Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Port Vila Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Port Vila

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,983 in Port Vila, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,058 in Port Vila, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $5,134 in Port Vila, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 52% cheaper than Port Vila, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Ubud, Bali and Port Vila sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 6%, Port Vila by 123%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Port Vila
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56 Rp 63.9K
$11.14 VUV 1,281
-68.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73 Rp 586.8K
$64.5 VUV 7,420
-49.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 Rp 88.7K
$9.83 VUV 1,130
-49.64%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 48.6K
$5.25 VUV 603
-48.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 24.1K
$2.15 VUV 247
-37.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
$1.74 VUV 200
-59.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 Rp 52.3K
$4.42 VUV 508
-33.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 Rp 70.9K
$4.23 VUV 486
-6.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Port Vila
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 Rp 32.4K
$2.23 VUV 257
-18.83%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 45.1K
$2.50 VUV 288
0.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 Rp 20.8K
$3.93 VUV 452
-70.48%
Eggs
$2.46 Rp 44.1K
$5.18 VUV 596
-52.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.71 Rp 263.7K
$20.04 VUV 2,304
-26.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 Rp 77.4K
$18.57 VUV 2,136
-76.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.14 Rp 217.5K
$18.19 VUV 2,092
-33.26%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 Rp 68.8K
$4.66 VUV 536
-17.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.9K
$2.05 VUV 236
-23.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 50.8K
$6.03 VUV 694
-53.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.7K
$2.47 VUV 284
-5.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
$4.40 VUV 506
-56.59%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 Rp 39.5K
$2.18 VUV 251
0.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 18.2K
$2.57 VUV 296
-60.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 13.9K
$1.06 VUV 121
-26.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 Rp 59.4K
$9.46 VUV 1,088
-64.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.74 Rp 425.5K
$12.44 VUV 1,431
90.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 50.0K
$2.95 VUV 340
-5.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 51.3K
$2.94 VUV 338
-2.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Port Vila
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,819
$1.72 VUV 198
-84.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.03 Rp 143.9K
$68.0 VUV 7,820
-88.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,181
$2.14 VUV 246
-78.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,068
$0.82 VUV 94.8
-45.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 Rp 109.3K
$5.10 VUV 587
19.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$1.89 VUV 217
-58.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 468.8M
$23.1K VUV 2.7M
13.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 575.8M
$38.6K VUV 4.4M
-16.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Port Vila
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$531 VUV 61.1K
-84.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.9K
$25.37 VUV 2,918
-84.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 Rp 421.6K
$227 VUV 26.2K
-89.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Port Vila
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 Rp 118.8K
$16.92 VUV 1,947
-60.82%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15 Rp 74.3K
$12.71 VUV 1,462
-67.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Port Vila
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$624 VUV 71.8K
-51.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,613 Rp 118.5M
$6,796 VUV 781.6K
-2.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Port Vila
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 Rp 995.6K
$45.92 VUV 5,282
20.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31 Rp 686.7K
$68.2 VUV 7,844
-43.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Port Vila
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
$1,882 VUV 216.4K
-46.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$675 Rp 12.1M
$1,392 VUV 160.1K
-51.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,442 Rp 61.7M
$3,353 VUV 385.6K
2.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 Rp 36.6M
$2,083 VUV 239.6K
-2.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,841 Rp 50.9M
$6,040 VUV 694.8K
-52.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,264 Rp 40.6M
$2,291 VUV 263.5K
-1.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Port Vila
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$696 VUV 80.1K
-76.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
7
89.71%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Port Vila: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,882 in Port Vila. 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 321% higher in Port Vila, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $65.0 in Port Vila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $449 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Vila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Port Vila?
Port Vila costs about 110% more than Ubud, Bali, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 vs Port Vila?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $4,474 in Port Vila. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ubud, Bali or Port Vila?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Port Vila?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali and $2,983 in Port Vila. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Ubud, Bali vs Port Vila?
Public transport costs about 747% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or Port Vila?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,419, than in Port Vila at $2,983. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Port Vila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Port Vila?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,419 versus $2,983 in Port Vila. 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 Vila?
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 Port Vila?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Port Vila makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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