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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $668 in Porlamar, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $935 in Porlamar, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,201 in Porlamar, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 115% more than Porlamar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Ubud, Bali sits 7% above the global median, while Porlamar is 50% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Porlamar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 61.9K
$4.54 VES 2,214
-21.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58 Rp 564.7K
$49.78 VES 24.2K
-34.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 Rp 87.8K
$7.83 VES 3,816
-35.25%
Cappuccino
$2.83 Rp 49.0K
$1.54 VES 748
83.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 23.2K
$1.63 VES 796
-17.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
$0.79 VES 383
-12.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 51.8K
$1.33 VES 647
124.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 66.7K
$2.26 VES 1,101
70.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Porlamar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 30.2K
$1.66 VES 809
4.82%
White Bread (500g)
$2.54 Rp 44.0K
$1.52 VES 741
67.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
$1.12 VES 546
6.25%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 42.0K
$2.03 VES 986
19.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.66 Rp 254.1K
$6.14 VES 2,992
138.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.18 Rp 72.4K
$6.36 VES 3,098
-34.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 Rp 206.9K
$7.60 VES 3,701
57.11%
Apples (1kg)
$3.69 Rp 63.9K
$4.15 VES 2,021
-11.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.8K
$1.80 VES 878
-10.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 Rp 46.5K
$1.47 VES 718
82.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 40.4K
$1.79 VES 873
30.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.0K
$1.69 VES 825
13.02%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 37.9K
$1.52 VES 741
44.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
$1.77 VES 864
-40.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
$0.98 VES 477
-26.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 Rp 54.3K
$2.94 VES 1,433
6.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 407.1K
$6.59 VES 3,212
256.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 Rp 47.5K
$0.77 VES 377
255.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 Rp 49.9K
$1.58 VES 771
82.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Porlamar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,029
$0.49 VES 236
-40.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 141.6K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 7,863
$5.03 VES 2,450
-91.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,305
$2.94 VES 1,432
-85.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.16 Rp 106.7K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 14.6K
$0.52 VES 251
61.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K Rp 454.9M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 562.9M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Porlamar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$29.69 VES 14.5K
164.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95 Rp 68.5K
$9.93 VES 4,837
-60.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40 Rp 423.0K
$35.06 VES 17.1K
-30.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Porlamar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
$50.4 VES 24.5K
91.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 110.0K
$10.08 VES 4,908
-37.00%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 70.0K
$2.94 VES 1,431
37.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Porlamar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 Rp 5.2M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,523 Rp 113.1M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Porlamar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 Rp 933.1K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98 Rp 658.3K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Porlamar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
$198 VES 96.5K
411.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 Rp 11.7M
$202 VES 98.3K
234.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,390 Rp 58.8M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,098 Rp 36.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,985 Rp 51.7M
$399 VES 194.1K
648.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,339 Rp 40.5M
$152 VES 73.8K
1443.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Porlamar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$173 Rp 3.0M
$217 VES 105.8K
-20.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
0
-

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Last update for Porlamar: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $198 in Porlamar. 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 25% higher in Porlamar, 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 $50.0 in Porlamar. Groceries tell a different story – $298 in Ubud, Bali vs $211 in Porlamar – so Porlamar wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Porlamar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Porlamar cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 115%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,002 in Porlamar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Porlamar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and Porlamar?
Groceries cost about 41% 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.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or Porlamar?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $50.0 in Porlamar. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Porlamar?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Porlamar, where all-in costs run around $668, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. In Porlamar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ubud, Bali or Porlamar more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Porlamar – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Porlamar?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Porlamar. 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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