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 $1,380 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,370 in Papeete, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,575 in Papeete, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,356 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,780 in Papeete, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 42% cheaper than Papeete, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ubud, Bali and Papeete sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 2%, Papeete by 75%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Papeete
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.30 Rp 58.9K
$19.46 CFPF 1,999
-83.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.28 Rp 682.5K
$95.9 CFPF 9,849
-60.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.48 Rp 97.7K
$15.32 CFPF 1,574
-64.23%
Cappuccino
$2.63 Rp 47.0K
$3.42 CFPF 351
-23.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 Rp 29.5K
$2.78 CFPF 286
-40.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
$3.33 CFPF 342
-78.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.63 Rp 47.0K
$3.49 CFPF 358
-24.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 Rp 75.8K
$3.97 CFPF 408
7.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Papeete
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.52 Rp 27.1K
$1.54 CFPF 158
-1.30%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
$2.70 CFPF 277
-13.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.07 Rp 19.2K
$1.63 CFPF 168
-34.36%
Eggs
$2.07 Rp 37.0K
$6.52 CFPF 670
-68.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.34 Rp 309.2K
$28.48 CFPF 2,926
-39.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.06 Rp 72.3K
$15.66 CFPF 1,610
-74.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.11 Rp 216.0K
$27.45 CFPF 2,820
-55.88%
Apples (1kg)
$3.70 Rp 66.0K
$4.98 CFPF 512
-25.70%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 Rp 27.7K
$2.56 CFPF 263
-39.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.35 Rp 41.8K
$6.68 CFPF 686
-64.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 Rp 35.5K
$8.32 CFPF 855
-76.08%
Potato (1kg)
$1.89 Rp 33.7K
$2.71 CFPF 279
-30.26%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 Rp 38.9K
$2.24 CFPF 230
-2.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 Rp 18.4K
$3.80 CFPF 391
-72.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 Rp 9,188
$1.18 CFPF 122
-55.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.29 Rp 40.9K
$13.37 CFPF 1,374
-82.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.66 Rp 421.8K
$21.98 CFPF 2,259
7.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.32 Rp 41.5K
$2.91 CFPF 299
-20.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 Rp 49.4K
$3.30 CFPF 339
-16.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Papeete
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,405
$1.91 CFPF 196
-86.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.60 Rp 153.3K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,115
$9.54 CFPF 980
-95.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,654
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.60 Rp 99.8K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 14.3K
$1.51 CFPF 155
-47.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.1K Rp 430.6M
$19.6K CFPF 2.0M
23.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6K Rp 563.3M
$29.4K CFPF 3.0M
7.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Papeete
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.1 Rp 1.4M
$190 CFPF 19.5K
-57.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.51 Rp 116.0K
$20.08 CFPF 2,064
-67.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.71 Rp 333.6K
$72.8 CFPF 7,477
-74.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Papeete
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.7 Rp 993.0K
$86.9 CFPF 8,926
-35.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.19 Rp 324.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.34 Rp 77.3K
$14.36 CFPF 1,476
-69.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Papeete
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$478 Rp 8.5M
$480 CFPF 49.3K
-0.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,798 Rp 103.4M
$9,627 CFPF 989.1K
-39.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Papeete
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.95 Rp 837.1K
$72.0 CFPF 7,401
-34.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.69 Rp 636.3K
$73.1 CFPF 7,509
-51.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.5 Rp 1.4M
$79.2 CFPF 8,134
0.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
$92.2 CFPF 9,478
-12.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Papeete
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,138 Rp 20.3M
$1,392 CFPF 143.0K
-18.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$691 Rp 12.3M
$953 CFPF 97.9K
-27.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,595 Rp 64.1M
$1,883 CFPF 193.4K
90.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,712 Rp 30.5M
$1,533 CFPF 157.5K
11.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,809 Rp 50.1M
$7,380 CFPF 758.3K
-61.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,295 Rp 40.9M
$7,657 CFPF 786.8K
-70.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Papeete
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$171 Rp 3.0M
$2,466 CFPF 253.4K
-93.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
4.5
206.22%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 11, 2026

Last update for Papeete: August 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,138 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,392 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 1342% 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 $38.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $96.0 in Papeete. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $537 – 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 72%, 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 $2,070 per month in Ubud, Bali and $3,556 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 and in Papeete?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,380 in Ubud, Bali and $2,370 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 $478 per month in Ubud, Bali and $480 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 living in Ubud, Bali or in Papeete?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,380, than in Papeete at $2,370. 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.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities