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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $882 in Pai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,460 in Pai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,275 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,038 in Pai, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 56% more than Pai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Pai is 36% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Pai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33 Rp 58.7K
$3.17 ฿105
5.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.82 Rp 630.7K
$24.52 ฿810
46.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.63 Rp 99.1K
$7.15 ฿236
-21.26%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 49.7K
$2.08 ฿68.8
35.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 Rp 30.8K
$0.69 ฿22.81
153.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 Rp 14.0K
$0.38 ฿12.45
110.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 Rp 53.6K
$2.12 ฿70.0
43.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
$3.56 ฿118
20.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Pai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 Rp 28.3K
$1.68 ฿55.6
-4.17%
White Bread (500g)
$2.27 Rp 39.9K
$1.35 ฿44.63
68.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 20.6K
$1.30 ฿42.97
-10.00%
Eggs
$2.17 Rp 38.2K
$2.02 ฿66.8
7.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.63 Rp 310.5K
$16.98 ฿561
3.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.05 Rp 71.4K
$3.12 ฿103
29.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.18 Rp 214.5K
$10.85 ฿358
12.26%
Apples (1kg)
$3.62 Rp 63.7K
$2.93 ฿96.9
23.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 Rp 28.8K
$1.19 ฿39.18
37.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 40.6K
$1.84 ฿60.9
25.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.96 Rp 34.5K
$1.51 ฿49.87
29.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 Rp 32.5K
$1.50 ฿49.63
22.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.37 Rp 41.7K
$1.22 ฿40.22
94.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 Rp 18.5K
$0.97 ฿32.21
8.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 Rp 9,560
$0.48 ฿15.71
12.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.30 Rp 40.6K
$4.43 ฿146
-48.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.08 Rp 406.4K
$18.78 ฿621
22.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 Rp 41.2K
$1.81 ฿59.9
29.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 Rp 54.0K
$2.82 ฿93.3
8.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Pai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,365
$0.95 ฿31.41
-73.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.42 Rp 165.9K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.49 Rp 8,631
$1.09 ฿36.03
-55.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 Rp 8,349
$1.14 ฿37.72
-58.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.60 Rp 98.6K
$6.23 ฿206
-10.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.2K
$1.27 ฿41.87
-36.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K Rp 440.3M
$27.5K ฿907.2K
-8.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1K Rp 547.0M
$26.7K ฿882.2K
16.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Pai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.7 Rp 1.5M
$72.2 ฿2,386
14.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49 Rp 114.2K
$13.16 ฿435
-50.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.79 Rp 330.8K
$18.30 ฿605
2.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Pai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.2 Rp 972.6K
$50.1 ฿1,655
10.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.21 Rp 320.6K
$14.21 ฿469
28.15%
Cinema Ticket
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
$6.98 ฿231
-38.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Pai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 Rp 8.7M
$298 ฿9,861
65.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,917 Rp 104.2M
$9,576 ฿316.4K
-38.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Pai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.28 Rp 814.8K
$31.98 ฿1,057
44.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.44 Rp 641.6K
$34.25 ฿1,132
6.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.7 Rp 1.4M
$83.9 ฿2,772
-3.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.8 Rp 1.4M
$65.7 ฿2,170
19.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Pai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,114 Rp 19.6M
$454 ฿15.0K
145.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$693 Rp 12.2M
$271 ฿8,942
156.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,639 Rp 64.1M
$820 ฿27.1K
343.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,712 Rp 30.1M
$661 ฿21.8K
159.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,761 Rp 48.6M
$2,435 ฿80.4K
13.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,293 Rp 40.4M
$1,799 ฿59.5K
27.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Pai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 2.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
5.45
152.84%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Last update for Pai: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $454 in Pai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $25.00 in Pai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $294 vs $248 – making Pai 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 Pai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Ubud, Bali and in Pai compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, $882 in Pai – roughly 56% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Ubud, Bali compared to Pai?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,067 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,322 in Pai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Ubud, Bali and Pai?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Pai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Pai?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,378 in Ubud, Bali and $882 in Pai. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ubud, Bali and Pai?
Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Ubud, Bali and $298 in Pai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Pai, where all-in costs run around $882, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,378. In Pai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Pai?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $882 in Pai to $1,378 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Ubud, Bali or Pai safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Ubud, Bali and Pai?
If budget matters most, go with Pai. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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