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 $1,379 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $708 in Porlamar, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,363 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,134 in Porlamar, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,347 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,560 in Porlamar, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 95% more than Porlamar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 1% above the global median, while Porlamar is 48% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Porlamar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.31 Rp 58.9K
$4.68 VES 3,629
-29.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.08 Rp 694.5K
$42.81 VES 33.2K
-8.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.62 Rp 99.8K
$9.25 VES 7,172
-39.24%
Cappuccino
$2.64 Rp 46.9K
$1.87 VES 1,448
41.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 Rp 28.2K
$2.05 VES 1,592
-22.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 Rp 12.6K
$1.25 VES 971
-43.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.73 Rp 48.5K
$1.03 VES 795
165.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32 Rp 76.8K
$2.23 VES 1,727
93.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Porlamar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.54 Rp 27.4K
$1.68 VES 1,302
-8.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 Rp 40.8K
$1.53 VES 1,185
50.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.03 Rp 18.3K
$1.16 VES 901
-11.21%
Eggs
$2.12 Rp 37.7K
$1.99 VES 1,543
6.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.30 Rp 307.5K
$5.87 VES 4,549
194.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.03 Rp 71.6K
$6.53 VES 5,062
-38.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.42 Rp 220.8K
$7.40 VES 5,735
67.84%
Apples (1kg)
$3.70 Rp 65.7K
$4.35 VES 3,373
-14.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
$1.77 VES 1,374
-8.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 Rp 40.3K
$1.46 VES 1,129
55.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 Rp 35.4K
$1.79 VES 1,390
11.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 Rp 32.5K
$1.69 VES 1,311
8.28%
Onion (1kg)
$2.25 Rp 40.1K
$1.52 VES 1,177
48.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 Rp 18.6K
$1.78 VES 1,382
-41.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 Rp 10.0K
$0.97 VES 755
-42.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 Rp 39.5K
$3.05 VES 2,364
-27.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.22 Rp 412.7K
$6.43 VES 4,985
261.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39 Rp 42.5K
$0.77 VES 601
210.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 Rp 51.1K
$1.62 VES 1,255
77.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Porlamar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,416
$0.43 VES 335
-41.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.17 Rp 127.4K
$15.16 VES 11.8K
-52.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,163
$5.04 VES 3,911
-90.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,235
$1.48 VES 1,147
-68.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.70 Rp 101.2K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 Rp 13.6K
$0.48 VES 371
58.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K Rp 436.7M
$19.9K VES 15.4M
23.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.0K Rp 551.5M
$35.4K VES 27.4M
-12.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Porlamar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.2 Rp 1.5M
$20.90 VES 16.2K
293.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.33 Rp 112.5K
$7.63 VES 5,916
-17.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.54 Rp 329.6K
$31.25 VES 24.2K
-40.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Porlamar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.1 Rp 996.2K
$39.37 VES 30.5K
42.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.41 Rp 327.2K
$12.28 VES 9,522
49.92%
Cinema Ticket
$4.26 Rp 75.8K
$3.40 VES 2,637
25.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Porlamar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$489 Rp 8.7M
$29.75 VES 23.1K
1544.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,793 Rp 103.0M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Porlamar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.98 Rp 817.3K
$30.46 VES 23.6K
50.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.86 Rp 637.4K
$44.60 VES 34.6K
-19.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.5 Rp 1.4M
$59.0 VES 45.7K
34.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.9 Rp 1.4M
$75.7 VES 58.7K
6.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Porlamar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,144 Rp 20.3M
$199 VES 154.7K
473.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$692 Rp 12.3M
$150 VES 116.3K
361.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,532 Rp 62.8M
$332 VES 257.6K
963.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,709 Rp 30.4M
$203 VES 157.5K
741.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,785 Rp 49.5M
$403 VES 312.8K
590.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,261 Rp 40.2M
$152 VES 117.7K
1389.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Porlamar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$169 Rp 3.0M
$212 VES 164.4K
-20.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
20
-31.10%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 15, 2026

Last update for Porlamar: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,144 in Ubud, Bali versus $199 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 $39.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $43.00 in Porlamar. Groceries tell a different story – $293 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 95%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,069 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,062 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 in Porlamar?
Groceries cost about 39% 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 in Porlamar?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali and $43.00 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 living in Ubud, Bali or in Porlamar?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Porlamar, where all-in costs run around $708, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,379. 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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