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: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $882 in Popovo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,324 in Popovo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,694 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,766 in Popovo.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 59% more expensive than Popovo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 4% above, Popovo is 34% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Popovo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
$8.64 BGN 14.38
-58.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
$29.46 BGN 49.01
10.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
$7.17 BGN 11.93
-32.22%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
$1.20 BGN 1.99
129.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
$0.79 BGN 1.32
67.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
$1.48 BGN 2.46
-52.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
$2.96 BGN 4.93
-1.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
$3.18 BGN 5.30
19.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Popovo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
$1.13 BGN 1.89
51.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
$1.01 BGN 1.68
144.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
$1.55 BGN 2.58
-22.58%
Eggs
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
$1.86 BGN 3.09
31.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
$6.00 BGN 9.98
139.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
$8.35 BGN 13.89
-48.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
$13.22 BGN 22.00
-7.64%
Apples (1kg)
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
$1.19 BGN 1.98
209.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
$1.21 BGN 2.00
28.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
$1.20 BGN 1.99
132.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
$2.24 BGN 3.72
4.02%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
$0.90 BGN 1.49
118.89%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
$1.06 BGN 1.76
117.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$0.98 BGN 1.63
8.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
$0.64 BGN 1.06
14.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
$3.79 BGN 6.30
-13.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
$5.98 BGN 9.95
281.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
$0.89 BGN 1.49
215.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$0.58 BGN 0.96
379.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Popovo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,217
$0.87 BGN 1.45
-66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
$26.71 BGN 44.44
-69.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,047
$0.61 BGN 1.01
-26.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,094
$0.55 BGN 0.91
-18.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
$8.02 BGN 13.35
-22.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
$1.58 BGN 2.62
-46.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
$29.5K BGN 49.0K
-11.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
$22.8K BGN 37.9K
39.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Popovo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
$116 BGN 193
-30.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
$18.25 BGN 30.36
-77.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
$15.44 BGN 25.68
58.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Popovo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
$28.94 BGN 48.14
237.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
$14.79 BGN 24.61
-56.39%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
$7.19 BGN 11.95
-43.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Popovo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$645 BGN 1,073
-52.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
$5,425 BGN 9,024
22.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Popovo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
$53.7 BGN 89.4
0.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
$36.65 BGN 61.0
5.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
$70.3 BGN 117
22.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
$46.30 BGN 77.0
65.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Popovo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$986 Rp 17.7M
$288 BGN 479
242.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$658 Rp 11.8M
$237 BGN 394
177.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
$468 BGN 779
619.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
$354 BGN 590
482.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
$1,336 BGN 2,223
105.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
$1,102 BGN 1,834
102.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Popovo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$163 Rp 2.9M
$1,279 BGN 2,128
-87.23%
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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Popovo: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $986 in Ubud, Bali and $288 in Popovo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Popovo pays 683% 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 $297 vs $198 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 59% 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 683% 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: $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $288 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 50% 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 $882 in Popovo versus $1,404 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 59% 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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