Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Playa Flamingo

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,349 a month against $1,686 in Playa Flamingo, rent and utilities included – about $4,000 less a year. The total is higher in Playa Flamingo despite lower rent and utilities.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Playa Flamingo
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,686
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Playa Flamingo

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Playa Flamingo actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,349 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,686 in Playa Flamingo.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,349
  • Playa Flamingo $1,686

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,305 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,670 in Playa Flamingo.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,305
  • Playa Flamingo $2,670

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,261 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,654 in Playa Flamingo.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,261
  • Playa Flamingo $3,654

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 20% less than in Playa Flamingo, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Playa Flamingo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32 Rp 60.4K
$11.78 ₡5,314
-71.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.64 Rp 647.8K
$62.3 ₡28.1K
-42.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.53 Rp 100.6K
$9.89 ₡4,463
-44.08%
Cappuccino
$2.72 Rp 49.4K
$4.36 ₡1,968
-37.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 Rp 30.9K
$2.74 ₡1,235
-37.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
$1.84 ₡830
-58.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 48.2K
$3.28 ₡1,479
-19.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 Rp 79.6K
$4.34 ₡1,958
0.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Playa Flamingo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 Rp 27.1K
$2.03 ₡915
-26.60%
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 Rp 41.4K
$3.12 ₡1,406
-26.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
$2.51 ₡1,130
-52.59%
Eggs
$2.04 Rp 37.0K
$3.05 ₡1,374
-33.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.70 Rp 321.7K
$10.82 ₡4,881
63.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.96 Rp 72.0K
$10.15 ₡4,580
-60.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.19 Rp 221.6K
$11.80 ₡5,327
3.31%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 Rp 66.4K
$5.27 ₡2,380
-30.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 27.6K
$1.58 ₡711
-3.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
$4.86 ₡2,193
-54.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.9K
$3.92 ₡1,768
-49.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 33.6K
$3.85 ₡1,739
-51.95%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 44.1K
$3.62 ₡1,632
-33.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 18.0K
$1.02 ₡459
-2.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,332
$3.09 ₡1,396
-83.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 Rp 40.4K
$5.09 ₡2,296
-56.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.24 Rp 404.2K
$20.33 ₡9,176
9.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 Rp 41.1K
$2.77 ₡1,252
-18.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 54.0K
$3.67 ₡1,658
-19.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Playa Flamingo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,562
$1.39 ₡627
-82.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.82 Rp 142.2K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,989
$2.51 ₡1,134
-82.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,817
$1.55 ₡701
-72.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 Rp 98.3K
$8.80 ₡3,971
-38.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 15.0K
$1.54 ₡693
-46.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K Rp 433.3M
$34.0K ₡15.3M
-29.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 577.0M
$42.2K ₡19.0M
-24.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Playa Flamingo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$94.5 ₡42.6K
-16.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 117.2K
$20.06 ₡9,050
-67.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.58 Rp 337.7K
$58.9 ₡26.6K
-68.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Playa Flamingo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.48 Rp 899.4K
$56.0 ₡25.3K
-11.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.65 Rp 320.8K
$9.92 ₡4,475
77.92%
Cinema Ticket
$4.27 Rp 77.7K
$7.75 ₡3,498
-44.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Playa Flamingo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$491 Rp 8.9M
$994 ₡448.6K
-50.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,674 Rp 103.1M
$9,017 ₡4.1M
-37.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Playa Flamingo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.64 Rp 811.4K
$70.8 ₡32.0K
-36.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.95 Rp 635.3K
$56.3 ₡25.4K
-37.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 Rp 1.5M
$130 ₡58.6K
-38.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
$134 ₡60.6K
-40.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Playa Flamingo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 Rp 20.4M
$1,604 ₡723.7K
-29.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$671 Rp 12.2M
$640 ₡288.9K
4.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,565 Rp 64.8M
$2,962 ₡1.3M
20.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,723 Rp 31.3M
$1,259 ₡568.1K
36.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,732 Rp 49.6M
$3,601 ₡1.6M
-24.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,284 Rp 41.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Playa Flamingo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
8.62
59.86%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Last update for Playa Flamingo: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$672
Playa Flamingo
$640 4.7% $31
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$288
Playa Flamingo
$389 34.8% $101
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$108
Playa Flamingo
$220 104% $112
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Playa Flamingo
$176 63.8% $69
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$104
Playa Flamingo
$173 66.6% $69
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$58
Playa Flamingo
$72 23.3% $14
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$11
Playa Flamingo
$16 * 38.7% $4.4

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,125 in Ubud, Bali and $1,604 in Playa Flamingo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $36 in Ubud, Bali vs $62 in Playa Flamingo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $389 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇨🇷 Playa Flamingo
🕒 Local time
07:49 7:49 AM
17:49 5:49 PM
14 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18,175 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.5 USD). 1 EUR = 20,233 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 451 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.22 USD). 1 EUR = 502 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.99 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Playa Flamingo 17,700 km ≈ 23 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Playa Flamingo

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Flamingo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Playa Flamingo?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Playa Flamingo. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali and in Playa Flamingo?
You’d need roughly $2,023 in Ubud, Bali and $2,528 in Playa Flamingo 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali compared to Playa Flamingo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,125 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,604 in Playa Flamingo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Playa Flamingo?
Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Playa Flamingo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Playa Flamingo?
All in, you’ll spend $1,349 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,686 in Playa Flamingo – Ubud, Bali is about 20% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Playa Flamingo?
Both cities are expensive relative to $1,000. Ubud, Bali is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ubud, Bali or Playa Flamingo?
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.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Playa Flamingo?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Playa Flamingo are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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