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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $317 in Punakha, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $467 in Punakha, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $617 in Punakha, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 347% more than Punakha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Punakha is 76% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.9K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 586.8K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.7K

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.6K

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

$1.34 Rp 24.1K

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.3K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.9K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

$0.80 BTN 67.6

126.25%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.1K

$0.50 BTN 41.97

404.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.8K

$0.66 BTN 55.9

75.76%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$1.67 BTN 141

47.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 263.7K

$4.92 BTN 416

198.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.4K

$3.16 BTN 267

36.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 217.5K

$3.52 BTN 297

244.89%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.8K

$4.06 BTN 342

-5.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.9K

$2.38 BTN 201

-34.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.8K

$2.38 BTN 201

18.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.7K

$0.84 BTN 71.0

177.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.3K

$0.50 BTN 42.60

282.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.5K

$0.92 BTN 77.6

139.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.2K

$0.28 BTN 23.45

260.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

$0.49 BTN 41.02

59.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.4K

$3.43 BTN 289

-3.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 425.5K

$3.22 BTN 272

637.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 50.0K

$0.81 BTN 68.1

244.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.3K

$1.30 BTN 110

120.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,819

$2.30 BTN 194

-88.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,181

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,068

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 109.3K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

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

$26.1K Rp 468.8M

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

$32.1K Rp 575.8M

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

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

$4.06 Rp 72.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 421.6K

$17.80 BTN 1,503

32.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.3K

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 995.6K

$26.66 BTN 2,250

108.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 686.7K

$11.44 BTN 966

234.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$54.9 BTN 4,635

61.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$40.04 BTN 3,380

94.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$105 BTN 8,838

861.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$91.5 BTN 7,726

637.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.7M

$106 BTN 8,906

3162.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.6M

$135 BTN 11.4K

1409.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.9M

$3,109 BTN 262.5K

-8.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.6M

$2,979 BTN 251.5K

-24.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$243 BTN 20.5K

-31.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Punakha: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $105 in Punakha. 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 47% higher in Punakha, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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 Punakha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 347% more than Punakha, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $476 in Punakha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali and $317 in Punakha. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 124% 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Punakha, where all-in costs run around $317, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Punakha it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Punakha costs $317 versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Punakha. 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.