Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and North Charleston, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and North Charleston, SC

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,394 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,688 in North Charleston, SC, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,551 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,876 in North Charleston, SC, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,708 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $5,064 in North Charleston, SC, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 48% cheaper than North Charleston, SC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and North Charleston, SC sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 5%, North Charleston, SC by 102%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.40 Rp 60.6K

$17.93 $17.93

-81.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.38 Rp 577.1K

$85.6 $85.6

-62.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.00 Rp 89.1K

$10.17 $10.17

-50.84%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 50.3K

$6.36 $6.36

-55.66%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.5K

$2.48 $2.48

-44.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.0K

$2.25 $2.25

-67.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.98 Rp 53.2K

$5.91 $5.91

-49.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.97 Rp 70.8K

$7.78 $7.78

-48.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 Rp 32.0K

$0.99 $0.99

80.81%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

$3.93 $3.93

-37.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.4K

$3.16 $3.16

-62.03%

Eggs

$2.39 Rp 42.6K

$3.73 $3.73

-35.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.40 Rp 256.6K

$14.10 $14.10

2.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.28 Rp 76.4K

$12.74 $12.74

-66.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.82 Rp 210.6K

$14.65 $14.65

-19.32%

Apples (1kg)

$3.78 Rp 67.4K

$6.87 $6.87

-44.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.1K

$1.63 $1.63

Oranges (1kg)

$2.80 Rp 49.9K

$4.69 $4.69

-40.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 Rp 40.3K

$5.55 $5.55

-59.28%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 Rp 35.6K

$2.86 $2.86

-30.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 Rp 39.4K

$2.94 $2.94

-24.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 Rp 19.1K

$1.95 $1.95

-45.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 Rp 13.6K

$2.37 $2.37

-67.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 55.7K

$7.40 $7.40

-57.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.81 Rp 424.4K

$15.44 $15.44

54.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 Rp 50.6K

$1.78 $1.78

59.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.5K

$2.62 $2.62

6.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,755

$3.54 $3.54

-92.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 149.1K

$29.98 $29.98

-72.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,082

$2.93 $2.93

-84.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,624

$1.45 $1.45

-70.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 Rp 106.5K

$20.20 $20.20

-70.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.3K

$0.84 $0.84

-4.76%

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

$25.8K Rp 459.9M

$29.2K $29.2K

-11.49%

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

$31.8K Rp 566.8M

$25.9K $25.9K

22.74%

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

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

$211 $211

-61.79%

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

$4.14 Rp 73.7K

$64.8 $64.8

-93.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.12 Rp 429.8K

$73.8 $73.8

-67.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.8 Rp 1.7M

$43.44 $43.44

125.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.64 Rp 118.4K

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 71.9K

$12.10 $12.10

-66.61%

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

$297 Rp 5.3M

$760 $760

-60.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,590 Rp 117.4M

$14.4K $14.4K

-54.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 Rp 982.6K

$61.5 $61.5

-10.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.51 Rp 686.2K

$43.01 $43.01

-10.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$93.6 $93.6

-7.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.0 Rp 1.4M

$137 $137

-42.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 Rp 17.6M

$1,957 $1,957

-49.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$665 Rp 11.8M

$1,304 $1,304

-49.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,446 Rp 61.4M

$1,951 $1,951

76.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,042 Rp 36.4M

$1,985 $1,985

2.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,829 Rp 50.4M

$2,833 $2,833

-0.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,282 Rp 40.7M

$2,861 $2,861

-20.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$169 Rp 3.0M

$4,364 $4,364

-96.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

6.49

104.62%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 14, 2026

Last update for North Charleston, SC: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $985 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,957 in North Charleston, SC. 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 2479% higher in North Charleston, SC, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $86.0 in North Charleston, SC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $299 vs $413 – making Ubud, Bali 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 North Charleston, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

North Charleston, SC costs about 93% more than Ubud, Bali, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,091 per month in Ubud, Bali and $4,032 in North Charleston, SC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 38% more in North Charleston, SC, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali and $86.0 in North Charleston, SC. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,394, than in North Charleston, SC at $2,688. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in North Charleston, SC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,394 versus $2,688 in North Charleston, SC. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, North Charleston, SC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.