Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Pohnpei Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Pohnpei

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,668 in Pohnpei.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,573 in Pohnpei.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,732 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,477 in Pohnpei.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 14% less than in Pohnpei, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 7% above, Pohnpei 25% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 61.9K

$11.42 $11.42

-68.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

$44.71 $44.71

-27.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

$7.62 $7.62

-33.46%

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

$3.07 $3.07

-7.82%

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

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

$1.28 $1.28

4.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

$3.96 $3.96

-82.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

$3.04 $3.04

26.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

$0.27 $0.27

544.44%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

$3.25 $3.25

-21.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$2.96 $2.96

-59.80%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

$7.12 $7.12

-65.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

$6.84 $6.84

114.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

$5.07 $5.07

-17.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

$11.35 $11.35

5.20%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

$6.08 $6.08

-39.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

$3.53 $3.53

-54.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

$5.55 $5.55

-51.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

$5.02 $5.02

-61.95%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

$5.14 $5.14

-57.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

$3.73 $3.73

-71.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

$0.98 $0.98

-26.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

$8.89 $8.89

-64.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

$3.06 $3.06

667.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

$2.69 $2.69

7.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,029

$1.01 $1.01

-71.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,863

$4.97 $4.97

-90.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,305

$1.23 $1.23

-65.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

$3.92 $3.92

57.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

$3.60 $3.60

-76.67%

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

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

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

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$133 $133

-41.02%

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

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

$39.42 $39.42

-89.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

$201 $201

-87.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

$19.76 $19.76

388.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

$49.70 $49.70

-87.22%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

$167 $167

81.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

$80.5 $80.5

-33.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

$69.0 $69.0

-44.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

$109 $109

-20.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$97.7 $97.7

-19.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

$899 $899

12.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.7M

$621 $621

8.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

$1,577 $1,577

114.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

$1,223 $1,223

71.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

$361 $361

-51.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

360000

-100.00%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Last update for Pohnpei: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali and $899 in Pohnpei. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pohnpei pays 108% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $45.00 in Pohnpei. Groceries flip the comparison at $298 vs $293, with Pohnpei cheaper for home cooking.

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 Pohnpei: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Pohnpei earns 108% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $899 in Pohnpei. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Pohnpei pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,668 in Pohnpei – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,668 in Pohnpei, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Pohnpei. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Ubud, Bali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Pohnpei, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Pohnpei are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Pohnpei. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.