😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,394 in Ubud, Bali versus $653 in Panajachel.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,551 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,075 in Panajachel.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,708 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,497 in Panajachel.
😐Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 113% more expensive than Panajachel, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Panajachel is 51% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Panajachel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.40Rp 60.2K
$4.68Q 35.61
-27.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.38Rp 573.6K
$32.51Q 248
-0.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.00Rp 88.6K
$6.35Q 48.37
-21.26%
Cappuccino
$2.82Rp 50.0K
$2.62Q 19.98
7.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38Rp 24.4K
$1.23Q 9.34
12.20%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73Rp 13.0K
$0.99Q 7.56
-26.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.98Rp 52.8K
$2.68Q 20.42
11.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97Rp 70.3K
$4.45Q 33.86
-10.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Panajachel
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79Rp 31.8K
$2.04Q 15.57
-12.25%
White Bread(500g)
$2.46Rp 43.7K
$1.59Q 12.11
54.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20Rp 21.2K
$2.02Q 15.38
-40.59%
Eggs
$2.39Rp 42.3K
$1.83Q 13.90
30.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.40Rp 255.1K
$8.03Q 61.1
79.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.28Rp 75.9K
$8.53Q 65.0
-49.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82Rp 209.4K
$9.87Q 75.2
19.76%
Apples(1kg)
$3.78Rp 67.0K
$3.62Q 27.57
4.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63Rp 28.9K
$1.57Q 11.92
3.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.80Rp 49.6K
$3.03Q 23.10
-7.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26Rp 40.0K
$1.16Q 8.86
94.83%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00Rp 35.3K
$1.11Q 8.46
80.18%
Onion(1kg)
$2.21Rp 39.2K
$2.35Q 17.92
-5.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07Rp 18.9K
$0.62Q 4.71
72.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76Rp 13.5K
$1.20Q 9.12
-36.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13Rp 55.4K
$3.57Q 27.18
-12.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.81Rp 421.9K
$8.02Q 61.0
196.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.84Rp 50.3K
$1.66Q 12.66
71.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78Rp 49.2K
$2.49Q 18.93
11.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Panajachel
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,726
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.37Rp 148.2K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 8,034
$5.15Q 39.20
-91.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43Rp 7,578
$0.60Q 4.54
-28.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.98Rp 105.9K
$15.76Q 120
-62.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.80Rp 14.2K
$1.11Q 8.43
-27.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.8KRp 457.2M
$19.8KQ 151.0K
30.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.8KRp 563.4M
$24.4KQ 185.9K
30.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Panajachel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.7Rp 1.4M
$33.55Q 255
140.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.14Rp 73.3K
$26.82Q 204
-84.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.12Rp 427.2K
$46.52Q 354
-48.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Panajachel
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$97.8Rp 1.7M
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.64Rp 117.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.04Rp 71.5K
$7.16Q 54.5
-43.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Panajachel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$297Rp 5.3M
$246Q 1,876
20.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,590Rp 116.7M
$5,851Q 44.5K
12.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Panajachel
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1Rp 976.8K
$49.46Q 377
11.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.51Rp 682.1K
$52.4Q 399
-26.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.1Rp 1.5M
$114Q 871
-24.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.0Rp 1.4M
$123Q 934
-36.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Panajachel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$985Rp 17.5M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$665Rp 11.8M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,446Rp 61.0M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,042Rp 36.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,829Rp 50.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,282Rp 40.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Panajachel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$169Rp 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: June 14, 2026
Last update for Panajachel: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $33.00 in Panajachel. Groceries flip the comparison at $299 vs $248, 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 113% 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 $2,091 in Ubud, Bali and $980 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 $297 in Ubud, Bali versus $246 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 $32.00 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 $653 in Panajachel versus $1,394 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 $653 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 113% 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