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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,011 in Phoenix.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,549 in Phoenix.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,694 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,086 in Phoenix.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 39% more expensive than Phoenix, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 4% above, Phoenix is 25% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Phoenix
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
$6.74 MUR 318
-47.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
$43.39 MUR 2,043
-25.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
$6.50 MUR 306
-25.23%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
$2.57 MUR 121
7.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
$0.98 MUR 45.97
34.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
$0.60 MUR 28.43
16.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
$2.08 MUR 98.1
39.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
$2.66 MUR 125
42.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Phoenix
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
$1.46 MUR 68.9
17.12%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
$0.71 MUR 33.25
247.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
$1.33 MUR 62.6
-9.77%
Eggs
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
$2.27 MUR 107
7.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
$9.87 MUR 465
45.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
$6.03 MUR 284
-28.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
$10.41 MUR 490
17.29%
Apples (1kg)
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
$2.03 MUR 95.7
81.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
$2.00 MUR 94.3
-22.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
$1.45 MUR 68.4
92.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
$2.67 MUR 126
-12.73%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
$1.02 MUR 48.20
93.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
$1.00 MUR 47.00
131.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$0.84 MUR 39.55
26.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
$0.56 MUR 26.53
30.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
$6.14 MUR 289
-46.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
$8.25 MUR 389
176.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
$1.78 MUR 84.1
57.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$2.11 MUR 99.2
31.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Phoenix
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,217
$1.04 MUR 49.09
-72.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,047
$4.48 MUR 211
-89.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,094
$2.72 MUR 128
-83.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
$15.48 MUR 729
-59.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
$1.54 MUR 72.7
-44.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
$35.9K MUR 1.7M
-27.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
$29.2K MUR 1.4M
8.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Phoenix
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
$50.0 MUR 2,356
61.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
$18.57 MUR 875
-78.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
$33.02 MUR 1,555
-26.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Phoenix
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
$38.92 MUR 1,833
150.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
$6.19 MUR 292
-34.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Phoenix
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$155 MUR 7,306
95.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
$3,965 MUR 186.7K
67.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Phoenix
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
$50.2 MUR 2,361
8.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
$43.39 MUR 2,043
-10.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
$81.9 MUR 3,858
5.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
$80.4 MUR 3,785
-4.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Phoenix
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$986 Rp 17.7M
$552 MUR 26.0K
78.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$658 Rp 11.8M
$387 MUR 18.2K
69.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
$879 MUR 41.4K
283.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
$617 MUR 29.0K
234.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Phoenix
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$163 Rp 2.9M
$952 MUR 44.8K
-82.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
6.25
112.48%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Last update for Phoenix: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $986 in Ubud, Bali and $552 in Phoenix. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Phoenix pays 483% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $43.00 in Phoenix. Groceries flip the comparison at $297 vs $213, with Phoenix cheaper for home cooking.

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 Phoenix?
Ubud, Bali and Phoenix differ by about 39% in total monthly costs ($1,404 vs $1,011 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, Phoenix earns 483% less. 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 Phoenix?
Rent for a central apartment: $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $552 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 39% 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 $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,011 in Phoenix – a 39% 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 $1,011 in Phoenix versus $1,404 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 39% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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