Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Piedras Negras Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Piedras Negras

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,085 in Piedras Negras.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,582 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,689 in Piedras Negras.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,757 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,293 in Piedras Negras.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 30% more expensive than Piedras Negras, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Piedras Negras is 19% below.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Piedras Negras
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.42 Rpย 58.7K
$7.80 MX$135
-56.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96 Rpย 566.5K
$23.96 MX$415
37.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.08 Rpย 87.3K
$7.99 MX$138
-36.42%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rpย 48.5K
$2.44 MX$42.36
15.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 Rpย 23.5K
$1.32 MX$22.85
3.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 Rpย 12.2K
$0.68 MX$11.72
4.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.97 Rpย 51.0K
$1.34 MX$23.25
121.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 Rpย 67.2K
$2.83 MX$48.99
38.16%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Piedras Negras
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.75 Rpย 30.0K
$1.64 MX$28.38
6.71%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rpย 43.2K
$3.12 MX$54.1
-19.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 Rpย 20.8K
$1.68 MX$29.12
-27.98%
Eggs
$2.33 Rpย 40.1K
$3.50 MX$60.7
-33.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 Rpย 249.2K
$9.49 MX$164
52.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.36 Rpย 74.9K
$4.52 MX$78.3
-3.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.05 Rpย 207.0K
$12.98 MX$225
-7.16%
Apples (1kg)
$3.82 Rpย 65.6K
$2.60 MX$45.05
46.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rpย 27.7K
$1.30 MX$22.50
23.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.70 Rpย 46.5K
$1.63 MX$28.21
65.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 Rpย 38.3K
$2.15 MX$37.28
3.72%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 Rpย 32.6K
$2.30 MX$39.86
-17.39%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 Rpย 37.5K
$1.88 MX$32.56
15.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 Rpย 17.7K
$1.16 MX$20.16
-11.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 Rpย 13.3K
$1.13 MX$19.51
-31.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.18 Rpย 54.7K
$4.10 MX$71.0
-22.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.23 Rpย 399.2K
$11.06 MX$192
110.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.85 Rpย 48.9K
$1.54 MX$26.69
85.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 Rpย 46.7K
$3.47 MX$60.2
-21.61%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Piedras Negras
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rpย 5,022
$0.97 MX$16.88
-70.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.43 Rpย 144.8K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.49 Rpย 8,344
$4.39 MX$76.1
-88.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rpย 7,812
$1.56 MX$26.95
-71.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.28 Rpย 107.8K
$8.52 MX$148
-26.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rpย 14.6K
$1.24 MX$21.54
-31.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rpย 447.8M
$18.4K MX$318.3K
41.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5K Rpย 541.8M
$24.0K MX$415.6K
31.46%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Piedras Negras
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.8 Rpย 1.4M
$57.0 MX$988
39.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09 Rpย 70.3K
$17.16 MX$297
-76.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.06 Rpย 413.6K
$25.54 MX$443
-5.79%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Piedras Negras
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.2 Rpย 1.7M
$35.99 MX$624
167.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.53 Rpย 112.2K
$15.65 MX$271
-58.27%
Cinema Ticket
$4.13 Rpย 71.1K
$4.70 MX$81.4
-12.13%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Piedras Negras
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$297 Rpย 5.1M
$208 MX$3,596
43.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,661 Rpย 114.5M
$3,566 MX$61.8K
86.77%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Piedras Negras
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.0 Rpย 944.5K
$45.18 MX$783
21.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.75 Rpย 666.0K
$39.91 MX$692
-2.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.6 Rpย 1.5M
$87.9 MX$1,523
1.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rpย 1.4M
$70.8 MX$1,228
11.38%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Piedras Negras
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,018 Rpย 17.5M
$505 MX$8,754
101.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$660 Rpย 11.3M
$400 MX$6,925
65.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,435 Rpย 59.0M
$925 MX$16.0K
271.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,053 Rpย 35.3M
$751 MX$13.0K
173.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,981 Rpย 51.2M
$1,961 MX$34.0K
52.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,368 Rpย 40.7M
$1,290 MX$22.4K
83.53%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Piedras Negras
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$172 Rpย 3.0M
$1,710 MX$29.6K
-89.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
11.48
15.68%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 21, 2026

Last update for Piedras Negras: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,018 in Ubud, Bali and $505 in Piedras Negras. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Piedras Negras pays 894% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $33 in Ubud, Bali vs $24 in Piedras Negras for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $299 vs $262 per month, with Piedras Negras 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 Piedras Negras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Piedras Negras cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Piedras Negras is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 30% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ubud, Bali or Piedras Negras?
On paper, Piedras Negras earns 894% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Piedras Negras?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,018 in Ubud, Bali versus $505 in Piedras Negras. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $297 in Ubud, Bali versus $208 in Piedras Negras. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or Piedras Negras?
Dining out is cheaper in Piedras Negras โ€“ a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Piedras Negras?
At $1,085 in Piedras Negras versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Piedras Negras but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Piedras Negras the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Piedras Negras more family-friendly?
For families, Piedras Negras is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Piedras Negras?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Piedras Negras are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Piedras Negras gentler on the wallet โ€“ expenses run 30% 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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