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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,158 in Pretoria, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,776 in Pretoria, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,394 in Pretoria, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 23% more than Pretoria, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Pretoria is 14% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

$8.23 R 134

-56.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

$33.05 R 537

-0.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

$4.71 R 76.6

5.10%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

$2.02 R 32.84

34.16%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

$1.01 R 16.48

32.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.83 R 13.57

-15.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

$2.17 R 35.34

34.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

$2.82 R 45.89

40.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

$1.19 R 19.37

52.10%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

$1.06 R 17.15

137.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

$1.57 R 25.49

-26.11%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

$2.38 R 38.71

3.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

$7.78 R 127

89.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

$4.56 R 74.1

-5.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

$6.39 R 104

89.98%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

$1.63 R 26.49

135.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

$1.62 R 26.28

-3.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

$1.62 R 26.28

74.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

$1.70 R 27.55

37.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

$1.35 R 21.99

41.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

$1.17 R 18.99

88.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

$1.12 R 18.24

-9.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$1.12 R 18.24

-30.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

$2.82 R 45.77

17.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

$5.29 R 86.0

348.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

$1.55 R 25.25

80.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

$1.83 R 29.78

56.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,800

$3.22 R 52.3

-91.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

$63.9 R 1,038

-87.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,150

$1.37 R 22.34

-66.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,037

$1.32 R 21.41

-65.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

$3.12 R 50.7

95.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$1.32 R 21.39

-40.15%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

$19.3K R 313.1K

35.73%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

$25.7K R 417.9K

24.89%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$122 R 1,979

-34.37%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

$37.75 R 614

-89.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

$37.89 R 616

-37.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$32.18 R 523

206.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

$10.50 R 171

-36.86%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

$7.46 R 121

-44.37%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$304 Rp 5.4M

$196 R 3,183

55.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

$4,381 R 71.2K

50.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

$50.7 R 824

9.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

$32.29 R 525

18.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$87.3 R 1,419

1.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$89.8 R 1,459

-13.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$399 R 6,491

151.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$393 R 6,385

71.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

$733 R 11.9K

369.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

$766 R 12.4K

166.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

$889 R 14.4K

219.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

$707 R 11.5K

220.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$1,510 R 24.5K

-89.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

11.69

13.60%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Pretoria: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $399 in Pretoria. 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 814% higher in Pretoria, 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 $33.00 in Pretoria. Groceries tell a different story – $302 in Ubud, Bali vs $183 in Pretoria – so Pretoria 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 Pretoria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 23%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,737 in Pretoria. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Pretoria, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 695% less in Pretoria. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $196 in Pretoria. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Pretoria, where all-in costs run around $1,158, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Pretoria it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Pretoria – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Pretoria. 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.