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 $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,295 in Montego Bay, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,557 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,753 in Montego Bay, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,723 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,210 in Montego Bay, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 7% more than Montego Bay, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Montego Bay is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.5K

$7.54 JMD 1,188

-52.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.32 Rp 583.4K

$50.2 JMD 7,898

-35.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.01 Rp 90.4K

$7.72 JMD 1,215

-35.10%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 51.0K

$4.31 JMD 678

-34.57%

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

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

$1.32 JMD 209

2.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

$0.76 JMD 120

-3.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 Rp 53.0K

$2.46 JMD 388

19.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 Rp 71.1K

$3.07 JMD 484

28.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 Rp 32.1K

$2.47 JMD 390

-27.94%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 Rp 44.2K

$2.82 JMD 444

-13.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

$1.60 JMD 252

-28.13%

Eggs

$2.41 Rp 43.6K

$3.46 JMD 544

-30.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 Rp 258.7K

$11.12 JMD 1,752

28.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.19 Rp 75.6K

$6.46 JMD 1,017

-35.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.06 Rp 217.7K

$7.69 JMD 1,211

56.83%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 Rp 65.7K

$3.35 JMD 528

8.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.3K

$3.14 JMD 495

-50.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 50.3K

$2.74 JMD 431

1.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.5K

$1.79 JMD 281

25.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 Rp 35.7K

$2.04 JMD 321

-2.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 41.1K

$1.13 JMD 177

101.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 19.0K

$1.84 JMD 290

-42.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$0.93 JMD 147

-15.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 Rp 57.6K

$8.80 JMD 1,386

-63.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 424.1K

$11.16 JMD 1,758

110.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 52.3K

$2.12 JMD 334

36.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 Rp 49.7K

$3.15 JMD 496

-12.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,813

$0.92 JMD 145

-70.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 151.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,167

$0.96 JMD 152

-53.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,298

$3.25 JMD 512

-85.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 Rp 109.6K

$6.13 JMD 966

-0.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

$1.23 JMD 194

-30.08%

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

$26.6K Rp 480.0M

$42.4K JMD 6.7M

-37.26%

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

$32.5K Rp 587.6M

$33.0K JMD 5.2M

-1.33%

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

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

$164 JMD 25.8K

-51.73%

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

$4.09 Rp 73.9K

$21.61 JMD 3,404

-81.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.85 Rp 430.5K

$48.06 JMD 7,569

-50.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

$37.26 JMD 5,869

165.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 114.7K

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 Rp 72.3K

$7.57 JMD 1,192

-47.03%

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

$297 Rp 5.4M

$62.7 JMD 9,870

374.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,602 Rp 119.2M

$1,854 JMD 292.0K

256.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 Rp 964.5K

$26.57 JMD 4,185

101.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.11 Rp 688.1K

$19.57 JMD 3,083

94.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

$66.5 JMD 10.5K

33.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

$76.1 JMD 12.0K

0.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 Rp 18.4M

$265 JMD 41.7K

285.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 Rp 12.3M

$448 JMD 70.6K

51.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,469 Rp 62.6M

$662 JMD 104.3K

423.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 Rp 37.7M

$447 JMD 70.3K

368.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,729 Rp 49.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,295 Rp 41.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 Rp 3.0M

$552 JMD 87.0K

-70.37%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Montego Bay: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $265 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 238% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $50.0 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 7% more than Montego Bay, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,088 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,943 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali and $50.0 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 $1,295, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. 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 $1,295 versus $1,392 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.