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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $658 in Polomolok, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,042 in Polomolok, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,427 in Polomolok, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 114% more than Polomolok, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% above the global median, while Polomolok is 51% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

$1.73 ₱105

106.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

$13.11 ₱796

147.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

$2.29 ₱139

112.23%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

$2.08 ₱126

32.21%

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

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

$0.46 ₱28.03

186.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.49 ₱29.76

42.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

$1.16 ₱70.4

150.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

$1.64 ₱99.7

131.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

$1.74 ₱106

-1.72%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

$1.01 ₱61.2

144.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$0.68 ₱41.28

76.47%

Eggs

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

$2.06 ₱125

18.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

$6.16 ₱374

133.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

$3.06 ₱186

40.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

$6.05 ₱367

101.82%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

$2.81 ₱171

30.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

$0.65 ₱39.23

138.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

$2.33 ₱142

19.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

$0.85 ₱51.8

174.12%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

$1.34 ₱81.5

47.01%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

$3.26 ₱198

-29.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.87 ₱52.9

21.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$0.60 ₱36.28

21.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

$2.72 ₱165

20.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

$7.18 ₱436

217.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

$1.10 ₱66.9

155.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$1.55 ₱94.3

79.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

$0.26 ₱15.60

11.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

$14.25 ₱865

-43.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,047

$0.91 ₱55.6

-50.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

$0.25 ₱15.27

80.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

$2.16 ₱131

188.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

$1.04 ₱62.9

-18.27%

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

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

$17.9K ₱1.1M

45.24%

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

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

$19.8K ₱1.2M

59.50%

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

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

$58.3 ₱3,539

38.56%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

$12.59 ₱764

-67.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

$29.47 ₱1,790

-17.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

$34.48 ₱2,093

183.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

$4.33 ₱263

48.96%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

$4.46 ₱271

-9.42%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$119 ₱7,212

155.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

$1,516 ₱92.1K

336.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

$45.68 ₱2,774

18.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

$26.94 ₱1,636

43.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$70.0 ₱4,250

23.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

$68.3 ₱4,145

12.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

$270 ₱16.4K

265.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.8M

$179 ₱10.9K

267.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

$588 ₱35.7K

472.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

$396 ₱24.0K

421.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

$2,407 ₱146.1K

13.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

$996 ₱60.5K

123.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

$247 ₱15.0K

-33.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

121.33%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Last update for Polomolok: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $270 in Polomolok. 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 51% higher in Polomolok, 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 $13.00 in Polomolok. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $166 – making Polomolok 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 Polomolok: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 114% more than Polomolok, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $986 in Polomolok. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Polomolok, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 77% less in Polomolok. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $119 in Polomolok. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Polomolok, where all-in costs run around $658, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. In Polomolok it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Polomolok costs $658 versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Polomolok. 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.