😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $578 in Pilikwe.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $911 in Pilikwe.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,275 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,245 in Pilikwe.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 138% more expensive than in Pilikwe, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Pilikwe is 58% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Pilikwe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33Rp 58.7K
$11.26P 148
-70.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.82Rp 630.7K
$29.59P 389
21.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.63Rp 99.1K
$5.82P 76.5
-3.26%
Cappuccino
$2.82Rp 49.7K
$2.43P 31.98
16.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75Rp 30.8K
$0.78P 10.18
124.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80Rp 14.0K
$0.45P 5.85
77.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.04Rp 53.6K
$2.08P 27.38
46.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30Rp 75.7K
$2.55P 33.50
68.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Pilikwe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.61Rp 28.3K
$1.53P 20.05
5.23%
White Bread(500g)
$2.27Rp 39.9K
$0.84P 11.01
170.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17Rp 20.6K
$1.82P 23.96
-35.71%
Eggs
$2.17Rp 38.2K
$2.43P 31.98
-10.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.63Rp 310.5K
$6.04P 79.4
191.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.05Rp 71.4K
$4.67P 61.4
-13.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.18Rp 214.5K
$4.88P 64.1
149.59%
Apples(1kg)
$3.62Rp 63.7K
$1.57P 20.61
130.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64Rp 28.8K
$1.46P 19.20
12.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31Rp 40.6K
$1.98P 26.00
16.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.96Rp 34.5K
$1.63P 21.46
20.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84Rp 32.5K
$1.41P 18.47
30.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.37Rp 41.7K
$1.22P 16.01
94.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05Rp 18.5K
$1.46P 19.13
-28.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54Rp 9,560
$0.85P 11.21
-36.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.30Rp 40.6K
$3.77P 49.52
-38.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.08Rp 406.4K
$4.47P 58.8
416.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34Rp 41.2K
$1.42P 18.61
64.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07Rp 54.0K
$1.69P 22.23
81.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Pilikwe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25Rp 4,365
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.42Rp 165.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.49Rp 8,631
$0.60P 7.93
-18.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.47Rp 8,349
$2.53P 33.23
-81.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.60Rp 98.6K
$2.96P 38.87
89.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.2K
$1.37P 18.00
-40.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0KRp 440.3M
$20.1KP 264.7K
24.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1KRp 547.0M
$21.0KP 276.4K
47.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Pilikwe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.7Rp 1.5M
$61.6P 810
34.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49Rp 114.2K
$20.05P 263
-67.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.79Rp 330.8K
$41.86P 550
-55.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Pilikwe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.2Rp 972.6K
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.21Rp 320.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.30Rp 75.7K
$6.45P 84.8
-33.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Pilikwe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$494Rp 8.7M
$130P 1,708
280.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,917Rp 104.2M
$2,531P 33.2K
133.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Pilikwe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.28Rp 814.8K
$47.39P 623
-2.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.44Rp 641.6K
$17.10P 225
113.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.7Rp 1.4M
$67.2P 882
20.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.8Rp 1.4M
$73.8P 970
6.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Pilikwe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,114Rp 19.6M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$693Rp 12.2M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,639Rp 64.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,712Rp 30.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,761Rp 48.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,293Rp 40.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Pilikwe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$167Rp 2.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
11.67
18.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026
Last update for Pilikwe: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $30.00 in Pilikwe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $294 vs $172 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 in Pilikwe?
Ubud, Bali and Pilikwe differ by about 138% in total monthly costs ($1,378 vs $578 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 $2,067 in Ubud, Bali and $867 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 71% 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 $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $578 in Pilikwe – a 138% 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 $578 in Pilikwe versus $1,378 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 138% 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