😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $651 in Padang.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,348 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,007 in Padang.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,363 in Padang.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 110% more expensive than in Padang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Padang is 52% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Padang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44Rp 60.9K
$1.74Rp 30.9K
97.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.31Rp 643.0K
$12.43Rp 220.0K
192.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.71Rp 101.0K
$3.04Rp 53.7K
87.83%
Cappuccino
$2.67Rp 47.3K
$1.49Rp 26.4K
79.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75Rp 31.0K
$0.38Rp 6,734
360.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87Rp 15.4K
$0.26Rp 4,533
234.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95Rp 52.3K
$2.71Rp 48.0K
8.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52Rp 80.0K
$3.93Rp 69.6K
15.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Padang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62Rp 28.7K
$1.17Rp 20.8K
38.46%
White Bread(500g)
$2.33Rp 41.3K
$0.95Rp 16.9K
145.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.11Rp 19.6K
$0.92Rp 16.3K
20.65%
Eggs
$2.20Rp 39.0K
$1.45Rp 25.6K
51.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.69Rp 313.3K
$6.29Rp 111.4K
181.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.10Rp 72.5K
$2.60Rp 46.0K
57.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.18Rp 215.6K
$7.98Rp 141.3K
52.63%
Apples(1kg)
$3.71Rp 65.6K
$2.02Rp 35.7K
83.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59Rp 28.1K
$1.16Rp 20.5K
37.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.28Rp 40.4K
$1.63Rp 28.9K
39.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.95Rp 34.6K
$1.17Rp 20.7K
66.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 33.7K
$1.35Rp 23.8K
41.48%
Onion(1kg)
$2.33Rp 41.3K
$1.93Rp 34.2K
20.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01Rp 17.8K
$0.83Rp 14.7K
21.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 9,773
$0.44Rp 7,865
25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23Rp 39.5K
$2.71Rp 48.0K
-17.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.07Rp 408.6K
$23.01Rp 407.4K
0.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42Rp 42.8K
$2.00Rp 35.5K
21.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00Rp 53.1K
$2.74Rp 48.5K
9.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Padang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,814
$0.30Rp 5,325
-10.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.98Rp 159.1K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,566
$0.51Rp 9,086
-5.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43Rp 7,679
$0.29Rp 5,191
48.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.64Rp 99.9K
$2.53Rp 44.8K
122.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.80Rp 14.2K
$0.69Rp 12.1K
15.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9KRp 441.7M
$22.8KRp 404.2M
9.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7KRp 561.5M
$30.6KRp 542.5M
3.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Padang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.5Rp 1.4M
$74.1Rp 1.3M
10.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49Rp 115.0K
$4.30Rp 76.2K
50.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.77Rp 332.4K
$17.79Rp 315.1K
5.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Padang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.9Rp 1.0M
$19.96Rp 353.4K
184.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.73Rp 331.7K
$7.45Rp 132.0K
151.41%
Cinema Ticket
$4.54Rp 80.4K
$2.46Rp 43.5K
84.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Padang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$481Rp 8.5M
$99.6Rp 1.8M
382.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,711Rp 101.1M
$7,742Rp 137.1M
-26.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Padang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.52Rp 806.0K
$44.85Rp 794.2K
1.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.88Rp 635.4K
$29.67Rp 525.3K
20.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.4Rp 1.4M
$73.7Rp 1.3M
9.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.7Rp 1.4M
$80.8Rp 1.4M
-2.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Padang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,115Rp 19.7M
$236Rp 4.2M
372.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$698Rp 12.4M
$140Rp 2.5M
399.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,637Rp 64.4M
$513Rp 9.1M
609.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,737Rp 30.8M
$359Rp 6.4M
383.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,784Rp 49.3M
$1,358Rp 24.0M
105.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,290Rp 40.5M
$634Rp 11.2M
261.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Padang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$168Rp 3.0M
$170Rp 3.0M
-1.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
9.46
45.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026
Last update for Padang: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali and $236 in Padang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Padang pays 1% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $12.00 in Padang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $295 vs $194 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 110% 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 in Padang?
On paper, salaries run 1% lower in Padang. 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 compared to Padang?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $236 in Padang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Padang?
Supermarket bills run roughly 52% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Padang?
All in, you'll spend $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $651 in Padang – a 110% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Padang?
At $651 in Padang versus $1,368 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 $651 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 110% 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