😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $665 in Padang.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,030 in Padang.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,694 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,394 in Padang.
😐Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 111% more expensive than Padang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 4% above, Padang is 51% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Padang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57Rp 64.0K
$1.58Rp 28.3K
125.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.50Rp 582.3K
$12.45Rp 223.0K
161.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.86Rp 87.1K
$3.30Rp 59.2K
47.27%
Cappuccino
$2.75Rp 49.2K
$1.72Rp 30.8K
59.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32Rp 23.7K
$0.55Rp 9,766
140.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70Rp 12.6K
$0.26Rp 4,628
169.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.91Rp 52.2K
$2.42Rp 43.3K
20.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79Rp 68.0K
$3.52Rp 63.0K
7.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Padang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71Rp 30.6K
$1.17Rp 20.9K
46.15%
White Bread(500g)
$2.47Rp 44.3K
$1.13Rp 20.2K
118.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20Rp 21.5K
$0.89Rp 15.9K
34.83%
Eggs
$2.44Rp 43.8K
$1.55Rp 27.7K
57.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.38Rp 257.7K
$7.92Rp 142.0K
81.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.31Rp 77.1K
$3.21Rp 57.5K
34.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.21Rp 218.7K
$8.07Rp 144.6K
51.30%
Apples(1kg)
$3.68Rp 66.0K
$2.32Rp 41.5K
58.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55Rp 27.8K
$1.49Rp 26.7K
4.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.79Rp 49.9K
$1.86Rp 33.2K
50.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 41.8K
$1.55Rp 27.7K
50.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97Rp 35.3K
$1.38Rp 24.8K
42.75%
Onion(1kg)
$2.31Rp 41.4K
$1.88Rp 33.7K
22.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 19.1K
$0.89Rp 16.0K
19.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73Rp 13.1K
$0.45Rp 8,086
62.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28Rp 58.8K
$2.51Rp 45.0K
30.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.79Rp 408.4K
$17.89Rp 320.5K
27.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81Rp 50.3K
$2.10Rp 37.6K
33.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78Rp 49.9K
$3.10Rp 55.6K
-10.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Padang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,217
$0.30Rp 5,345
-3.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.06Rp 144.4K
$10.07Rp 180.4K
-19.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 8,047
$0.56Rp 10.0K
-19.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45Rp 8,094
$0.37Rp 6,637
21.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.24Rp 111.7K
$2.96Rp 53.0K
110.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85Rp 15.2K
$0.77Rp 13.9K
10.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0KRp 465.4M
$24.6KRp 440.8M
5.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7KRp 567.2M
$27.5KRp 492.0M
15.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Padang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8Rp 1.4M
$70.8Rp 1.3M
13.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06Rp 72.7K
$4.28Rp 76.6K
-5.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.42Rp 437.6K
$22.83Rp 409.1K
6.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Padang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$97.7Rp 1.7M
$23.14Rp 414.6K
322.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.45Rp 115.5K
$6.30Rp 112.9K
2.38%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04Rp 72.4K
$3.08Rp 55.3K
31.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Padang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304Rp 5.4M
$93.7Rp 1.7M
224.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,621Rp 118.6M
$7,511Rp 134.6M
-11.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Padang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2Rp 971.7K
$42.13Rp 754.8K
28.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.78Rp 694.7K
$31.11Rp 557.4K
24.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.1Rp 1.5M
$65.8Rp 1.2M
30.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7Rp 1.4M
$74.6Rp 1.3M
2.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Padang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$986Rp 17.7M
$262Rp 4.7M
275.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$658Rp 11.8M
$159Rp 2.9M
313.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,369Rp 60.4M
$590Rp 10.6M
471.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,066Rp 37.0M
$333Rp 6.0M
521.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,741Rp 49.1M
$1,241Rp 22.2M
120.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,228Rp 39.9M
$787Rp 14.1M
182.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Padang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$163Rp 2.9M
$167Rp 3.0M
-2.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
9.15
45.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026
Last update for Padang: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $986 in Ubud, Bali and $262 in Padang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Padang pays 2% 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 $12.00 in Padang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $202 per month, with Padang 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 Padang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Padang?
Padang wins on cost – living expenses run 111% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Padang the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or Padang?
On paper, Padang earns 2% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali vs Padang?
Rent for a central apartment: $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $262 in Padang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Ubud, Bali vs Padang?
A monthly transit pass in Padang runs roughly 25% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and Padang?
Childcare runs $304 in Ubud, Bali versus $93.7 in Padang. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or Padang?
At $665 in Padang versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Padang but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Padang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Padang?
Both work as nomad bases, but Padang delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $665 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Padang hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Padang?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Padang 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Padang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 111% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared