Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Monterey Park, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,331 a month against $2,949 in Monterey Park, CA, rent and utilities included – about $19,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Monterey Park, CA, United States
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,331
/mo nomad
Monterey Park, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,949
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Monterey Park, CA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Monterey Park, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,331 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,949 in Monterey Park, CA.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,331
  • Monterey Park, CA $2,949

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,287 in Monterey Park, CA.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,255
  • Monterey Park, CA $4,287

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,180 in Ubud, Bali versus $5,625 in Monterey Park, CA.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,180
  • Monterey Park, CA $5,625

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 55% less than in Monterey Park, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 2% below, Monterey Park, CA is 118% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Monterey Park, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.38 Rp 61.2K
$28.42 $28.42
-88.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.65 Rp 628.6K
$82.7 $82.7
-58.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.57 Rp 101.1K
$15.16 $15.16
-63.26%
Cappuccino
$2.62 Rp 47.5K
$5.92 $5.92
-55.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 Rp 27.9K
$3.04 $3.04
-49.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 Rp 11.6K
$2.73 $2.73
-76.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.67 Rp 48.4K
$8.55 $8.55
-68.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26 Rp 77.3K
$9.86 $9.86
-56.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Monterey Park, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 Rp 26.5K
$1.27 $1.27
14.96%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 Rp 41.6K
$4.87 $4.87
-52.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 20.1K
$4.64 $4.64
-76.08%
Eggs
$2.10 Rp 38.1K
$5.42 $5.42
-61.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 Rp 289.2K
$10.88 $10.88
46.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.88 Rp 70.4K
$8.59 $8.59
-54.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.40 Rp 206.8K
$20.16 $20.16
-43.45%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 Rp 64.4K
$4.67 $4.67
-23.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 Rp 27.9K
$2.20 $2.20
-30.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
$4.09 $4.09
-45.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.8K
$5.64 $5.64
-65.07%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 Rp 33.7K
$3.41 $3.41
-45.45%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 43.9K
$2.80 $2.80
-13.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 Rp 18.6K
$1.95 $1.95
-47.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 Rp 9,475
$2.62 $2.62
-80.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.20 Rp 39.9K
$11.84 $11.84
-81.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.79 Rp 395.2K
$14.73 $14.73
47.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 Rp 42.2K
$2.52 $2.52
-7.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.9K
$2.78 $2.78
6.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Monterey Park, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,542
$1.76 $1.76
-85.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 148.3K
$56.7 $56.7
-85.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,941
$3.75 $3.75
-88.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 Rp 8,489
$2.22 $2.22
-78.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.60 Rp 101.6K
$38.53 $38.53
-85.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
$1.50 $1.50
-44.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K Rp 443.5M
$28.4K $28.4K
-13.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 575.0M
$26.6K $26.6K
19.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Monterey Park, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.5 Rp 1.4M
$269 $269
-71.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.14 Rp 111.5K
$85.7 $85.7
-92.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.92 Rp 343.1K
$78.1 $78.1
-75.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Monterey Park, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 Rp 925.0K
$44.33 $44.33
15.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.25 Rp 331.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.38 Rp 79.5K
$18.34 $18.34
-76.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Monterey Park, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$492 Rp 8.9M
$1,186 $1,186
-58.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K Rp 221.7M
$13.0K $13.0K
-5.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Monterey Park, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.16 Rp 819.2K
$63.2 $63.2
-28.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.89 Rp 632.9K
$55.4 $55.4
-37.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
$121 $121
-35.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$215 $215
-63.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Monterey Park, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 Rp 19.5M
$1,565 $1,565
-31.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 Rp 12.1M
$1,302 $1,302
-48.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,510 Rp 63.7M
$2,619 $2,619
34.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,671 Rp 30.3M
$2,077 $2,077
-19.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,340 Rp 42.4M
$2,585 $2,585
-9.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,236 Rp 40.6M
$2,343 $2,343
-4.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Monterey Park, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
$1,626 $1,626
-89.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
6.31
118.38%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: November 1, 2026

Last update for Monterey Park, CA: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$665
Monterey Park, CA
$1.3K 95.8% $637
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$279
Monterey Park, CA
$421 50.8% $142
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$106
Monterey Park, CA
$205 92.5% $98
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$106
Monterey Park, CA
$429 306% $324
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$103
Monterey Park, CA
$432 322% $330
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$60
Monterey Park, CA
$81 35.5% $21
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$12
Monterey Park, CA
$79 558% $67

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,078 in Ubud, Bali and $1,565 in Monterey Park, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Monterey Park, CA pays about 9.8 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $35 in Ubud, Bali vs $83 in Monterey Park, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $279 vs $421 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇺🇸 Monterey Park, CA
🕒 Local time
18:07 6:07 PM
02:07 2:07 AM
16 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
60,269
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 18,140 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,384 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.91 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Monterey Park, CA 13,880 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Monterey Park, CA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Monterey Park, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Monterey Park, CA?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 55% lower than in Monterey Park, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or in Monterey Park, CA?
On paper, salaries run 90% lower in Ubud, Bali. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali compared to Monterey Park, CA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,078 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,565 in Monterey Park, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Monterey Park, CA?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $35 versus $83 in Monterey Park, CA. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Monterey Park, CA?
All in, you’ll spend $1,331 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $2,949 in Monterey Park, CA – Ubud, Bali is about 55% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Monterey Park, CA?
Both cities are expensive relative to $1,000. Ubud, Bali is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ubud, Bali or Monterey Park, CA?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Monterey Park, CA?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Monterey Park, CA are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Monterey Park, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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