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 $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,030 in Nakhon Sawan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,730 in Nakhon Sawan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,430 in Nakhon Sawan, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 33% more than Nakhon Sawan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Nakhon Sawan is 25% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 Rp 60.9K

$2.96 ฿98.6

16.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.31 Rp 643.0K

$35.95 ฿1,200

1.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 Rp 101.0K

$6.19 ฿207

-7.75%

Cappuccino

$2.67 Rp 47.3K

$2.93 ฿97.8

-8.87%

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

$1.75 Rp 31.0K

$0.68 ฿22.61

157.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 Rp 15.4K

$0.34 ฿11.24

155.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.3K

$2.76 ฿92.2

6.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 Rp 80.0K

$4.55 ฿152

-0.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$1.95 ฿65.1

-16.92%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$1.50 ฿49.99

55.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 Rp 19.6K

$1.55 ฿51.6

-28.39%

Eggs

$2.20 Rp 39.0K

$1.74 ฿58.1

26.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.69 Rp 313.3K

$17.31 ฿578

2.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 Rp 72.5K

$3.63 ฿121

12.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 215.6K

$14.22 ฿475

-14.35%

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 Rp 65.6K

$4.21 ฿140

-11.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.1K

$0.72 ฿24.08

120.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.4K

$2.72 ฿90.7

-16.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 Rp 34.6K

$1.96 ฿65.4

-0.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.7K

$1.21 ฿40.46

57.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$1.16 ฿38.86

100.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 17.8K

$0.89 ฿29.58

13.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,773

$0.54 ฿17.92

1.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 Rp 39.5K

$2.78 ฿92.9

-19.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.07 Rp 408.6K

$14.89 ฿497

54.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 Rp 42.8K

$1.65 ฿55.0

46.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.1K

$3.27 ฿109

-8.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,814

$0.91 ฿30.47

-70.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.98 Rp 159.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,566

$1.02 ฿34.07

-52.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,679

$1.23 ฿40.95

-65.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.64 Rp 99.9K

$5.92 ฿198

-4.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

$1.35 ฿44.98

-40.74%

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

$24.9K Rp 441.7M

$32.0K ฿1.1M

-22.13%

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

$31.7K Rp 561.5M

$27.9K ฿932.4K

13.53%

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

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

$107 ฿3,558

-23.58%

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

$6.49 Rp 115.0K

$12.60 ฿421

-48.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.77 Rp 332.4K

$18.05 ฿603

3.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

$48.18 ฿1,608

18.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 Rp 331.7K

$12.29 ฿410

52.40%

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 Rp 80.4K

$7.35 ฿245

-38.23%

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

$481 Rp 8.5M

$542 ฿18.1K

-11.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,711 Rp 101.1M

$17.4K ฿579.5K

-67.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.52 Rp 806.0K

$74.0 ฿2,469

-38.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 Rp 635.4K

$43.03 ฿1,436

-16.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$96.8 ฿3,232

-16.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

$116 ฿3,862

-32.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 Rp 19.7M

$402 ฿13.4K

177.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$698 Rp 12.4M

$280 ฿9,347

149.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,637 Rp 64.4M

$1,234 ฿41.2K

194.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

$842 ฿28.1K

106.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.3M

$1,967 ฿65.7K

41.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.5M

$1,572 ฿52.5K

45.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 Rp 3.0M

$476 ฿15.9K

-64.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

5.38

156.13%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Nakhon Sawan: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $402 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 183% 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $36.00 in Nakhon Sawan. Groceries tell a different story – $295 in Ubud, Bali vs $267 in Nakhon Sawan – so Nakhon Sawan 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 Nakhon Sawan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 33%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,052 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,545 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 $1,368 in Ubud, Bali and $1,030 in Nakhon Sawan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $481 per month in Ubud, Bali and $542 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 $1,030, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. 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.