Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Port Elizabeth

For one person, living is cheaper in Port Elizabeth: $1,216 a month against $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $1,800 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Ubud, Bali outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,368
/mo nomad
Port Elizabeth
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,216
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Port Elizabeth

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Port Elizabeth actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,216 in Port Elizabeth, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,368
  • Port Elizabeth $1,216

A couple spends around $2,314 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,835 in Port Elizabeth, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,314
  • Port Elizabeth $1,835

A family of three spends $3,260 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,453 in Port Elizabeth, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,260
  • Port Elizabeth $2,453

Ubud, Bali costs about 12% more than Port Elizabeth, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Ubud, Bali sits 1% above the global median, while Port Elizabeth is 10% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33 Rp 59.9K
$11.00 R 181
-69.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.18 Rp 633.2K
$41.67 R 687
-15.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.80 Rp 104.5K
$5.84 R 96.2
-0.68%
Cappuccino
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$2.17 R 35.81
25.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 Rp 29.5K
$1.03 R 16.91
59.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
$0.76 R 12.59
9.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.70 Rp 48.6K
$2.69 R 44.37
0.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 Rp 77.4K
$3.24 R 53.3
32.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 Rp 27.1K
$1.12 R 18.39
33.93%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 Rp 41.4K
$1.04 R 17.20
121.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
$1.51 R 24.94
-21.85%
Eggs
$2.14 Rp 38.6K
$2.81 R 46.35
-23.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.48 Rp 314.6K
$8.58 R 141
103.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.03 Rp 72.5K
$5.33 R 87.7
-24.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.23 Rp 220.1K
$8.36 R 138
46.29%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 Rp 63.9K
$2.19 R 36.04
62.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$1.49 R 24.58
5.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
$1.70 R 28.04
31.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.93 Rp 34.7K
$1.81 R 29.74
6.63%
Potato (1kg)
$1.88 Rp 33.9K
$1.66 R 27.41
13.25%
Onion (1kg)
$2.29 Rp 41.3K
$1.45 R 23.83
57.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 17.9K
$1.26 R 20.72
-21.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 Rp 9,475
$0.99 R 16.39
-46.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
$3.26 R 53.8
-30.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.01 Rp 414.2K
$4.82 R 79.4
377.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 Rp 42.2K
$1.27 R 20.99
84.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 Rp 52.4K
$1.82 R 30.00
59.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Port Elizabeth
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 Rp 4,315
$1.10 R 18.17
-78.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.82 Rp 158.7K
$36.67 R 604
-75.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,684
$2.04 R 33.68
-76.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,233
$0.50 R 8.25
-8.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 Rp 98.2K
$8.45 R 139
-35.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 Rp 15.9K
$1.48 R 24.38
-40.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K Rp 442.2M
$35.8K R 589.5K
-31.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2K Rp 561.4M
$34.1K R 562.5K
-8.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 Rp 1.5M
$125 R 2,058
-33.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 116.0K
$34.90 R 575
-81.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.57 Rp 334.2K
$44.55 R 734
-58.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.8 Rp 1.0M
$32.20 R 530
73.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.11 Rp 326.0K
$23.27 R 383
-22.17%
Cinema Ticket
$4.38 Rp 78.9K
$10.74 R 177
-59.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$493 Rp 8.9M
$177 R 2,924
177.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,754 Rp 103.6M
$6,046 R 99.6K
-4.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.19 Rp 831.4K
$72.4 R 1,193
-36.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.33 Rp 636.0K
$38.28 R 631
-7.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$110 R 1,806
-27.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$95.6 R 1,574
-17.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Port Elizabeth
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,142 Rp 20.6M
$598 R 9,859
90.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$676 Rp 12.2M
$415 R 6,838
62.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,503 Rp 63.1M
$808 R 13.3K
333.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,700 Rp 30.6M
$682 R 11.2K
149.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 Rp 50.1M
$764 R 12.6K
264.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
$522 R 8,604
328.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Port Elizabeth
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$1,625 R 26.8K
-89.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
11.94
15.41%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 11, 2026

Last update for Port Elizabeth: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$676
Port Elizabeth
$415 38.6% $261
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$290
Port Elizabeth
$197 32.3% $94
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$109
Port Elizabeth
$159 45.9% $50
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$108
Port Elizabeth
$204 89.2% $96
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Port Elizabeth
$142 32.2% $35
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$65
Port Elizabeth
$54 16.9% $11
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$13
Port Elizabeth
$46 264% $33

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,142 in Ubud, Bali versus $598 in Port Elizabeth. 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 887% higher in Port Elizabeth, 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 $35.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $42.00 in Port Elizabeth. Groceries tell a different story – $290 in Ubud, Bali vs $197 in Port Elizabeth – so Port Elizabeth wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇿🇦 Port Elizabeth
🕒 Local time
20:35 8:35 PM
14:35 2:35 PM
6 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
1,050,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ZAR, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

South African Rand exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 16.48 ZAR (100 ZAR = 6.07 USD). 1 EUR = 18.52 ZAR (100 ZAR = 5.4 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Port Elizabeth 9,450 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Port Elizabeth

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Port Elizabeth: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Port Elizabeth?
Ubud, Bali costs about 12% more than Port Elizabeth, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali and in Port Elizabeth?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,051 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,824 in Port Elizabeth. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ubud, Bali or Port Elizabeth?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Port Elizabeth, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Port Elizabeth?
Groceries cost about 48% 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.
How do dining costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Port Elizabeth?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali and $42.00 in Port Elizabeth. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Port Elizabeth?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Port Elizabeth, where all-in costs run around $1,216, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. In Port Elizabeth it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Port Elizabeth?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Port Elizabeth costs $1,216 versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Port Elizabeth?
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.
Should I move to Ubud, Bali or to Port Elizabeth?
If budget matters most, go with Port Elizabeth. 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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