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 $1,394 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,323 in Papeete, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,551 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,475 in Papeete, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,708 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,627 in Papeete, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 40% cheaper than Papeete, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ubud, Bali and Papeete sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 5%, Papeete by 74%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Papeete
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.40 Rp 60.2K
$17.72 CFPF 1,818
-80.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.38 Rp 573.6K
$81.7 CFPF 8,383
-60.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.00 Rp 88.6K
$12.10 CFPF 1,241
-58.68%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 50.0K
$3.99 CFPF 409
-29.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 24.4K
$3.41 CFPF 349
-59.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.0K
$2.72 CFPF 279
-73.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.98 Rp 52.8K
$2.83 CFPF 290
5.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97 Rp 70.3K
$3.78 CFPF 388
5.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Papeete
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 Rp 31.8K
$1.52 CFPF 156
17.76%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 43.7K
$0.81 CFPF 82.7
203.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.2K
$1.61 CFPF 165
-25.47%
Eggs
$2.39 Rp 42.3K
$6.44 CFPF 660
-62.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.40 Rp 255.1K
$25.48 CFPF 2,613
-43.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.28 Rp 75.9K
$16.90 CFPF 1,734
-74.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.82 Rp 209.4K
$26.29 CFPF 2,697
-55.04%
Apples (1kg)
$3.78 Rp 67.0K
$5.31 CFPF 545
-28.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 28.9K
$2.21 CFPF 227
-26.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.80 Rp 49.6K
$5.76 CFPF 591
-51.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 Rp 40.0K
$7.56 CFPF 776
-70.11%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 Rp 35.3K
$2.89 CFPF 297
-30.80%
Onion (1kg)
$2.21 Rp 39.2K
$2.62 CFPF 269
-15.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 Rp 18.9K
$3.77 CFPF 387
-71.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 Rp 13.5K
$1.16 CFPF 119
-34.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 Rp 55.4K
$12.02 CFPF 1,233
-73.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.81 Rp 421.9K
$21.97 CFPF 2,254
8.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.84 Rp 50.3K
$2.02 CFPF 207
40.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.2K
$3.21 CFPF 329
-13.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Papeete
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,726
$1.99 CFPF 204
-86.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.37 Rp 148.2K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,034
$9.87 CFPF 1,013
-95.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,578
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.98 Rp 105.9K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
$1.54 CFPF 158
-48.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.8K Rp 457.2M
$19.1K CFPF 2.0M
35.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.8K Rp 563.4M
$29.4K CFPF 3.0M
8.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Papeete
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.7 Rp 1.4M
$190 CFPF 19.5K
-57.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.14 Rp 73.3K
$17.30 CFPF 1,775
-76.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.12 Rp 427.2K
$62.5 CFPF 6,415
-61.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Papeete
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$97.8 Rp 1.7M
$77.5 CFPF 7,945
26.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.64 Rp 117.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 71.5K
$14.31 CFPF 1,468
-71.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Papeete
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$297 Rp 5.3M
$489 CFPF 50.2K
-39.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,590 Rp 116.7M
$9,809 CFPF 1.0M
-32.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Papeete
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 Rp 976.8K
$76.3 CFPF 7,826
-27.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.51 Rp 682.1K
$83.9 CFPF 8,602
-54.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
$76.6 CFPF 7,855
12.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.0 Rp 1.4M
$91.2 CFPF 9,358
-14.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Papeete
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$985 Rp 17.5M
$1,230 CFPF 126.2K
-19.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 Rp 11.8M
$987 CFPF 101.2K
-32.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,446 Rp 61.0M
$1,909 CFPF 195.8K
80.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,042 Rp 36.2M
$1,525 CFPF 156.4K
33.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,829 Rp 50.1M
$8,722 CFPF 894.7K
-67.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,282 Rp 40.4M
$6,500 CFPF 666.8K
-64.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Papeete
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$169 Rp 3.0M
$2,390 CFPF 245.2K
-92.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
6
121.33%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 14, 2026

Last update for Papeete: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $985 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,230 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 1312% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $82.0 in Papeete. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $299 vs $499 – 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
Is Papeete cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Papeete is pricier by about 67%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,091 per month in Ubud, Bali and $3,484 in Papeete. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali vs Papeete?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,394 in Ubud, Bali and $2,323 in Papeete. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $297 per month in Ubud, Bali and $489 in Papeete. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Papeete?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,394, than in Papeete at $2,323. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Papeete it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ubud, Bali or Papeete more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Papeete?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.

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