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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $805 in Popayan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,223 in Popayan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,640 in Popayan, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 76% more than Popayan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Popayan is 40% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

$3.98 COP 14.2K

-10.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

$24.01 COP 85.7K

36.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

$7.18 COP 25.6K

-31.06%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

$1.51 COP 5,406

79.47%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

$0.86 COP 3,073

55.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.58 COP 2,069

20.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

$1.15 COP 4,101

153.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

$2.12 COP 7,573

86.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

$1.05 COP 3,757

72.38%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

$1.25 COP 4,447

101.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

$1.18 COP 4,199

-1.69%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

$2.21 COP 7,887

11.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

$4.54 COP 16.2K

224.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

$5.18 COP 18.5K

-16.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

$7.14 COP 25.5K

70.03%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

$2.43 COP 8,678

58.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

$1.07 COP 3,818

45.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

$1.36 COP 4,843

108.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

$0.85 COP 3,022

174.12%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

$1.11 COP 3,980

72.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

$1.12 COP 4,009

96.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

$0.88 COP 3,149

14.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$0.64 COP 2,279

21.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

$2.31 COP 8,264

43.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

$10.38 COP 37.1K

128.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

$1.13 COP 4,046

146.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

$1.80 COP 6,437

58.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,800

$0.69 COP 2,461

-60.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

$29.66 COP 105.9K

-72.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,150

$1.46 COP 5,214

-68.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,037

$1.71 COP 6,104

-73.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

$6.15 COP 21.9K

-0.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$0.99 COP 3,543

-20.20%

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

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

$17.9K COP 63.9M

46.24%

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

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

$25.5K COP 91.2M

25.74%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$83.5 COP 298.2K

-4.27%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

$8.86 COP 31.6K

-54.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

$22.84 COP 81.6K

2.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$23.53 COP 84.0K

319.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

$3.93 COP 14.0K

5.60%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$241 COP 861.1K

26.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

$6,042 COP 21.6M

9.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

$58.4 COP 208.4K

-4.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

$32.94 COP 117.6K

16.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$82.9 COP 296.0K

6.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$72.8 COP 259.8K

7.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$284 COP 1.0M

254.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$242 COP 863.9K

179.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

$525 COP 1.9M

555.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

$423 COP 1.5M

381.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

$1,434 COP 5.1M

98.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

$1,260 COP 4.5M

79.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

13.18

0.76%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Popayan: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $284 in Popayan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $24.00 in Popayan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $172 – making Popayan 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 Popayan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, $805 in Popayan – roughly 76% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,207 in Popayan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $241 in Popayan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 75% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Popayan, where all-in costs run around $805, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Popayan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $805 in Popayan to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Popayan. 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.