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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,329 in Papeete, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,484 in Papeete, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,639 in Papeete, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 38% cheaper than Papeete, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ubud, Bali and Papeete sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 7%, Papeete by 74%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 61.9K

$17.17 CFPF 1,752

-79.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

$81.0 CFPF 8,270

-59.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

$12.15 CFPF 1,240

-58.27%

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

$4.04 CFPF 412

-29.95%

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

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

$3.28 CFPF 334

-59.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

$2.70 CFPF 275

-74.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

$2.92 CFPF 298

2.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

$3.97 CFPF 405

-3.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

$1.52 CFPF 155

14.47%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

$0.74 CFPF 76.0

243.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$1.63 CFPF 167

-26.99%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

$6.37 CFPF 650

-61.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

$26.18 CFPF 2,672

-44.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

$17.02 CFPF 1,737

-75.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

$26.64 CFPF 2,718

-55.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

$5.24 CFPF 535

-29.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

$2.23 CFPF 228

-27.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

$5.83 CFPF 595

-53.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

$7.81 CFPF 797

-70.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

$2.90 CFPF 296

-34.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

$2.65 CFPF 271

-17.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

$3.86 CFPF 394

-72.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

$1.12 CFPF 114

-35.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

$12.25 CFPF 1,250

-74.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

$24.26 CFPF 2,476

-3.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

$1.94 CFPF 198

41.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

$3.10 CFPF 316

-7.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,029

$1.99 CFPF 203

-85.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,863

$9.43 CFPF 962

-95.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,305

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

$1.55 CFPF 158

-45.81%

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

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

$19.6K CFPF 2.0M

33.99%

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

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

$29.6K CFPF 3.0M

9.59%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$187 CFPF 19.1K

-58.05%

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

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

$17.15 CFPF 1,750

-76.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

$62.0 CFPF 6,331

-60.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

$77.7 CFPF 7,928

24.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

$14.57 CFPF 1,486

-72.27%

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

$490 CFPF 50.0K

-38.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

$9,746 CFPF 994.4K

-33.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

$76.5 CFPF 7,804

-29.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

$83.8 CFPF 8,546

-54.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

$76.8 CFPF 7,836

12.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$93.6 CFPF 9,554

-15.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

$1,240 CFPF 126.5K

-18.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.7M

$967 CFPF 98.7K

-30.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

$1,888 CFPF 192.7K

79.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

$1,574 CFPF 160.7K

33.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

$8,828 CFPF 900.8K

-66.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

$6,349 CFPF 647.9K

-63.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

$2,442 CFPF 249.2K

-92.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

121.33%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Last update for Papeete: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,240 in Papeete. 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 1310% higher in Papeete, 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 $81.0 in Papeete. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $508 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Papeete: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Papeete is pricier by about 62%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $3,494 in Papeete. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,438 in Ubud, Bali and $2,329 in Papeete. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Ubud, Bali and $490 in Papeete. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,438, than in Papeete at $2,329. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Papeete 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, Papeete makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.