😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $827 in Phoenix.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,348 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,317 in Phoenix.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,807 in Phoenix.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 65% more expensive than in Phoenix, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Phoenix is 40% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Phoenix
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44Rp 60.9K
$2.18MUR 103
57.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.31Rp 643.0K
$31.64MUR 1,491
14.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.71Rp 101.0K
$7.47MUR 352
-23.56%
Cappuccino
$2.67Rp 47.3K
$5.37MUR 253
-50.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75Rp 31.0K
$0.61MUR 28.66
186.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87Rp 15.4K
$0.52MUR 24.50
67.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95Rp 52.3K
$2.07MUR 97.6
42.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52Rp 80.0K
$5.38MUR 253
-15.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Phoenix
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62Rp 28.7K
$1.45MUR 68.1
11.72%
White Bread(500g)
$2.33Rp 41.3K
$0.40MUR 18.95
482.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.11Rp 19.6K
$2.14MUR 101
-48.13%
Eggs
$2.20Rp 39.0K
$5.11MUR 241
-56.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.69Rp 313.3K
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.10Rp 72.5K
$8.64MUR 407
-52.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.18Rp 215.6K
$6.30MUR 297
93.33%
Apples(1kg)
$3.71Rp 65.6K
$7.57MUR 357
-50.99%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59Rp 28.1K
$3.87MUR 182
-58.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.28Rp 40.4K
$4.62MUR 218
-50.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.95Rp 34.6K
$1.45MUR 68.3
34.48%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 33.7K
$0.82MUR 38.83
132.93%
Onion(1kg)
$2.33Rp 41.3K
$0.84MUR 39.51
177.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01Rp 17.8K
$0.73MUR 34.37
38.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 9,773
$0.76MUR 35.62
-27.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23Rp 39.5K
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$23.07Rp 408.6K
$10.70MUR 504
115.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42Rp 42.8K
$2.11MUR 99.3
14.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00Rp 53.1K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Phoenix
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,814
$1.07MUR 50.5
-74.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.98Rp 159.1K
$10.62MUR 501
-15.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,566
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43Rp 7,679
$1.52MUR 71.6
-71.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.64Rp 99.9K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.80Rp 14.2K
$1.35MUR 63.7
-40.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9KRp 441.7M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7KRp 561.5M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Phoenix
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.5Rp 1.4M
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49Rp 115.0K
$14.28MUR 673
-54.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.77Rp 332.4K
$25.74MUR 1,213
-27.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Phoenix
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.9Rp 1.0M
$25.18MUR 1,187
125.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.73Rp 331.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.54Rp 80.4K
$5.47MUR 258
-17.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Phoenix
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$481Rp 8.5M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,711Rp 101.1M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Phoenix
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.52Rp 806.0K
$52.6MUR 2,479
-13.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.88Rp 635.4K
$52.0MUR 2,452
-31.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.4Rp 1.4M
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.7Rp 1.4M
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Phoenix
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,115Rp 19.7M
$534MUR 25.2K
108.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$698Rp 12.4M
$322MUR 15.2K
116.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,637Rp 64.4M
$832MUR 39.2K
336.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,737Rp 30.8M
$533MUR 25.1K
225.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,784Rp 49.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,290Rp 40.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Phoenix
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$168Rp 3.0M
$961MUR 45.3K
-82.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
5
175.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026
Last update for Phoenix: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali and $534 in Phoenix. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phoenix pays 472% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $32.00 in Phoenix for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $295 vs $244 per month, with Phoenix cheaper across the board.
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 Phoenix: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and in Phoenix?
Ubud, Bali and Phoenix differ by about 65% in total monthly costs ($1,368 vs $827 including rent). Phoenix is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 472% lower in Phoenix. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Phoenix?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $534 in Phoenix. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Phoenix?
All in, you'll spend $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $827 in Phoenix – a 65% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $827 in Phoenix versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Phoenix but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Phoenix the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Phoenix?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ubud, Bali or Phoenix safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Phoenix are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ubud, Bali or Phoenix?
Expats usually find Phoenix gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared