Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Playa del Carmen Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Playa del Carmen

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,297 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,181 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,065 in Playa del Carmen, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 9% more than Playa del Carmen, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Playa del Carmen is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 64.3K

$11.73 MX$203

-69.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 590.3K

$41.62 MX$719

-21.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 89.2K

$10.64 MX$184

-53.48%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.9K

$3.52 MX$60.8

-23.01%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.2K

$1.51 MX$26.09

-11.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.97 MX$16.82

-27.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.7K

$2.95 MX$51.0

-1.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 71.4K

$4.45 MX$77.0

-11.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.6K

$1.38 MX$23.90

31.16%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.4K

$1.89 MX$32.69

33.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.9K

$1.64 MX$28.29

-29.27%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 44.4K

$2.51 MX$43.30

-1.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 265.3K

$8.34 MX$144

76.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.9K

$8.34 MX$144

-48.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 218.9K

$10.73 MX$185

13.14%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 69.3K

$2.60 MX$45.00

47.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 28.1K

$1.46 MX$25.18

6.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 51.1K

$1.90 MX$32.84

48.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.9K

$2.08 MX$35.88

12.02%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.5K

$1.78 MX$30.68

7.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.7K

$2.19 MX$37.76

0.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.3K

$1.04 MX$17.97

-2.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 14.0K

$1.08 MX$18.60

-27.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.8K

$4.08 MX$70.5

-18.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 428.0K

$10.32 MX$178

130.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 50.3K

$1.71 MX$29.59

63.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.6K

$2.58 MX$44.50

10.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,848

$0.51 MX$8.81

-47.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 144.8K

$26.46 MX$457

-69.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,230

$3.26 MX$56.4

-85.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,116

$2.49 MX$43.05

-81.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 109.9K

$3.25 MX$56.1

87.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.3K

$1.31 MX$22.59

-39.69%

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

$26.1K Rp 471.6M

$30.3K MX$523.2K

-13.64%

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

$32.1K Rp 579.2M

$23.4K MX$404.9K

37.09%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$82.9 MX$1,432

-3.54%

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

$4.06 Rp 73.3K

$22.22 MX$384

-81.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 424.1K

$29.34 MX$507

-19.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$51.6 MX$892

91.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 119.6K

$18.32 MX$317

-63.81%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.8K

$5.07 MX$87.5

-18.15%

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

$304 Rp 5.5M

$201 MX$3,470

51.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 119.3M

$5,212 MX$90.1K

26.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 1.0M

$36.92 MX$638

50.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 690.9K

$39.79 MX$688

-3.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$78.5 MX$1,356

12.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$87.1 MX$1,505

-10.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.1M

$973 MX$16.8K

3.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.2M

$468 MX$8,082

44.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 62.1M

$1,641 MX$28.4K

109.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.8M

$1,221 MX$21.1K

67.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 51.2M

$3,946 MX$68.2K

-28.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.8M

$6,498 MX$112.3K

-65.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$664 MX$11.5K

-75.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

11.42

16.29%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Playa del Carmen: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $973 in Playa del Carmen. 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 302% higher in Playa del Carmen, 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 $42.00 in Playa del Carmen. Groceries tell a different story – $302 in Ubud, Bali vs $249 in Playa del Carmen – so Playa del Carmen 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 Playa del Carmen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 9%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,945 in Playa del Carmen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Playa del Carmen, 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 $1,419 in Ubud, Bali and $1,297 in Playa del Carmen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 230% less in Playa del Carmen. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Playa del Carmen, where all-in costs run around $1,297, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Playa del Carmen it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Playa del Carmen – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Playa del Carmen. 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.