,882 JMD 295.6K

246.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

$26.12 JMD 4,102

106.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

$20.10 JMD 3,157

88.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

$66.2 JMD 10.4K

30.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$75.8 JMD 11.9K

3.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

$257 JMD 40.3K

294.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.7M

$461 JMD 72.4K

46.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

$669 JMD 105.0K

406.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

$431 JMD 67.7K

386.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

$562 JMD 88.3K

-69.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

66.00%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Last update for Montego Bay: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $257 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 225% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $51.0 in Montego Bay. Groceries tell a different story – $298 in Ubud, Bali vs $284 in Montego Bay – so Montego Bay wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 12% 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 $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,931 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $51.0 in Montego Bay. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 5% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Montego Bay, where all-in costs run around $1,287, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. 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 $1,287 versus $1,438 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.