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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,397 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,379 in Nikaia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,588 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,085 in Nikaia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,778 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,790 in Nikaia.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 1% more expensive than in Nikaia, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 5% above, Nikaia 3% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Nikaia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.43 Rp 61.5K
$11.52 €10.13
-70.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.97 Rp 573.3K
$56.0 €49.24
-42.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.05 Rp 90.6K
$8.61 €7.57
-41.35%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 48.7K
$3.88 €3.41
-30.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 Rp 24.9K
$1.58 €1.39
-12.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74 Rp 13.3K
$0.59 €0.52
25.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.89 Rp 51.9K
$4.72 €4.15
-38.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
$4.74 €4.16
-20.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Nikaia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 Rp 32.2K
$1.74 €1.53
2.87%
White Bread (500g)
$2.51 Rp 44.9K
$1.33 €1.16
88.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 Rp 21.8K
$2.23 €1.96
-45.74%
Eggs
$2.37 Rp 42.5K
$4.14 €3.64
-42.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.43 Rp 258.8K
$11.39 €10.01
26.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.15 Rp 74.4K
$9.21 €8.10
-54.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.11 Rp 217.3K
$13.92 €12.24
-13.00%
Apples (1kg)
$3.77 Rp 67.6K
$2.19 €1.93
72.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
$2.35 €2.07
-30.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.71 Rp 48.5K
$1.70 €1.49
59.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 Rp 40.5K
$2.35 €2.07
-3.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.93 Rp 34.5K
$1.22 €1.07
58.20%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 39.3K
$1.16 €1.02
88.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 Rp 18.3K
$1.17 €1.03
-12.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.8K
$1.02 €0.89
-29.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.18 Rp 57.1K
$5.54 €4.87
-42.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.84 Rp 427.5K
$6.96 €6.12
242.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.77 Rp 49.8K
$2.44 €2.15
13.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 Rp 49.3K
$2.95 €2.60
-6.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Nikaia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,794
$0.67 €0.59
-59.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.20 Rp 147.0K
$31.38 €27.58
-73.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,668
$4.00 €3.52
-88.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,557
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.03 Rp 108.1K
$11.52 €10.13
-47.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 14.7K
$2.16 €1.90
-62.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 476.4M
$29.3K €25.7K
-9.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K Rp 577.6M
$24.9K €21.9K
29.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Nikaia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
$218 €191
-64.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.91 Rp 70.2K
$21.74 €19.11
-82.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.91 Rp 428.9K
$35.11 €30.87
-31.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Nikaia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.2 Rp 1.7M
$48.73 €42.84
97.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.53 Rp 117.0K
$26.67 €23.45
-75.52%
Cinema Ticket
$4.01 Rp 72.0K
$9.66 €8.49
-58.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Nikaia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 Rp 5.4M
$563 €495
-46.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,551 Rp 117.5M
$10.5K €9,196
-37.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Nikaia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.3 Rp 992.0K
$64.3 €56.5
-13.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.32 Rp 687.3K
$31.65 €27.83
21.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.5 Rp 1.6M
$67.6 €59.4
30.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
$119 €105
-35.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Nikaia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$986 Rp 17.7M
$501 €441
96.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$682 Rp 12.2M
$385 €338
77.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,420 Rp 61.3M
$768 €675
345.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,075 Rp 37.2M
$611 €537
239.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,762 Rp 49.5M
$2,606 €2,291
6.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,243 Rp 40.2M
$2,269 €1,995
-1.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Nikaia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$169 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
4.42
200.45%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 22, 2026

Last update for Nikaia: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $986 in Ubud, Bali and $501 in Nikaia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $56.0 in Nikaia. Groceries flip the comparison at $298 vs $277, with Nikaia cheaper for home cooking.

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 Nikaia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nikaia cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Nikaia is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,096 in Ubud, Bali and $2,069 in Nikaia 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.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Nikaia?
Rent for a central apartment: $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $501 in Nikaia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali and in Nikaia?
All in, you'll spend $1,397 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,379 in Nikaia – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Nikaia runs roughly 283% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Nikaia?
At $1,379 in Nikaia versus $1,397 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Nikaia but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Nikaia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Nikaia more family-friendly?
For families, Nikaia is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Nikaia?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Nikaia 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Nikaia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% 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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