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 $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,085 in Pilar, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,822 in Pilar, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,558 in Pilar, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 29% more than Pilar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% above the global median, while Pilar is 19% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

$14.94 ARS 21.3K

-76.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

$60.8 ARS 86.8K

-46.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

$12.23 ARS 17.5K

-60.26%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

$3.93 ARS 5,616

-30.03%

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

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

$2.10 ARS 3,003

-37.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$1.54 ARS 2,202

-54.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

$3.62 ARS 5,171

-19.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

$4.05 ARS 5,792

-6.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

$1.52 ARS 2,169

12.50%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

$2.53 ARS 3,609

-2.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$2.27 ARS 3,245

-47.14%

Eggs

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

$2.33 ARS 3,330

4.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

$12.17 ARS 17.4K

18.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

$3.06 ARS 4,372

40.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

$9.69 ARS 13.8K

26.01%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

$2.59 ARS 3,694

42.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

$2.03 ARS 2,904

-23.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

$1.25 ARS 1,784

123.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

$2.62 ARS 3,746

-11.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

$1.44 ARS 2,063

36.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

$1.48 ARS 2,116

56.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$1.78 ARS 2,537

-40.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$1.44 ARS 2,057

-49.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

$3.21 ARS 4,584

2.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

$5.89 ARS 8,418

286.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

$2.29 ARS 3,277

22.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$3.12 ARS 4,460

-10.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

$0.77 ARS 1,102

-62.34%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,047

$1.57 ARS 2,236

-71.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

$0.90 ARS 1,291

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

$6.11 ARS 8,727

2.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

$1.08 ARS 1,544

-21.30%

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

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

$25.3K ARS 36.2M

2.55%

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

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

$29.4K ARS 42.0M

7.71%

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

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

$64.6 ARS 92.3K

24.94%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

$10.17 ARS 14.5K

-60.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

$19.73 ARS 28.2K

23.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

$26.66 ARS 38.1K

266.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

$13.57 ARS 19.4K

-52.47%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

$9.03 ARS 12.9K

-55.26%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$330 ARS 471.5K

-7.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

$5,220 ARS 7.5M

26.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

$112 ARS 160.6K

-51.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

$85.1 ARS 121.6K

-54.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$126 ARS 179.5K

-31.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

$129 ARS 184.5K

-40.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

$335 ARS 478.1K

194.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.8M

$238 ARS 340.7K

175.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

$695 ARS 993.4K

384.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

$535 ARS 764.1K

286.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

$1,735 ARS 2.5M

58.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

$986 ARS 1.4M

-83.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

52.71

-74.81%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Last update for Pilar: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $335 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 504% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $61.0 in Pilar. Groceries tell a different story – $297 in Ubud, Bali vs $244 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: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, $1,085 in Pilar – roughly 29% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,628 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 $1,404 in Ubud, Bali and $1,085 in Pilar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $330 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 $1,085, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. 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 $1,085 in Pilar to $1,404 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.