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 $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $132 in Punakha, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $182 in Punakha, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $233 in Punakha, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 935% more than Punakha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Punakha is 90% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 Rp 60.9K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.31 Rp 643.0K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 Rp 101.0K

Cappuccino

$2.67 Rp 47.3K

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

$1.75 Rp 31.0K

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 Rp 15.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.3K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 Rp 80.0K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 Rp 19.6K

Eggs

$2.20 Rp 39.0K

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.69 Rp 313.3K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 Rp 72.5K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 215.6K

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 Rp 65.6K

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.1K

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.4K

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 Rp 34.6K

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.7K

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 17.8K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,773

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 Rp 39.5K

Wine (Bottle)

$23.07 Rp 408.6K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 Rp 42.8K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.1K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,814

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.98 Rp 159.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,566

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,679

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.64 Rp 99.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

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

$24.9K Rp 441.7M

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

$31.7K Rp 561.5M

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

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

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

$6.49 Rp 115.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.77 Rp 332.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 Rp 331.7K

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 Rp 80.4K

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

$481 Rp 8.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,711 Rp 101.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.52 Rp 806.0K

$21.36 BTN 1,803

113.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 Rp 635.4K

$10.28 BTN 868

249.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$41.63 BTN 3,514

93.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

$36.71 BTN 3,099

114.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 Rp 19.7M

$92.7 BTN 7,828

1101.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$698 Rp 12.4M

$84.5 BTN 7,136

725.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,637 Rp 64.4M

$135 BTN 11.4K

2587.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

$120 BTN 10.1K

1346.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.3M

$3,097 BTN 261.4K

-10.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.5M

$2,967 BTN 250.5K

-22.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 Rp 3.0M

$244 BTN 20.6K

-31.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Punakha: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $92.7 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 45% 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 935% 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 $2,052 per month in Ubud, Bali and $198 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Punakha, where all-in costs run around $132, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. 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 $132 versus $1,368 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.