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 $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,980 in Port Vila, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,025 in Port Vila, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $5,070 in Port Vila, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 53% cheaper than Port Vila, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Ubud, Bali and Port Vila sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 5%, Port Vila by 123%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Port Vila
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45 Rp 62.1K
$11.23 VUV 1,310
-69.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 Rp 581.1K
$64.2 VUV 7,487
-49.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.84 Rp 87.1K
$9.37 VUV 1,093
-48.35%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
$5.06 VUV 591
-45.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 24.9K
$2.18 VUV 254
-36.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
$1.69 VUV 197
-55.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 53.8K
$4.42 VUV 516
-32.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 69.2K
$4.19 VUV 489
-8.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Port Vila
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 31.2K
$2.22 VUV 259
-21.62%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 44.2K
$2.48 VUV 289
-0.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
$3.85 VUV 449
-69.61%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 43.7K
$5.19 VUV 605
-53.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 Rp 260.6K
$20.31 VUV 2,368
-28.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.35 Rp 78.2K
$18.40 VUV 2,146
-76.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.98 Rp 215.3K
$18.41 VUV 2,147
-34.93%
Apples (1kg)
$3.72 Rp 66.8K
$4.82 VUV 562
-22.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
$2.09 VUV 244
-22.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.74 Rp 49.3K
$6.08 VUV 709
-54.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
$2.55 VUV 297
-12.16%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 Rp 34.5K
$4.24 VUV 495
-54.72%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.9K
$2.08 VUV 243
9.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$2.59 VUV 302
-59.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
$1.05 VUV 123
-31.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29 Rp 59.0K
$8.99 VUV 1,049
-63.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.19 Rp 416.8K
$12.67 VUV 1,478
83.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$2.99 VUV 349
-7.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$3.02 VUV 352
-9.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Port Vila
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,786
$1.69 VUV 198
-84.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.11 Rp 145.7K
$66.6 VUV 7,773
-87.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,675
$2.15 VUV 251
-77.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,545
$0.82 VUV 96.0
-48.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.22 Rp 111.8K
$5.04 VUV 588
23.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$1.85 VUV 216
-56.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 478.2M
$23.5K VUV 2.7M
13.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K Rp 578.5M
$38.0K VUV 4.4M
-15.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Port Vila
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$542 VUV 63.2K
-85.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07 Rp 73.1K
$24.94 VUV 2,909
-83.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33 Rp 437.1K
$226 VUV 26.4K
-89.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Port Vila
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34 Rp 113.9K
$16.52 VUV 1,926
-61.62%
Cinema Ticket
$3.99 Rp 71.6K
$12.55 VUV 1,464
-68.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Port Vila
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 Rp 5.5M
$620 VUV 72.3K
-50.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,642 Rp 119.4M
$6,934 VUV 808.8K
-4.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Port Vila
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 Rp 972.9K
$46.05 VUV 5,371
17.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81 Rp 679.4K
$67.3 VUV 7,854
-43.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Port Vila
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$992 Rp 17.8M
$1,894 VUV 220.9K
-47.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$1,412 VUV 164.7K
-52.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,375 Rp 60.7M
$3,379 VUV 394.2K
-0.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
$2,063 VUV 240.6K
-0.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,805 Rp 50.4M
$6,092 VUV 710.6K
-53.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,227 Rp 40.0M
$2,199 VUV 256.5K
1.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Port Vila
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 3.0M
$689 VUV 80.4K
-75.76%
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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Port Vila: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,894 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 313% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $64.0 in Port Vila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $451 – 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 112% 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 and in Port Vila?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $4,470 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 $1,408 in Ubud, Bali and $2,980 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 compared to Port Vila?
Public transport costs about 722% 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 in Port Vila?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,408, than in Port Vila at $2,980. 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 $1,408 versus $2,980 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 to 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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