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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $965 in Pale, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,458 in Pale, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,952 in Pale, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 47% more than Pale, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Pale is 28% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.9K

$7.10 BAM 11.97

-49.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 586.8K

$35.05 BAM 59.1

-6.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.7K

$8.98 BAM 15.12

-44.88%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.6K

$1.64 BAM 2.76

65.24%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.1K

$2.01 BAM 3.39

-33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$1.15 BAM 1.93

-39.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.3K

$2.05 BAM 3.45

42.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.9K

$2.29 BAM 3.86

72.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

$1.35 BAM 2.27

34.07%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.1K

$1.21 BAM 2.03

108.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.8K

$1.61 BAM 2.71

-27.95%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$2.97 BAM 5.00

-17.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 263.7K

$9.42 BAM 15.87

56.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.4K

$8.85 BAM 14.90

-51.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 217.5K

$12.46 BAM 21.00

-2.57%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.8K

$1.44 BAM 2.42

166.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.9K

$1.80 BAM 3.04

-13.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.8K

$2.07 BAM 3.49

36.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.7K

$2.14 BAM 3.60

8.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.3K

$1.17 BAM 1.97

63.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.5K

$1.30 BAM 2.19

69.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.2K

$1.26 BAM 2.13

-19.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

$0.80 BAM 1.35

-2.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.4K

$3.75 BAM 6.31

-11.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 425.5K

$8.48 BAM 14.29

179.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 50.0K

$1.09 BAM 1.83

155.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.3K

$1.31 BAM 2.20

118.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,819

$1.83 BAM 3.09

-85.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.9K

$35.40 BAM 59.6

-77.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,181

$1.43 BAM 2.42

-67.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,068

$0.76 BAM 1.29

-40.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 109.3K

$9.02 BAM 15.19

-32.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$1.47 BAM 2.48

-46.26%

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

$26.1K Rp 468.8M

$26.9K BAM 45.3K

-2.85%

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

$32.1K Rp 575.8M

$26.6K BAM 44.8K

20.78%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$168 BAM 283

-52.41%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.9K

$19.11 BAM 32.20

-78.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 421.6K

$23.42 BAM 39.46

0.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$23.51 BAM 39.61

319.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.8K

$8.83 BAM 14.87

-24.92%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.3K

$4.85 BAM 8.18

-14.43%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$240 BAM 404

26.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.5M

$3,360 BAM 5,661

96.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 995.6K

$75.6 BAM 127

-26.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 686.7K

$36.50 BAM 61.5

4.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$99.6 BAM 168

-11.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$123 BAM 208

-36.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$188 BAM 316

435.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$157 BAM 264

330.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.7M

$281 BAM 473

1126.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.6M

$222 BAM 373

820.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.9M

$1,378 BAM 2,321

106.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.6M

$1,156 BAM 1,947

95.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$768 BAM 1,294

-78.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

4.07

226.29%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Pale: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $188 in Pale. 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 365% higher in Pale, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $35.00 in Pale. Groceries tell a different story – $302 in Ubud, Bali vs $237 in Pale – so Pale wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Pale: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 47%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,447 in Pale. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $35.00 in Pale. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali and $965 in Pale. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Pale, where all-in costs run around $965, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Pale it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Pale – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Pale. 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.