😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $744 in Monteria.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,159 in Monteria.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,732 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,574 in Monteria.
😐Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 93% more expensive than Monteria, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 7% above, Monteria is 44% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Monteria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57Rp 61.9K
$4.96COP 17.9K
-28.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58Rp 564.7K
$31.80COP 114.8K
2.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.07Rp 87.8K
$7.42COP 26.8K
-31.67%
Cappuccino
$2.83Rp 49.0K
$1.69COP 6,110
67.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34Rp 23.2K
$0.91COP 3,272
47.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69Rp 12.0K
$0.63COP 2,289
9.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.99Rp 51.8K
$1.37COP 4,936
118.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85Rp 66.7K
$1.96COP 7,065
96.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Monteria
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74Rp 30.2K
$0.94COP 3,389
85.11%
White Bread(500g)
$2.54Rp 44.0K
$1.29COP 4,641
96.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19Rp 20.6K
$1.07COP 3,855
11.21%
Eggs
$2.43Rp 42.0K
$1.42COP 5,138
71.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.66Rp 254.1K
$4.47COP 16.1K
227.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.18Rp 72.4K
$2.87COP 10.4K
45.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94Rp 206.9K
$3.82COP 13.8K
212.57%
Apples(1kg)
$3.69Rp 63.9K
$1.98COP 7,148
86.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61Rp 27.8K
$0.50COP 1,794
222.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.69Rp 46.5K
$0.92COP 3,335
192.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 40.4K
$0.79COP 2,852
194.94%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 33.0K
$0.97COP 3,502
96.91%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19Rp 37.9K
$1.01COP 3,642
116.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 18.3K
$0.88COP 3,159
20.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72Rp 12.5K
$0.47COP 1,695
53.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13Rp 54.3K
$2.85COP 10.3K
9.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.49Rp 407.1K
$10.05COP 36.3K
133.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74Rp 47.5K
$0.90COP 3,261
204.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88Rp 49.9K
$1.31COP 4,739
119.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Monteria
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,029
$0.68COP 2,466
-57.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.17Rp 141.6K
$29.85COP 107.8K
-72.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 7,863
$1.91COP 6,896
-76.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42Rp 7,305
$2.87COP 10.4K
-85.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.16Rp 106.7K
$4.32COP 15.6K
42.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84Rp 14.6K
$0.99COP 3,578
-15.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2KRp 454.9M
$14.2KCOP 51.2M
85.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5KRp 562.9M
$22.2KCOP 80.2M
46.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Monteria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.4Rp 1.4M
$95.6COP 345.2K
-17.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95Rp 68.5K
$7.40COP 26.7K
-46.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40Rp 423.0K
$19.45COP 70.2K
25.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Monteria
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$96.5Rp 1.7M
$23.63COP 85.3K
308.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35Rp 110.0K
$9.90COP 35.8K
-35.86%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04Rp 70.0K
$3.94COP 14.2K
2.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Monteria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$303Rp 5.2M
$169COP 609.8K
79.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,523Rp 113.1M
$1,846COP 6.7M
253.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Monteria
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8Rp 933.1K
$60.5COP 218.5K
-11.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98Rp 658.3K
$19.73COP 71.2K
92.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.8Rp 1.5M
$61.3COP 221.3K
41.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9Rp 1.4M
$36.71COP 132.5K
114.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Monteria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,012Rp 17.5M
$284COP 1.0M
256.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$674Rp 11.7M
$237COP 855.8K
184.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,390Rp 58.8M
$530COP 1.9M
540.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,098Rp 36.4M
$424COP 1.5M
395.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,985Rp 51.7M
$1,556COP 5.6M
91.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,339Rp 40.5M
$1,362COP 4.9M
71.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Monteria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$173Rp 3.0M
$359COP 1.3M
-51.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
10
32.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026
Last update for Monteria: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali and $284 in Monteria. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Monteria pays 107% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $32.00 in Monteria for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $133 per month, with Monteria cheaper across the board.
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 Monteria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Monteria?
Monteria wins on cost – living expenses run 93% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Monteria the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or Monteria?
On paper, Monteria earns 107% less. 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 vs Monteria?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $284 in Monteria. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and Monteria?
Childcare runs $303 in Ubud, Bali versus $169 in Monteria. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or Monteria?
Supermarket bills run roughly 123% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or Monteria?
At $744 in Monteria versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Monteria but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Monteria the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Monteria?
Both work as nomad bases, but Monteria delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $744 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Monteria hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Monteria?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Monteria are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Monteria gentler on the wallet – expenses run 93% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared