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 $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,314 in Montego Bay, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,787 in Montego Bay, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,261 in Montego Bay, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 7% more than Montego Bay, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% above the global median, while Montego Bay is 2% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

$7.54 JMD 1,186

-52.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

$50.3 JMD 7,905

-35.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

$7.38 JMD 1,161

-34.15%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

$4.31 JMD 678

-36.19%

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

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

$1.33 JMD 209

-0.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.76 JMD 120

-7.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

$2.43 JMD 382

19.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

$3.18 JMD 500

19.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

$2.53 JMD 397

-32.41%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

$2.76 JMD 434

-10.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$1.63 JMD 257

-26.38%

Eggs

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

$3.56 JMD 559

-31.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

$10.94 JMD 1,721

31.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

$6.45 JMD 1,014

-33.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

$7.56 JMD 1,189

61.51%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

$3.42 JMD 537

7.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

$3.14 JMD 494

-50.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

$2.71 JMD 427

2.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

$1.75 JMD 275

33.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

$2.03 JMD 319

-2.96%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

$1.13 JMD 178

104.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$1.91 JMD 301

-44.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$0.95 JMD 149

-23.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

$9.03 JMD 1,420

-63.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

$11.28 JMD 1,773

102.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

$2.11 JMD 332

33.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$3.16 JMD 497

-12.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

$0.96 JMD 151

-69.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,047

$0.91 JMD 143

-50.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

$3.21 JMD 505

-85.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

$6.40 JMD 1,006

-2.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

$1.29 JMD 203

-34.11%

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

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

$43.6K JMD 6.9M

-40.41%

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

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

$33.7K JMD 5.3M

-6.13%

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

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

$163 JMD 25.6K

-50.36%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

$21.15 JMD 3,327

-80.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

$47.83 JMD 7,522

-48.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

$37.84 JMD 5,952

158.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

$7.55 JMD 1,188

-46.49%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$63.0 JMD 9,903

382.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

$1,913 JMD 300.9K

246.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

$25.80 JMD 4,057

110.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

$19.75 JMD 3,106

96.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$66.6 JMD 10.5K

29.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

$75.2 JMD 11.8K

1.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

$266 JMD 41.8K

271.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.8M

$448 JMD 70.4K

46.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

$648 JMD 102.0K

419.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

$442 JMD 69.6K

366.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

$552 JMD 86.8K

-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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Montego Bay: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $266 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $50.0 in Montego Bay. Groceries tell a different story – $297 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 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 $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,971 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 $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 $1,314, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. 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 $1,314 versus $1,404 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.