😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $750 in Panajachel.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,348 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,251 in Panajachel.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,752 in Panajachel.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 82% more expensive than in Panajachel, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Panajachel is 45% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Panajachel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44Rp 61.0K
$6.91Q 52.7
-50.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.31Rp 644.5K
$49.50Q 378
-26.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.71Rp 101.3K
$8.01Q 61.1
-28.71%
Cappuccino
$2.67Rp 47.4K
$3.46Q 26.37
-22.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75Rp 31.1K
$1.11Q 8.45
57.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87Rp 15.5K
$0.83Q 6.31
4.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95Rp 52.4K
$3.33Q 25.38
-11.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52Rp 80.2K
$4.84Q 36.92
-6.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Panajachel
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62Rp 28.7K
$2.07Q 15.79
-21.74%
White Bread(500g)
$2.33Rp 41.4K
$2.81Q 21.42
-17.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.11Rp 19.7K
$2.05Q 15.65
-45.85%
Eggs
$2.20Rp 39.1K
$2.50Q 19.07
-12.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.69Rp 314.0K
$6.19Q 47.21
185.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.10Rp 72.7K
$9.19Q 70.1
-55.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.18Rp 216.1K
$13.42Q 102
-9.24%
Apples(1kg)
$3.71Rp 65.8K
$3.83Q 29.20
-3.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59Rp 28.2K
$1.71Q 13.06
-7.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.28Rp 40.5K
$2.88Q 22.00
-20.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.95Rp 34.7K
$1.64Q 12.49
18.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 33.8K
$1.53Q 11.71
24.84%
Onion(1kg)
$2.33Rp 41.4K
$2.10Q 16.01
10.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01Rp 17.9K
$0.74Q 5.68
36.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 9,795
$1.17Q 8.92
-52.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23Rp 39.6K
$4.04Q 30.78
-44.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.07Rp 409.5K
$8.31Q 63.4
177.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42Rp 42.9K
$1.73Q 13.18
39.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00Rp 53.2K
$2.71Q 20.66
10.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Panajachel
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,825
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.98Rp 159.4K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,586
$5.10Q 38.94
-90.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43Rp 7,697
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.64Rp 100.1K
$10.63Q 81.1
-46.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.80Rp 14.3K
$1.27Q 9.72
-37.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9KRp 442.7M
$27.9KQ 212.7K
-10.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7KRp 562.8M
$25.6KQ 195.5K
23.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Panajachel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.5Rp 1.4M
$77.1Q 588
5.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49Rp 115.2K
$29.13Q 222
-77.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.77Rp 333.1K
$46.24Q 353
-59.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Panajachel
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.9Rp 1.0M
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.73Rp 332.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.54Rp 80.5K
$6.35Q 48.42
-28.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Panajachel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$481Rp 8.5M
$343Q 2,619
40.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,711Rp 101.4M
$6,662Q 50.8K
-14.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Panajachel
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.52Rp 807.9K
$46.27Q 353
-1.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.88Rp 636.9K
$47.35Q 361
-24.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.4Rp 1.4M
$111Q 844
-27.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.7Rp 1.4M
$115Q 877
-31.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Panajachel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,115Rp 19.8M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$698Rp 12.4M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,637Rp 64.5M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,737Rp 30.8M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,784Rp 49.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,290Rp 40.6M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Panajachel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$168Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
11.62
18.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026
Last update for Panajachel: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $49.00 in Panajachel. Groceries flip the comparison at $295 vs $277, 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 82% 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 and in Panajachel?
You'd need roughly $2,052 in Ubud, Bali and $1,125 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 in Panajachel?
Childcare runs $481 in Ubud, Bali versus $343 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 and in Panajachel?
Dining out is cheaper in Panajachel – a meal for two runs $49.00 versus $36.00 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 in Panajachel?
At $750 in Panajachel versus $1,368 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 $750 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 82% 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