😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $636 in Panajachel.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,049 in Panajachel.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,732 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,461 in Panajachel.
😐Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 126% more expensive than Panajachel, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 7% above, Panajachel is 52% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Panajachel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57Rp 61.9K
$4.54Q 34.67
-21.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58Rp 564.7K
$32.57Q 249
0.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.07Rp 87.8K
$6.22Q 47.52
-18.49%
Cappuccino
$2.83Rp 49.0K
$2.60Q 19.85
8.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34Rp 23.2K
$1.17Q 8.92
14.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69Rp 12.0K
$0.92Q 7.04
-25.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.99Rp 51.8K
$2.64Q 20.17
13.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85Rp 66.7K
$4.54Q 34.72
-15.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Panajachel
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74Rp 30.2K
$2.04Q 15.56
-14.71%
White Bread(500g)
$2.54Rp 44.0K
$1.54Q 11.80
64.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19Rp 20.6K
$2.09Q 16.01
-43.06%
Eggs
$2.43Rp 42.0K
$1.77Q 13.49
37.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.66Rp 254.1K
$7.83Q 59.8
87.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.18Rp 72.4K
$8.50Q 65.0
-50.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94Rp 206.9K
$10.02Q 76.6
19.16%
Apples(1kg)
$3.69Rp 63.9K
$3.72Q 28.39
-0.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61Rp 27.8K
$1.53Q 11.66
5.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.69Rp 46.5K
$3.04Q 23.24
-11.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 40.4K
$1.13Q 8.62
106.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 33.0K
$1.06Q 8.10
80.19%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19Rp 37.9K
$2.27Q 17.37
-3.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 18.3K
$0.67Q 5.14
58.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72Rp 12.5K
$1.18Q 9.02
-38.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13Rp 54.3K
$3.67Q 28.00
-14.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.49Rp 407.1K
$8.37Q 64.0
180.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74Rp 47.5K
$1.66Q 12.72
65.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88Rp 49.9K
$2.42Q 18.52
19.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Panajachel
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,029
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.17Rp 141.6K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 7,863
$5.10Q 38.95
-91.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42Rp 7,305
$0.65Q 4.97
-35.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.16Rp 106.7K
$15.96Q 122
-61.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84Rp 14.6K
$1.06Q 8.10
-20.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2KRp 454.9M
$19.6KQ 149.6K
34.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5KRp 562.9M
$24.3KQ 185.4K
33.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Panajachel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.4Rp 1.4M
$33.15Q 253
136.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95Rp 68.5K
$26.83Q 205
-85.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40Rp 423.0K
$46.95Q 359
-48.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Panajachel
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$96.5Rp 1.7M
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35Rp 110.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.04Rp 70.0K
$7.11Q 54.3
-43.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Panajachel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$303Rp 5.2M
$245Q 1,870
23.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,523Rp 113.1M
$5,793Q 44.3K
12.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Panajachel
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8Rp 933.1K
$49.85Q 381
8.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98Rp 658.3K
$53.4Q 408
-28.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.8Rp 1.5M
$117Q 891
-25.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9Rp 1.4M
$121Q 925
-34.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Panajachel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,012Rp 17.5M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$674Rp 11.7M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,390Rp 58.8M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,098Rp 36.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,985Rp 51.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,339Rp 40.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Panajachel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$173Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
8.9
49.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026
Last update for Panajachel: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $33.00 in Panajachel. Groceries flip the comparison at $298 vs $247, with Panajachel cheaper for home cooking.
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 Panajachel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Panajachel?
Panajachel wins on cost – living expenses run 126% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Panajachel the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali vs Panajachel?
You'd need roughly $2,158 in Ubud, Bali and $955 in Panajachel to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and Panajachel?
Childcare runs $303 in Ubud, Bali versus $245 in Panajachel. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Ubud, Bali vs Panajachel?
Dining out is cheaper in Panajachel – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or Panajachel?
At $636 in Panajachel versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Panajachel but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Panajachel the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Panajachel?
Both work as nomad bases, but Panajachel delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $636 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Panajachel hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Panajachel?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Panajachel 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 Panajachel gentler on the wallet – expenses run 126% 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