Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Mount Pleasant, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Mount Pleasant, SC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,723 in Mount Pleasant, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,582 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,966 in Mount Pleasant, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,757 in Ubud, Bali versus $5,208 in Mount Pleasant, SC.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 48% less than in Mount Pleasant, SC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 5% above, Mount Pleasant, SC 103% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Mount Pleasant, SC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.42 Rp 58.7K
$28.46 $28.46
-87.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96 Rp 566.5K
$79.3 $79.3
-58.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.08 Rp 87.3K
$9.91 $9.91
-48.74%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 48.5K
$5.04 $5.04
-44.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 Rp 23.5K
$2.46 $2.46
-44.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 Rp 12.2K
$1.95 $1.95
-63.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.97 Rp 51.0K
$6.11 $6.11
-51.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 Rp 67.2K
$7.95 $7.95
-50.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Mount Pleasant, SC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.75 Rp 30.0K
$1.02 $1.02
71.57%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 43.2K
$3.94 $3.94
-36.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 Rp 20.8K
$3.08 $3.08
-60.71%
Eggs
$2.33 Rp 40.1K
$4.48 $4.48
-47.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 Rp 249.2K
$13.71 $13.71
5.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.36 Rp 74.9K
$15.01 $15.01
-70.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.05 Rp 207.0K
$17.16 $17.16
-29.78%
Apples (1kg)
$3.82 Rp 65.6K
$5.81 $5.81
-34.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.7K
$1.60 $1.60
0.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.70 Rp 46.5K
$6.50 $6.50
-58.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 38.3K
$3.96 $3.96
-43.69%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 32.6K
$3.72 $3.72
-48.92%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 Rp 37.5K
$2.84 $2.84
-23.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 Rp 17.7K
$1.81 $1.81
-43.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 Rp 13.3K
$1.96 $1.96
-60.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.18 Rp 54.7K
$7.56 $7.56
-57.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.23 Rp 399.2K
$15.26 $15.26
52.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.85 Rp 48.9K
$1.84 $1.84
54.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 Rp 46.7K
$3.14 $3.14
-13.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Mount Pleasant, SC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,022
$1.98 $1.98
-85.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.43 Rp 144.8K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.49 Rp 8,344
$2.97 $2.97
-83.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 7,812
$1.59 $1.59
-71.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.28 Rp 107.8K
$19.99 $19.99
-68.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 14.6K
$0.78 $0.78
8.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 447.8M
$33.2K $33.2K
-21.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5K Rp 541.8M
$25.1K $25.1K
25.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Mount Pleasant, SC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.8 Rp 1.4M
$141 $141
-43.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09 Rp 70.3K
$65.4 $65.4
-93.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.06 Rp 413.6K
$73.5 $73.5
-67.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Mount Pleasant, SC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.2 Rp 1.7M
$43.03 $43.03
123.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.53 Rp 112.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.13 Rp 71.1K
$13.50 $13.50
-69.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Mount Pleasant, SC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$297 Rp 5.1M
$1,329 $1,329
-77.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,661 Rp 114.5M
$24.4K $24.4K
-72.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Mount Pleasant, SC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.0 Rp 944.5K
$48.81 $48.81
12.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.75 Rp 666.0K
$35.48 $35.48
9.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.6 Rp 1.5M
$94.7 $94.7
-5.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
$155 $155
-49.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Mount Pleasant, SC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,018 Rp 17.5M
$1,595 $1,595
-36.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$660 Rp 11.3M
$1,346 $1,346
-50.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,435 Rp 59.0M
$2,619 $2,619
31.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,053 Rp 35.3M
$2,205 $2,205
-6.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,981 Rp 51.2M
$2,760 $2,760
8.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,368 Rp 40.7M
$2,691 $2,691
-11.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Mount Pleasant, SC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$172 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
6.51
103.99%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 21, 2026

Last update for Mount Pleasant, SC: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,018 in Ubud, Bali and $1,595 in Mount Pleasant, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $33 in Ubud, Bali vs $79 in Mount Pleasant, SC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $299 vs $425 per month, with Ubud, Bali 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 Mount Pleasant, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and Mount Pleasant, SC?
Ubud, Bali and Mount Pleasant, SC differ by about 93% in total monthly costs ($1,408 vs $2,723 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Ubud, Bali compared to Mount Pleasant, SC?
You'd need roughly $2,112 in Ubud, Bali and $4,084 in Mount Pleasant, SC to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and Mount Pleasant, SC?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,018 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,595 in Mount Pleasant, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 43% higher in Mount Pleasant, SC. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Mount Pleasant, SC?
All in, you'll spend $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $2,723 in Mount Pleasant, SC – a 93% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,723 in Mount Pleasant, SC, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Mount Pleasant, SC. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Mount Pleasant, SC?
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.
Is Ubud, Bali or Mount Pleasant, SC safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Mount Pleasant, SC are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ubud, Bali or Mount Pleasant, SC?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 93% less than in Mount Pleasant, SC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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