😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,148 in Paks.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,661 in Paks.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,694 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,174 in Paks.
😐Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 22% more expensive than Paks, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 4% above, Paks is 15% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Paks
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57Rp 64.0K
$8.50Ft 2,571
-58.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.50Rp 582.3K
$29.11Ft 8,808
11.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.86Rp 87.1K
$6.69Ft 2,023
-27.35%
Cappuccino
$2.75Rp 49.2K
$0.82Ft 248
235.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32Rp 23.7K
$1.06Ft 321
24.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70Rp 12.6K
$0.72Ft 219
-2.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.91Rp 52.2K
$1.12Ft 338
159.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79Rp 68.0K
$1.31Ft 397
189.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Paks
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71Rp 30.6K
$1.09Ft 329
56.88%
White Bread(500g)
$2.47Rp 44.3K
$1.54Ft 466
60.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20Rp 21.5K
$1.84Ft 557
-34.78%
Eggs
$2.44Rp 43.8K
$2.95Ft 893
-17.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.38Rp 257.7K
$9.59Ft 2,902
49.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.31Rp 77.1K
$5.58Ft 1,688
-22.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.21Rp 218.7K
$10.99Ft 3,324
11.10%
Apples(1kg)
$3.68Rp 66.0K
$2.03Ft 614
81.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55Rp 27.8K
$1.95Ft 591
-20.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.79Rp 49.9K
$2.08Ft 629
34.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 41.8K
$4.21Ft 1,273
-44.66%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97Rp 35.3K
$1.39Ft 419
41.73%
Onion(1kg)
$2.31Rp 41.4K
$1.29Ft 391
79.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 19.1K
$1.47Ft 446
-27.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73Rp 13.1K
$0.49Ft 149
48.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28Rp 58.8K
$7.24Ft 2,191
-54.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.79Rp 408.4K
$6.61Ft 2,001
244.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81Rp 50.3K
$1.14Ft 344
146.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78Rp 49.9K
$1.20Ft 363
131.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Paks
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,217
$1.17Ft 354
-75.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.06Rp 144.4K
$24.58Ft 7,437
-67.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 8,047
$2.83Ft 856
-84.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45Rp 8,094
$1.28Ft 388
-64.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.24Rp 111.7K
$17.35Ft 5,250
-64.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85Rp 15.2K
$1.76Ft 533
-51.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0KRp 465.4M
$31.3KFt 9.5M
-16.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7KRp 567.2M
$36.2KFt 11.0M
-12.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Paks
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8Rp 1.4M
$145Ft 43.8K
-44.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06Rp 72.7K
$30.24Ft 9,149
-86.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.42Rp 437.6K
$25.03Ft 7,573
-2.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Paks
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$97.7Rp 1.7M
$46.21Ft 14.0K
111.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.45Rp 115.5K
$16.68Ft 5,047
-61.33%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04Rp 72.4K
$7.84Ft 2,372
-48.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Paks
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304Rp 5.4M
$460Ft 139.3K
-33.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,621Rp 118.6M
$6,756Ft 2.0M
-2.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Paks
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2Rp 971.7K
$87.6Ft 26.5K
-38.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.78Rp 694.7K
$26.14Ft 7,909
48.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.1Rp 1.5M
$95.0Ft 28.7K
-9.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7Rp 1.4M
$105Ft 31.7K
-26.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Paks
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$986Rp 17.7M
$454Ft 137.3K
117.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$658Rp 11.8M
$342Ft 103.6K
92.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,369Rp 60.4M
$628Ft 189.9K
436.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,066Rp 37.0M
$537Ft 162.6K
284.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,741Rp 49.1M
$3,305Ft 999.9K
-17.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,228Rp 39.9M
$2,492Ft 753.9K
-10.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Paks
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$163Rp 2.9M
$1,361Ft 411.7K
-87.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
8
66.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026
Last update for Paks: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $986 in Ubud, Bali and $454 in Paks. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Paks pays 733% 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 $29.00 in Paks for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $226 per month, with Paks 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 Paks: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and Paks?
Ubud, Bali and Paks differ by about 22% in total monthly costs ($1,404 vs $1,148 including rent). Paks is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Paks earns 733% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and Paks?
Rent for a central apartment: $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $454 in Paks. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Paks – a meal for two runs $29.00 versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,148 in Paks versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Paks but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Paks the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Paks?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ubud, Bali or Paks safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Paks are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ubud, Bali or Paks?
Expats usually find Paks gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% 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