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 $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,074 in Pilar, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,801 in Pilar, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,529 in Pilar, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 34% more than Pilar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Ubud, Bali sits 7% above the global median, while Pilar is 20% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 61.9K

$15.03 ARS 21.0K

-76.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

$60.5 ARS 84.5K

-46.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

$12.22 ARS 17.1K

-58.51%

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

$4.08 ARS 5,690

-30.64%

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

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

$2.18 ARS 3,041

-38.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

$1.53 ARS 2,134

-54.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

$3.67 ARS 5,125

-18.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

$3.92 ARS 5,469

-1.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

$1.58 ARS 2,211

10.13%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

$2.50 ARS 3,492

1.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$2.21 ARS 3,082

-46.15%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

$2.25 ARS 3,142

8.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

$12.30 ARS 17.2K

19.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

$2.93 ARS 4,092

42.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

$9.58 ARS 13.4K

24.63%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

$2.55 ARS 3,552

44.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

$2.09 ARS 2,922

-22.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

$1.26 ARS 1,761

113.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

$2.61 ARS 3,648

-10.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

$1.50 ARS 2,097

27.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

$1.46 ARS 2,040

50.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

$1.88 ARS 2,625

-43.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

$1.43 ARS 1,999

-49.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

$3.16 ARS 4,413

-0.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

$5.14 ARS 7,179

357.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

$2.18 ARS 3,042

25.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

$3.08 ARS 4,304

-6.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,029

$0.81 ARS 1,134

-64.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,863

$1.57 ARS 2,187

-71.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,305

$0.85 ARS 1,181

-50.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

$5.91 ARS 8,244

4.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

$1.07 ARS 1,496

-21.50%

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

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

$25.4K ARS 35.4M

3.48%

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

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

$29.2K ARS 40.8M

11.18%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$63.4 ARS 88.4K

23.73%

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

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

$10.10 ARS 14.1K

-60.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

$19.76 ARS 27.6K

23.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

$25.73 ARS 35.9K

275.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

$14.03 ARS 19.6K

-54.74%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

$8.98 ARS 12.5K

-55.01%

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

$328 ARS 457.8K

-7.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

$5,144 ARS 7.2M

26.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

$109 ARS 151.7K

-50.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

$86.0 ARS 119.9K

-55.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

$125 ARS 174.9K

-30.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$133 ARS 185.6K

-40.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

$333 ARS 464.5K

204.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.7M

$239 ARS 333.4K

182.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

$673 ARS 939.2K

403.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

$530 ARS 739.5K

295.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

$2,046 ARS 2.9M

45.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

$1,018 ARS 1.4M

-82.99%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Pilar: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $333 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 488% 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 – $298 in Ubud, Bali vs $242 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: $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, $1,074 in Pilar – roughly 34% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,611 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 $1,438 in Ubud, Bali and $1,074 in Pilar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Ubud, Bali and $328 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 $1,074, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. 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 $1,074 in Pilar to $1,438 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.