Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Nakhon Sawan Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Nakhon Sawan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $945 in Nakhon Sawan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,547 in Nakhon Sawan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,149 in Nakhon Sawan, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 49% more than Nakhon Sawan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Nakhon Sawan is 29% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.1K

$3.03 ฿102

13.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 581.1K

$30.45 ฿1,024

6.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 87.1K

$6.19 ฿208

-21.81%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.4K

$1.53 ฿51.4

79.74%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.9K

$0.36 ฿11.98

283.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

$0.27 ฿9.02

177.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.8K

$2.51 ฿84.3

19.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.2K

$3.88 ฿131

-0.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.2K

$1.81 ฿61.0

-3.87%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.2K

$1.40 ฿47.00

75.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

$1.43 ฿47.94

-18.18%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.7K

$1.75 ฿58.9

38.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 260.6K

$18.63 ฿626

-22.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 78.2K

$3.02 ฿101

44.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 215.3K

$9.48 ฿319

26.37%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.8K

$3.46 ฿116

7.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$0.74 ฿24.82

120.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.3K

$2.29 ฿76.9

19.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.3K

$1.93 ฿64.9

16.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.5K

$1.22 ฿40.98

57.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.9K

$1.20 ฿40.47

90.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.98 ฿32.96

8.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$0.49 ฿16.37

46.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 59.0K

$2.79 ฿93.9

17.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.8K

$17.82 ฿599

30.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$1.62 ฿54.6

71.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.1K

$3.37 ฿113

-18.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,786

$0.60 ฿20.22

-55.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,675

$1.10 ฿37.05

-56.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,545

$1.16 ฿38.87

-63.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.8K

$6.29 ฿211

-1.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$1.20 ฿40.32

-32.50%

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

$26.6K Rp 478.2M

$37.0K ฿1.2M

-28.07%

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

$32.2K Rp 578.5M

$28.5K ฿957.9K

13.00%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$89.3 ฿3,002

-12.22%

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

$4.07 Rp 73.1K

$12.82 ฿431

-68.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 437.1K

$17.29 ฿582

40.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$49.38 ฿1,661

99.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.9K

$12.32 ฿414

-48.54%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.6K

$7.51 ฿253

-46.87%

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

$305 Rp 5.5M

$604 ฿20.3K

-49.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.4M

$13.5K ฿454.5K

-50.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 972.9K

$57.4 ฿1,930

-5.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 679.4K

$38.94 ฿1,309

-2.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

$106 ฿3,571

-18.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

$94.3 ฿3,172

-19.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.8M

$427 ฿14.4K

132.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.1M

$286 ฿9,623

135.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.7M

$827 ฿27.8K

307.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

$661 ฿22.2K

210.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.4M

$1,909 ฿64.2K

46.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 40.0M

$1,328 ฿44.7K

67.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$477 ฿16.0K

-65.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

5.84

127.40%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Nakhon Sawan: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $427 in Nakhon Sawan. 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 186% higher in Nakhon Sawan, 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 $30.00 in Nakhon Sawan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $251 – making Nakhon Sawan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Nakhon Sawan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 49%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,417 in Nakhon Sawan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Nakhon Sawan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,408 in Ubud, Bali and $945 in Nakhon Sawan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $305 per month in Ubud, Bali and $604 in Nakhon Sawan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Nakhon Sawan, where all-in costs run around $945, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In Nakhon Sawan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Nakhon Sawan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Nakhon Sawan. 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.