Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Puerto Vallarta

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,368 a month against $1,602 in Puerto Vallarta, rent and utilities included – about $2,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,368
/mo nomad
Puerto Vallarta
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,602
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,602 in Puerto Vallarta.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,368
  • Puerto Vallarta $1,602

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,314 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,430 in Puerto Vallarta.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,314
  • Puerto Vallarta $2,430

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,260 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,259 in Puerto Vallarta.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,260
  • Puerto Vallarta $3,259

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 15% less than in Puerto Vallarta, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 1% above, Puerto Vallarta 19% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Puerto Vallarta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33 Rp 59.9K
$13.62 MX$252
-75.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.18 Rp 633.2K
$58.3 MX$1,076
-39.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.80 Rp 104.5K
$11.17 MX$206
-48.08%
Cappuccino
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$4.23 MX$78.2
-35.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 Rp 29.5K
$1.86 MX$34.43
-11.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
$1.38 MX$25.59
-39.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.70 Rp 48.6K
$2.93 MX$54.1
-7.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 Rp 77.4K
$4.24 MX$78.3
1.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Puerto Vallarta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 Rp 27.1K
$1.79 MX$33.17
-16.20%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 Rp 41.4K
$3.51 MX$64.9
-34.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
$2.00 MX$36.97
-41.00%
Eggs
$2.14 Rp 38.6K
$2.20 MX$40.72
-2.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.48 Rp 314.6K
$10.04 MX$185
74.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.03 Rp 72.5K
$10.99 MX$203
-63.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.23 Rp 220.1K
$16.33 MX$302
-25.11%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 Rp 63.9K
$2.93 MX$54.2
21.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$1.51 MX$27.99
3.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
$1.94 MX$35.88
15.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.93 Rp 34.7K
$2.13 MX$39.43
-9.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.88 Rp 33.9K
$2.40 MX$44.26
-21.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.29 Rp 41.3K
$3.17 MX$58.5
-27.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 17.9K
$1.39 MX$25.73
-28.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 Rp 9,475
$1.13 MX$20.97
-53.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
$4.30 MX$79.5
-46.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.01 Rp 414.2K
$11.13 MX$206
106.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 Rp 42.2K
$1.87 MX$34.64
25.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 Rp 52.4K
$2.58 MX$47.63
12.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Puerto Vallarta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 Rp 4,315
$0.62 MX$11.54
-61.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.82 Rp 158.7K
$21.79 MX$403
-59.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,684
$4.78 MX$88.4
-89.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,233
$3.08 MX$56.9
-85.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 Rp 98.2K
$4.26 MX$78.8
27.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 Rp 15.9K
$1.55 MX$28.63
-43.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K Rp 442.2M
$21.5K MX$396.7K
14.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2K Rp 561.4M
$24.0K MX$443.2K
30.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Puerto Vallarta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 Rp 1.5M
$85.7 MX$1,583
-3.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 116.0K
$25.48 MX$471
-74.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.57 Rp 334.2K
$31.81 MX$588
-41.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Puerto Vallarta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.8 Rp 1.0M
$36.74 MX$679
51.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.11 Rp 326.0K
$14.96 MX$276
21.06%
Cinema Ticket
$4.38 Rp 78.9K
$8.74 MX$161
-49.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Puerto Vallarta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$493 Rp 8.9M
$335 MX$6,187
47.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,754 Rp 103.6M
$6,188 MX$114.3K
-7.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Puerto Vallarta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.19 Rp 831.4K
$54.6 MX$1,008
-15.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.33 Rp 636.0K
$34.55 MX$638
2.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$102 MX$1,893
-22.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$95.0 MX$1,755
-17.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Puerto Vallarta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,142 Rp 20.6M
$1,311 MX$24.2K
-12.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$676 Rp 12.2M
$687 MX$12.7K
-1.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,503 Rp 63.1M
$2,068 MX$38.2K
69.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,700 Rp 30.6M
$1,105 MX$20.4K
53.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 Rp 50.1M
$5,117 MX$94.6K
-45.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
$2,541 MX$47.0K
-11.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Puerto Vallarta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$910 MX$16.8K
-81.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
11.7
17.78%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 11, 2026

Last update for Puerto Vallarta: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$676
Puerto Vallarta
$687 1.6% $11
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$290
Puerto Vallarta
$316 8.7% $25
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$109
Puerto Vallarta
$229 111% $121
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$108
Puerto Vallarta
$143 32.3% $35
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Puerto Vallarta
$129 19.9% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$65
Puerto Vallarta
$54 16% $10
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$13
Puerto Vallarta
$44 254% $32

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,142 in Ubud, Bali and $1,311 in Puerto Vallarta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Puerto Vallarta pays 453% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $35.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $58.0 in Puerto Vallarta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $290 vs $316 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇲🇽 Puerto Vallarta
🕒 Local time
04:51 4:51 AM
14:51 2:51 PM
14 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
224,166
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Puerto Vallarta 15,470 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Puerto Vallarta

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 Vallarta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Puerto Vallarta cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 17% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ubud, Bali or Puerto Vallarta?
On paper, salaries run 453% lower in Puerto Vallarta. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Puerto Vallarta?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,142 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,311 in Puerto Vallarta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 147% less than in Puerto Vallarta. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $493 in Ubud, Bali versus $335 in Puerto Vallarta. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Puerto Vallarta?
At $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,602 in Puerto Vallarta, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Puerto Vallarta. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Puerto Vallarta more family-friendly?
For families, Ubud, Bali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Puerto Vallarta, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Puerto Vallarta?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Puerto Vallarta are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Puerto Vallarta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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