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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,061 in Pietermaritzburg, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,607 in Pietermaritzburg, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,153 in Pietermaritzburg, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 34% more than Pietermaritzburg, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Pietermaritzburg is 21% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

$8.32 R 135

-57.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

$42.99 R 699

-23.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

$5.76 R 93.6

-14.06%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

$2.24 R 36.35

20.98%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

$0.88 R 14.31

52.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.69 R 11.20

1.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

$1.67 R 27.13

74.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

$2.35 R 38.12

68.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

$1.05 R 17.04

72.38%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

$0.80 R 13.06

215.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

$1.50 R 24.33

-22.67%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

$2.35 R 38.19

4.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

$6.99 R 114

110.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

$4.71 R 76.5

-8.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

$6.82 R 111

78.01%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

$1.66 R 26.91

131.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

$1.76 R 28.61

-11.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

$1.94 R 31.58

45.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

$1.74 R 28.20

33.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

$1.54 R 25.11

24.03%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

$1.76 R 28.64

25.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

$1.30 R 21.06

-22.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$1.00 R 16.19

-22.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

$2.93 R 47.55

13.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

$3.55 R 57.6

568.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

$1.43 R 23.27

95.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

$1.78 R 28.92

60.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,800

$2.73 R 44.44

-90.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

$18.34 R 298

-56.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,150

$1.69 R 27.48

-72.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,037

$0.52 R 8.49

-13.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

$3.98 R 64.7

53.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$1.20 R 19.47

-34.17%

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

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

$23.4K R 380.4K

11.71%

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

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

$22.9K R 371.7K

40.42%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$238 R 3,861

-66.36%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

$30.61 R 497

-86.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

$58.3 R 948

-59.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$38.05 R 618

159.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

$4.94 R 80.3

-15.99%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$148 R 2,401

105.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

$4,723 R 76.8K

40.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

$62.2 R 1,011

-10.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

$37.81 R 615

1.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$178 R 2,885

-50.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$75.4 R 1,226

3.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$202 R 3,280

398.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$184 R 2,986

267.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

$523 R 8,492

558.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

$379 R 6,161

437.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

$916 R 14.9K

210.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

$442 R 7,187

411.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$919 R 14.9K

-82.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

11.5

15.48%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Pietermaritzburg: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $202 in Pietermaritzburg. 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 456% higher in Pietermaritzburg, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $43.00 in Pietermaritzburg. Groceries tell a different story – $302 in Ubud, Bali vs $177 in Pietermaritzburg – so Pietermaritzburg wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Pietermaritzburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, $1,061 in Pietermaritzburg – roughly 34% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,591 in Pietermaritzburg. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $148 in Pietermaritzburg. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 70% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Pietermaritzburg, where all-in costs run around $1,061, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Pietermaritzburg 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 $1,061 in Pietermaritzburg to $1,419 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 Pietermaritzburg. 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.