Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Nantong Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Nantong

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $624 in Nantong.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,540 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,028 in Nantong.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,432 in Nantong.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 127% more expensive than Nantong, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 6% above, Nantong is 53% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Nantong
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56 Rp 63.9K
$2.72 ¥18.41
30.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73 Rp 586.8K
$22.19 ¥150
47.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 Rp 88.7K
$4.56 ¥30.84
8.55%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 48.6K
$2.54 ¥17.17
6.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 24.1K
$0.41 ¥2.79
226.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
$0.26 ¥1.77
169.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 Rp 52.3K
$0.68 ¥4.57
329.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 Rp 70.9K
$2.03 ¥13.76
95.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Nantong
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 Rp 32.4K
$1.53 ¥10.39
18.30%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 45.1K
$1.42 ¥9.60
77.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 Rp 20.8K
$0.60 ¥4.09
93.33%
Eggs
$2.46 Rp 44.1K
$1.47 ¥9.92
67.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.71 Rp 263.7K
$6.53 ¥44.22
125.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 Rp 77.4K
$2.81 ¥19.00
53.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.14 Rp 217.5K
$9.06 ¥61.3
34.00%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 Rp 68.8K
$2.16 ¥14.64
77.78%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.9K
$1.39 ¥9.38
12.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 50.8K
$1.58 ¥10.71
79.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.7K
$1.20 ¥8.13
94.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
$0.62 ¥4.23
208.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 Rp 39.5K
$0.90 ¥6.07
144.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 18.2K
$0.73 ¥4.95
38.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 13.9K
$0.51 ¥3.48
52.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 Rp 59.4K
$3.07 ¥20.80
8.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.74 Rp 425.5K
$8.73 ¥59.1
171.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 50.0K
$0.88 ¥5.97
217.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 51.3K
$1.51 ¥10.23
89.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Nantong
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,819
$0.22 ¥1.49
22.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.03 Rp 143.9K
$20.77 ¥141
-61.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,181
$1.49 ¥10.10
-69.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,068
$0.28 ¥1.91
60.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 Rp 109.3K
$8.56 ¥58.0
-28.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$1.14 ¥7.74
-30.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 468.8M
$16.9K ¥114.6K
54.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 575.8M
$14.7K ¥99.5K
118.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Nantong
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$39.15 ¥265
104.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.9K
$8.14 ¥55.1
-50.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 Rp 421.6K
$11.20 ¥75.8
110.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Nantong
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
$41.80 ¥283
136.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 Rp 118.8K
$11.10 ¥75.1
-40.27%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15 Rp 74.3K
$5.42 ¥36.69
-23.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Nantong
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$185 ¥1,251
64.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,613 Rp 118.5M
$11.2K ¥76.1K
-41.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Nantong
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 Rp 995.6K
$41.98 ¥284
32.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31 Rp 686.7K
$33.36 ¥226
14.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
$60.8 ¥411
45.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$82.7 ¥560
-5.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Nantong
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
$209 ¥1,412
382.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$675 Rp 12.1M
$137 ¥926
393.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,442 Rp 61.7M
$729 ¥4,934
372.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 Rp 36.6M
$322 ¥2,178
533.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,841 Rp 50.9M
$3,723 ¥25.2K
-23.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,264 Rp 40.6M
$2,384 ¥16.1K
-5.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Nantong
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$1,297 ¥8,779
-87.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
3.87
243.15%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Nantong: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali and $209 in Nantong. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nantong pays 685% 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 $22.00 in Nantong for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $302 vs $168 per month, with Nantong 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 Nantong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and Nantong?
Ubud, Bali and Nantong differ by about 127% in total monthly costs ($1,419 vs $624 including rent). Nantong is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Nantong earns 685% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and Nantong?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $209 in Nantong. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ubud, Bali and Nantong?
Childcare runs $304 in Ubud, Bali versus $185 in Nantong. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 80% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $624 in Nantong versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Nantong but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Nantong the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Nantong?
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 Nantong safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Nantong 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 Nantong?
Expats usually find Nantong gentler on the wallet – expenses run 127% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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