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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,198 in Pilar, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,002 in Pilar, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,805 in Pilar, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 14% more than Pilar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Pilar is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 Rp 60.9K

$19.26 ARS 29.1K

-82.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.31 Rp 643.0K

$60.2 ARS 91.0K

-39.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 Rp 101.0K

$12.76 ARS 19.3K

-55.25%

Cappuccino

$2.67 Rp 47.3K

$3.96 ARS 5,983

-32.58%

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

$1.75 Rp 31.0K

$2.17 ARS 3,274

-19.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 Rp 15.4K

$1.69 ARS 2,559

-48.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.3K

$3.80 ARS 5,750

-22.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 Rp 80.0K

$4.47 ARS 6,759

1.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$1.41 ARS 2,139

14.89%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$2.50 ARS 3,786

-6.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 Rp 19.6K

$1.50 ARS 2,269

-26.00%

Eggs

$2.20 Rp 39.0K

$2.39 ARS 3,609

-7.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.69 Rp 313.3K

$10.27 ARS 15.5K

72.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 Rp 72.5K

$2.99 ARS 4,515

37.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 215.6K

$9.91 ARS 15.0K

22.91%

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 Rp 65.6K

$2.74 ARS 4,146

35.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.1K

$2.02 ARS 3,055

-21.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.4K

$1.36 ARS 2,058

67.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 Rp 34.6K

$2.13 ARS 3,218

-8.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.7K

$1.19 ARS 1,806

60.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$1.14 ARS 1,730

104.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 17.8K

$1.74 ARS 2,636

-41.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,773

$1.68 ARS 2,539

-67.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 Rp 39.5K

$4.43 ARS 6,701

-49.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.07 Rp 408.6K

$5.55 ARS 8,386

315.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 Rp 42.8K

$2.13 ARS 3,215

13.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.1K

$2.73 ARS 4,132

9.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,814

$0.87 ARS 1,313

-68.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.98 Rp 159.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,566

$1.55 ARS 2,350

-69.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,679

$0.99 ARS 1,493

-56.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.64 Rp 99.9K

$7.57 ARS 11.4K

-25.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

$1.09 ARS 1,644

-26.61%

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

$24.9K Rp 441.7M

$28.0K ARS 42.4M

-10.96%

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

$31.7K Rp 561.5M

$34.1K ARS 51.6M

-7.02%

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

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

$64.3 ARS 97.2K

26.71%

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

$6.49 Rp 115.0K

$9.97 ARS 15.1K

-34.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.77 Rp 332.4K

$19.84 ARS 30.0K

-5.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

$30.53 ARS 46.2K

86.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 Rp 331.7K

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 Rp 80.4K

$11.09 ARS 16.8K

-59.06%

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

$481 Rp 8.5M

$299 ARS 452.8K

60.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,711 Rp 101.1M

$8,784 ARS 13.3M

-34.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.52 Rp 806.0K

$113 ARS 171.2K

-59.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 Rp 635.4K

$91.9 ARS 139.0K

-60.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$119 ARS 180.2K

-32.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

$138 ARS 209.0K

-43.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 Rp 19.7M

$479 ARS 724.5K

132.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$698 Rp 12.4M

$278 ARS 420.8K

150.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,637 Rp 64.4M

$922 ARS 1.4M

294.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

$627 ARS 948.8K

176.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 Rp 3.0M

$1,002 ARS 1.5M

-83.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

56.56

-75.64%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Pilar: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $479 in Pilar. 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 496% higher in Pilar, 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $60.0 in Pilar. Groceries tell a different story – $295 in Ubud, Bali vs $232 in Pilar – so Pilar 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 Pilar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, $1,198 in Pilar – roughly 14% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,052 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,798 in Pilar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,368 in Ubud, Bali and $1,198 in Pilar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $481 per month in Ubud, Bali and $299 in Pilar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Pilar, where all-in costs run around $1,198, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. In Pilar 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 $1,198 in Pilar to $1,368 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 Pilar. 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.