😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $616 in Pilikwe.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,540 in Ubud, Bali versus $958 in Pilikwe.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,301 in Pilikwe.
😐Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 130% more expensive than Pilikwe, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 6% above, Pilikwe is 54% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Pilikwe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56Rp 63.7K
$7.30P 95.4
-51.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73Rp 584.5K
$30.37P 397
7.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.95Rp 88.4K
$5.95P 77.7
-16.81%
Cappuccino
$2.71Rp 48.4K
$2.21P 28.86
22.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34Rp 24.0K
$0.82P 10.67
63.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70Rp 12.5K
$0.48P 6.26
45.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92Rp 52.1K
$2.26P 29.49
29.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96Rp 70.7K
$2.93P 38.24
35.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Pilikwe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81Rp 32.3K
$1.40P 18.25
29.29%
White Bread(500g)
$2.52Rp 45.0K
$0.81P 10.61
211.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.16Rp 20.7K
$1.83P 23.95
-36.61%
Eggs
$2.46Rp 43.9K
$2.29P 29.97
7.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.71Rp 262.7K
$7.59P 99.2
93.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.32Rp 77.1K
$5.13P 67.0
-15.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.14Rp 216.7K
$5.48P 71.6
121.53%
Apples(1kg)
$3.84Rp 68.6K
$1.83P 23.88
109.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56Rp 27.8K
$1.45P 18.92
7.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.83Rp 50.6K
$1.87P 24.50
51.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 41.5K
$1.56P 20.33
49.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 34.2K
$1.41P 18.39
35.46%
Onion(1kg)
$2.20Rp 39.3K
$1.21P 15.87
81.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01Rp 18.1K
$1.18P 15.46
-14.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78Rp 13.8K
$0.85P 11.16
-8.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32Rp 59.2K
$3.56P 46.46
-6.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.74Rp 423.9K
$4.16P 54.4
470.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79Rp 49.8K
$1.63P 21.29
71.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86Rp 51.1K
$2.18P 28.51
31.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Pilikwe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,800
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.03Rp 143.4K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.46Rp 8,150
$0.62P 8.14
-25.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45Rp 8,037
$2.60P 34.04
-82.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.10Rp 108.9K
$2.94P 38.39
107.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79Rp 14.2K
$1.15P 14.96
-31.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1KRp 467.0M
$22.5KP 294.5K
16.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1KRp 573.6M
$16.8KP 219.7K
91.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Pilikwe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.9Rp 1.4M
$70.2P 917
13.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06Rp 72.6K
$26.02P 340
-84.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52Rp 420.0K
$78.0P 1,019
-69.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Pilikwe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.7Rp 1.8M
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63Rp 118.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.15Rp 74.1K
$6.66P 87.0
-37.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Pilikwe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304Rp 5.4M
$187P 2,438
62.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,613Rp 118.1M
$3,818P 49.9K
73.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Pilikwe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5Rp 991.8K
$42.54P 556
30.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31Rp 684.1K
$24.31P 318
57.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.6Rp 1.6M
$74.2P 969
19.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9Rp 1.4M
$97.9P 1,279
-20.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Pilikwe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,006Rp 18.0M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$675Rp 12.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,442Rp 61.5M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039Rp 36.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,841Rp 50.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,264Rp 40.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Pilikwe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$165Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
9.12
45.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Last update for Pilikwe: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $30.00 in Pilikwe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $302 vs $179 per month, with Pilikwe 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 Pilikwe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and Pilikwe?
Ubud, Bali and Pilikwe differ by about 130% in total monthly costs ($1,419 vs $616 including rent). Pilikwe is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Ubud, Bali compared to Pilikwe?
You'd need roughly $2,129 in Ubud, Bali and $924 in Pilikwe to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 69% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Pilikwe?
All in, you'll spend $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $616 in Pilikwe – a 130% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $616 in Pilikwe versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Pilikwe but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Pilikwe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Pilikwe?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ubud, Bali or Pilikwe safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Pilikwe are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ubud, Bali or Pilikwe?
Expats usually find Pilikwe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 130% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared