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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,642 in Palikir, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,230 in Palikir, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,818 in Palikir, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 14% cheaper than Palikir, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Ubud, Bali and Palikir sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 4%, Palikir by 22%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

$30.51 $30.51

-88.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

$44.35 $44.35

-26.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

$5.99 $5.99

-18.86%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

$3.04 $3.04

-9.54%

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

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

$1.17 $1.17

12.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$2.04 $2.04

-65.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

$0.97 $0.97

200.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

$1.94 $1.94

95.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

$0.22 $0.22

677.27%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

$2.24 $2.24

10.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$2.25 $2.25

-46.67%

Eggs

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

$2.45 $2.45

-0.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

$4.35 $4.35

230.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

$4.46 $4.46

-3.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

$6.63 $6.63

84.16%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

$3.51 $3.51

4.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

$2.50 $2.50

-38.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

$2.23 $2.23

25.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

$3.18 $3.18

-26.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

$3.39 $3.39

-41.89%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

$2.21 $2.21

4.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$1.96 $1.96

-45.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$1.12 $1.12

-34.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

$17.99 $17.99

-81.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

$6.58 $6.58

246.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

$1.47 $1.47

91.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$1.41 $1.41

97.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

$0.83 $0.83

-65.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

$33.60 $33.60

-76.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,047

$6.10 $6.10

-92.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

$1.62 $1.62

-72.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

$4.82 $4.82

29.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

$3.21 $3.21

-73.52%

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

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

$3,962 $3,962

555.63%

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

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

$3,950 $3,950

701.43%

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

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

$39.72 $39.72

103.30%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

$14.89 $14.89

-72.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

$266 $266

-90.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

$41.39 $41.39

135.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

$19.86 $19.86

-67.52%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

$6.93 $6.93

-41.70%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$117 $117

159.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

$1,690 $1,690

291.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

$20.37 $20.37

166.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

$25.48 $25.48

52.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$70.9 $70.9

21.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

$56.0 $56.0

36.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

$710 $710

38.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.8M

$588 $588

11.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

$760 $760

343.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

$639 $639

223.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

$839 $839

226.72%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

$696 $696

220.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

$246 $246

-33.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

380000

-100.00%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Last update for Palikir: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $710 in Palikir. 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 51% higher in Palikir, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $44.00 in Palikir. Groceries tell a different story – $297 in Ubud, Bali vs $215 in Palikir – so Palikir 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 Palikir: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, $1,642 in Palikir – roughly 17% apart. Palikir costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $2,463 in Palikir. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 38% cheaper in Palikir – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $44.00 in Palikir. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,404, than in Palikir at $1,642. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Palikir it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,404 in Ubud, Bali to $1,642 in Palikir. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Palikir makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.