Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Puerto Plata

For one person, living is cheaper in Puerto Plata: $808 a month against $1,353 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $6,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,353
/mo nomad
Puerto Plata
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
$808
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Puerto Plata

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 Puerto Plata actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,353 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $808 in Puerto Plata, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,353
  • Puerto Plata $808

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,325 in Puerto Plata, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,297
  • Puerto Plata $1,325

A family of three spends $3,241 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,841 in Puerto Plata, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,241
  • Puerto Plata $1,841

Ubud, Bali costs about 67% more than Puerto Plata, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Puerto Plata is 40% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Puerto Plata
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.23 Rp 58.1K
$5.54 DOP 340
-41.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.88 Rp 627.8K
$32.63 DOP 1,999
6.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.70 Rp 102.5K
$7.35 DOP 450
-22.45%
Cappuccino
$2.62 Rp 47.1K
$1.45 DOP 89.0
80.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 Rp 31.0K
$0.69 DOP 42.34
149.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$0.32 DOP 19.58
153.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 47.7K
$1.92 DOP 117
38.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37 Rp 78.6K
$2.37 DOP 145
84.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Puerto Plata
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$1.20 DOP 73.7
30.83%
White Bread (500g)
$2.19 Rp 39.5K
$1.58 DOP 97.1
38.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
$1.01 DOP 61.8
16.83%
Eggs
$2.16 Rp 38.8K
$1.31 DOP 80.4
64.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.65 Rp 317.7K
$3.81 DOP 233
363.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.78 Rp 68.0K
$5.37 DOP 329
-29.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.95 Rp 215.1K
$5.44 DOP 333
119.67%
Apples (1kg)
$3.60 Rp 64.8K
$2.37 DOP 145
51.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.6K
$0.82 DOP 50.5
93.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.6K
$1.67 DOP 103
38.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
$0.88 DOP 53.7
117.05%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
$1.03 DOP 63.4
72.82%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.9K
$1.19 DOP 72.7
95.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 Rp 18.0K
$0.84 DOP 51.2
19.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 Rp 9,509
$0.93 DOP 57.0
-43.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.29 Rp 41.1K
$2.47 DOP 152
-7.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.07 Rp 397.3K
$9.20 DOP 564
139.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 Rp 42.2K
$2.03 DOP 124
15.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 Rp 53.6K
$2.94 DOP 180
1.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Puerto Plata
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 Rp 4,112
$0.94 DOP 57.8
-75.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.90 Rp 160.2K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.47 Rp 8,466
$3.26 DOP 200
-85.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,737
$2.26 DOP 139
-80.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.47 Rp 98.4K
$5.73 DOP 351
-4.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
$1.26 DOP 77.5
-34.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9K Rp 429.8M
$29.4K DOP 1.8M
-18.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8K Rp 590.1M
$34.4K DOP 2.1M
-4.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Puerto Plata
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.0 Rp 1.4M
$41.41 DOP 2,537
93.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.56 Rp 118.1K
$22.67 DOP 1,389
-71.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.60 Rp 334.8K
$35.58 DOP 2,179
-47.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Puerto Plata
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.1 Rp 974.1K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.28 Rp 329.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.25 Rp 76.5K
$4.81 DOP 295
-11.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Puerto Plata
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$493 Rp 8.9M
$250 DOP 15.3K
97.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,597 Rp 100.7M
$7,310 DOP 447.8K
-23.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Puerto Plata
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.58 Rp 820.4K
$18.91 DOP 1,158
141.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.96 Rp 629.4K
$12.87 DOP 788
171.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 Rp 1.4M
$86.1 DOP 5,274
-9.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.5 Rp 1.4M
$120 DOP 7,375
-34.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Puerto Plata
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,131 Rp 20.4M
$437 DOP 26.8K
158.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$297 DOP 18.2K
126.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,613 Rp 65.0M
$829 DOP 50.8K
335.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,702 Rp 30.6M
$670 DOP 41.1K
153.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,717 Rp 48.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Puerto Plata
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
$331 DOP 20.2K
-49.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
13.56
1.62%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 19, 2026

Last update for Puerto Plata: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$673
Puerto Plata
$297 55.8% $376
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$287
Puerto Plata
$174 39.4% $113
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$107
Puerto Plata
$107 0.6% $0.7
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$106
Puerto Plata
$102 4% $4.2
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$105
Puerto Plata
$100 5.2% $5.5
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$63
Puerto Plata
$9.6 * 84.6% $53
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$12
Puerto Plata
$18 * 47.5% $5.9

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,131 in Ubud, Bali versus $437 in Puerto Plata. 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 99% higher in Puerto Plata, 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 $33.00 in Puerto Plata. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $287 vs $174 – making Puerto Plata the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇩🇴 Puerto Plata
🕒 Local time
02:01 2:01 AM
14:01 2:01 PM
12 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
130,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

DOP, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Dominican Peso exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 61.26 DOP (100 DOP = 1.63 USD). 1 EUR = 68.87 DOP (100 DOP = 1.45 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Puerto Plata 18,610 km ≈ 24 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Puerto Plata

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 Puerto Plata: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Puerto Plata cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 67%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,030 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,213 in Puerto Plata. 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 Puerto Plata, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or in Puerto Plata?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali and $33.00 in Puerto Plata. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Puerto Plata?
Groceries cost about 65% 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 $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Puerto Plata?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Puerto Plata, where all-in costs run around $808, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,353. In Puerto Plata it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ubud, Bali or Puerto Plata more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Puerto Plata – 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 Puerto Plata?
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 Puerto Plata. 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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