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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $479 in Pokhara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $747 in Pokhara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,015 in Pokhara, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 196% more than Pokhara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Pokhara is 64% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Pokhara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
$1.79 NPR 272
98.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
$14.31 NPR 2,178
128.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
$6.46 NPR 983
-23.37%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
$1.08 NPR 164
150.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
$0.54 NPR 82.4
148.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
$0.16 NPR 24.32
337.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
$2.65 NPR 404
10.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
$3.71 NPR 565
6.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Pokhara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
$0.77 NPR 118
135.06%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
$0.59 NPR 89.6
327.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
$0.79 NPR 120
46.84%
Eggs
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
$1.63 NPR 249
50.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
$6.71 NPR 1,022
119.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
$3.14 NPR 478
37.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
$6.09 NPR 928
99.34%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
$2.22 NPR 337
72.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
$1.06 NPR 161
47.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
$1.20 NPR 183
135.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
$0.69 NPR 105
237.68%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
$0.43 NPR 64.8
344.19%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
$0.72 NPR 109
205.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
$0.41 NPR 62.3
146.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
$0.27 NPR 41.46
188.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
$2.97 NPR 452
11.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
$10.84 NPR 1,651
119.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
$2.30 NPR 350
21.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
$3.27 NPR 497
-12.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Pokhara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,800
$0.23 NPR 34.75
17.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
$21.77 NPR 3,314
-63.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,150
$2.16 NPR 329
-78.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,037
$0.84 NPR 129
-46.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
$3.71 NPR 565
64.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$1.22 NPR 186
-35.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
$32.0K NPR 4.9M
-18.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
$38.6K NPR 5.9M
-16.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Pokhara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$33.60 NPR 5,114
137.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
$4.86 NPR 740
-16.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
$7.53 NPR 1,146
212.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Pokhara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
$22.26 NPR 3,389
343.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
$9.08 NPR 1,382
-26.98%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
$2.66 NPR 405
56.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Pokhara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$54.7 NPR 8,330
455.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
$2,162 NPR 329.1K
205.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Pokhara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
$20.27 NPR 3,085
174.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
$27.83 NPR 4,235
37.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
$39.93 NPR 6,078
121.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$34.39 NPR 5,235
126.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Pokhara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
$142 NPR 21.5K
611.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$675 Rp 12.1M
$94.8 NPR 14.4K
612.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
$265 NPR 40.3K
1198.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
$176 NPR 26.8K
1057.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
$1,857 NPR 282.7K
52.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
$629 NPR 95.7K
259.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Pokhara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$181 NPR 27.6K
-8.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
12.08
9.93%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Pokhara: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $142 in Pokhara. 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 10% higher in Pokhara, 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 $14.00 in Pokhara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $150 – making Pokhara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Pokhara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Ubud, Bali and Pokhara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, $479 in Pokhara – roughly 196% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Ubud, Bali compared to Pokhara?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $719 in Pokhara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Ubud, Bali and Pokhara?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Pokhara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Ubud, Bali and Pokhara?
Public transport costs about 171% less in Pokhara. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ubud, Bali and Pokhara?
Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $54.7 in Pokhara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Pokhara, where all-in costs run around $479, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Pokhara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Pokhara?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $479 in Pokhara to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Ubud, Bali or Pokhara safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Ubud, Bali and Pokhara?
If budget matters most, go with Pokhara. 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.

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