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 $1,396 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $492 in Pokhara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $751 in Pokhara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,273 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,010 in Pokhara, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 184% more than Pokhara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 2% 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
$3.37 Rp 59.7K
$3.24 NPR 489
4.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.59 Rp 682.4K
$13.00 NPR 1,966
196.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.52 Rp 97.6K
$6.76 NPR 1,023
-18.34%
Cappuccino
$2.64 Rp 46.8K
$0.97 NPR 147
172.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 Rp 29.6K
$0.49 NPR 74.8
240.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 Rp 13.6K
$0.13 NPR 20.30
492.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.63 Rp 46.6K
$2.54 NPR 384
3.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28 Rp 75.7K
$3.27 NPR 494
30.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Pokhara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 Rp 27.3K
$0.75 NPR 114
106.67%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 Rp 39.3K
$0.63 NPR 94.9
252.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 Rp 19.9K
$0.70 NPR 106
61.43%
Eggs
$2.09 Rp 36.9K
$1.52 NPR 230
37.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.39 Rp 307.6K
$6.04 NPR 914
187.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.87 Rp 68.4K
$2.99 NPR 452
29.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.55 Rp 221.9K
$5.64 NPR 852
122.52%
Apples (1kg)
$3.62 Rp 63.9K
$2.53 NPR 383
43.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.6K
$1.26 NPR 190
23.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.35 Rp 41.6K
$1.25 NPR 189
88.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 Rp 36.4K
$0.69 NPR 104
198.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 33.6K
$0.38 NPR 56.9
400.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.34 Rp 41.3K
$0.84 NPR 127
178.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 Rp 18.2K
$0.37 NPR 55.6
178.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 9,809
$0.29 NPR 44.40
89.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25 Rp 39.8K
$2.70 NPR 408
-16.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.81 Rp 421.0K
$10.73 NPR 1,623
121.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31 Rp 40.9K
$2.43 NPR 368
-4.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 Rp 49.5K
$3.66 NPR 554
-23.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Pokhara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,816
$0.20 NPR 30.24
35.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.66 Rp 153.2K
$20.11 NPR 3,041
-56.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,515
$1.63 NPR 246
-70.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 7,887
$0.81 NPR 122
-44.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.72 Rp 101.1K
$2.67 NPR 404
114.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 Rp 13.4K
$1.20 NPR 182
-36.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5K Rp 433.0M
$33.0K NPR 5.0M
-25.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 568.0M
$34.5K NPR 5.2M
-6.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Pokhara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.6 Rp 1.5M
$66.5 NPR 10.1K
25.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.46 Rp 114.2K
$5.33 NPR 806
21.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.99 Rp 335.9K
$6.87 NPR 1,039
176.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Pokhara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.0 Rp 989.8K
$19.49 NPR 2,948
187.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.62 Rp 329.2K
$8.36 NPR 1,264
122.73%
Cinema Ticket
$4.28 Rp 75.7K
$2.42 NPR 367
76.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Pokhara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$487 Rp 8.6M
$48.13 NPR 7,279
910.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,856 Rp 103.6M
$1,953 NPR 295.3K
199.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Pokhara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.56 Rp 805.6K
$18.30 NPR 2,767
148.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.38 Rp 643.3K
$37.85 NPR 5,725
-3.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.0 Rp 1.4M
$35.43 NPR 5,359
131.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
$30.64 NPR 4,634
162.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Pokhara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,117 Rp 19.7M
$128 NPR 19.4K
769.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$701 Rp 12.4M
$84.4 NPR 12.8K
730.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,537 Rp 62.5M
$242 NPR 36.6K
1361.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,762 Rp 31.2M
$158 NPR 23.9K
1013.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,826 Rp 50.0M
$1,846 NPR 279.2K
53.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,292 Rp 40.5M
$619 NPR 93.6K
270.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Pokhara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$170 Rp 3.0M
$179 NPR 27.1K
-5.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
12.5
10.24%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Last update for Pokhara: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,117 in Ubud, Bali versus $128 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 6% 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 $39.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $13.00 in Pokhara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 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 in Pokhara compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, $492 in Pokhara – roughly 184% 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 $2,095 per month in Ubud, Bali and $738 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 in Pokhara?
Public transport costs about 132% 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 $487 per month in Ubud, Bali and $48.13 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 $492, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. 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 $492 in Pokhara to $1,396 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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