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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $876 in Popovo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,339 in Popovo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,732 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,801 in Popovo.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 64% more expensive than Popovo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 7% above, Popovo is 35% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Popovo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 61.9K
$8.99 BGN 15.02
-60.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58 Rp 564.7K
$29.33 BGN 48.98
11.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 Rp 87.8K
$7.27 BGN 12.15
-30.26%
Cappuccino
$2.83 Rp 49.0K
$1.15 BGN 1.92
146.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 23.2K
$0.79 BGN 1.32
69.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
$1.41 BGN 2.35
-51.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 51.8K
$2.89 BGN 4.83
3.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 66.7K
$3.31 BGN 5.53
16.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Popovo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 30.2K
$1.10 BGN 1.83
58.18%
White Bread (500g)
$2.54 Rp 44.0K
$1.03 BGN 1.72
146.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
$1.55 BGN 2.58
-23.23%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 42.0K
$1.93 BGN 3.22
25.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.66 Rp 254.1K
$5.74 BGN 9.59
155.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.18 Rp 72.4K
$8.76 BGN 14.63
-52.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 Rp 206.9K
$12.94 BGN 21.60
-7.73%
Apples (1kg)
$3.69 Rp 63.9K
$1.16 BGN 1.94
218.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.8K
$1.19 BGN 1.99
35.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 Rp 46.5K
$1.16 BGN 1.94
131.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 40.4K
$2.21 BGN 3.70
5.43%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.0K
$0.96 BGN 1.61
98.96%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 37.9K
$1.04 BGN 1.74
110.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
$0.98 BGN 1.63
8.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
$0.60 BGN 1.01
20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 Rp 54.3K
$3.80 BGN 6.35
-17.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 407.1K
$7.36 BGN 12.30
219.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 Rp 47.5K
$0.85 BGN 1.42
222.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 Rp 49.9K
$0.57 BGN 0.95
405.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Popovo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,029
$0.90 BGN 1.50
-67.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 141.6K
$26.72 BGN 44.63
-69.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 7,863
$0.61 BGN 1.02
-26.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,305
$0.54 BGN 0.91
-22.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.16 Rp 106.7K
$8.24 BGN 13.77
-25.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 14.6K
$1.58 BGN 2.64
-46.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K Rp 454.9M
$29.6K BGN 49.5K
-11.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 562.9M
$22.3K BGN 37.2K
45.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Popovo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$116 BGN 194
-32.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95 Rp 68.5K
$17.83 BGN 29.78
-77.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40 Rp 423.0K
$15.44 BGN 25.78
58.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Popovo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
$29.36 BGN 49.03
228.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 110.0K
$14.91 BGN 24.90
-57.41%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 70.0K
$7.15 BGN 11.95
-43.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Popovo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 Rp 5.2M
$628 BGN 1,049
-51.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,523 Rp 113.1M
$5,379 BGN 8,983
21.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Popovo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 Rp 933.1K
$52.8 BGN 88.2
1.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98 Rp 658.3K
$36.14 BGN 60.4
5.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
$70.2 BGN 117
23.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
$46.90 BGN 78.3
68.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Popovo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
$290 BGN 484
248.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 Rp 11.7M
$235 BGN 393
186.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,390 Rp 58.8M
$478 BGN 797
609.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,098 Rp 36.4M
$358 BGN 598
486.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,985 Rp 51.7M
$1,583 BGN 2,644
88.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,339 Rp 40.5M
$1,081 BGN 1,805
116.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Popovo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$173 Rp 3.0M
$1,326 BGN 2,215
-86.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
3.09
329.77%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Last update for Popovo: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali and $290 in Popovo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Popovo pays 666% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $29.00 in Popovo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $200 per month, with Popovo cheaper across the board.

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 Popovo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Popovo cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Popovo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 64% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ubud, Bali or Popovo?
On paper, Popovo earns 666% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Popovo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $290 in Popovo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and Popovo?
Supermarket bills run roughly 49% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or Popovo?
Dining out is cheaper in Popovo – a meal for two runs $29.00 versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Popovo?
At $876 in Popovo versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Popovo but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Popovo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Popovo more family-friendly?
For families, Popovo is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Popovo?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Popovo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Popovo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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