Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Panama City Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Panama City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,763 in Panama City, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,717 in Panama City, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,671 in Panama City, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 19% cheaper than Panama City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Panama City sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 6%, Panama City by 32%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.9K

$10.08 PAB 10.08

-64.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 586.8K

$50.4 PAB 50.4

-35.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.7K

$7.80 PAB 7.80

-36.54%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.6K

$3.69 PAB 3.69

-26.56%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.1K

$1.70 PAB 1.70

-21.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$1.35 PAB 1.35

-48.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.3K

$3.06 PAB 3.06

-4.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.9K

$3.91 PAB 3.91

1.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

$1.82 PAB 1.82

-0.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.1K

$2.56 PAB 2.56

-1.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.8K

$2.49 PAB 2.49

-53.41%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$2.96 PAB 2.96

-16.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 263.7K

$11.25 PAB 11.25

30.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.4K

$7.22 PAB 7.22

-40.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 217.5K

$10.19 PAB 10.19

19.14%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.8K

$3.43 PAB 3.43

11.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.9K

$1.50 PAB 1.50

4.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.8K

$2.85 PAB 2.85

-0.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.7K

$3.19 PAB 3.19

-26.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.3K

$2.21 PAB 2.21

-13.57%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.5K

$2.77 PAB 2.77

-20.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.2K

$2.25 PAB 2.25

-55.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

$1.58 PAB 1.58

-50.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.4K

$5.91 PAB 5.91

-43.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 425.5K

$11.11 PAB 11.11

113.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 50.0K

$1.28 PAB 1.28

117.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.3K

$2.32 PAB 2.32

23.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,819

$0.40 PAB 0.40

-32.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.9K

$22.08 PAB 22.08

-63.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,181

$2.57 PAB 2.57

-82.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,068

$1.78 PAB 1.78

-74.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 109.3K

$21.73 PAB 21.73

-71.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$0.93 PAB 0.93

-15.05%

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

$26.1K Rp 468.8M

$19.7K PAB 19.7K

32.87%

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

$32.1K Rp 575.8M

$20.9K PAB 20.9K

53.81%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$121 PAB 121

-34.14%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.9K

$29.44 PAB 29.44

-86.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 421.6K

$49.27 PAB 49.27

-52.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$45.92 PAB 45.92

114.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.8K

$32.32 PAB 32.32

-79.49%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.3K

$8.11 PAB 8.11

-48.83%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$484 PAB 484

-37.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.5M

$15.8K PAB 15.8K

-58.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 995.6K

$51.2 PAB 51.2

8.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 686.7K

$45.98 PAB 45.98

-16.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$89.0 PAB 89.0

-0.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$122 PAB 122

-36.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$1,157 PAB 1,157

-13.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$893 PAB 893

-24.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.7M

$1,996 PAB 1,996

72.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.6M

$1,580 PAB 1,580

29.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.9M

$3,069 PAB 3,069

-7.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.6M

$1,730 PAB 1,730

30.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$962 PAB 962

-82.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

6.23

113.16%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Panama City: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,157 in Panama City. 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 482% higher in Panama City, 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 $50.0 in Panama City. Groceries tell a different story – $302 in Ubud, Bali vs $293 in Panama City – so Panama City 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 Panama City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Panama City is pricier by about 24%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $2,644 in Panama City. 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 3% cheaper in Panama City – 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 $50.0 in Panama City. 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 $1,419, than in Panama City at $1,763. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Panama City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ubud, Bali – 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 Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Panama City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.