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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $150 in Paro, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $184 in Paro, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $217 in Paro, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 857% more than Paro, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 7% above the global median, while Paro is 89% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 61.9K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

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

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,029

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,863

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

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

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

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

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

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

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

$3.47 BTN 329

83.00%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

$198 BTN 18.8K

411.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.7M

$151 BTN 14.4K

345.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

$243 BTN 23.1K

1295.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

$217 BTN 20.6K

867.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

$580 BTN 55.1K

-70.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Last update for Paro: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $198 in Paro. 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 235% higher in Paro, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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 Paro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, $150 in Paro – roughly 857% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $225 in Paro. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Paro, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Paro, where all-in costs run around $150, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. In Paro it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $150 in Paro to $1,438 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Paro. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.