Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Punakha

For one person, living is cheaper in Punakha: $135 a month against $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $14,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Punakha, Bhutan
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Punakha
🇧🇹 Bhutan
$135
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Punakha

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

A single person spends $1,349 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $135 in Punakha, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,349
  • Punakha $135

A couple spends around $2,305 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $183 in Punakha, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,305
  • Punakha $183

A family of three spends $3,261 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $231 in Punakha, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,261
  • Punakha $231

Ubud, Bali costs about 902% more than Punakha, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Punakha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32 Rp 60.3K
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.64 Rp 646.5K
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.53 Rp 100.4K
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.72 Rp 49.3K
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 Rp 30.9K
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 48.1K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 Rp 79.5K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Punakha
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 Rp 27.0K
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 Rp 41.3K
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
-
-
Eggs
$2.04 Rp 36.9K
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.70 Rp 321.1K
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.96 Rp 71.9K
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.19 Rp 221.1K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 Rp 66.3K
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 27.5K
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.4K
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.8K
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 33.5K
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 44.0K
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 18.0K
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,313
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 Rp 40.3K
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$22.24 Rp 403.4K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 Rp 41.0K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.9K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Punakha
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,553
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.82 Rp 141.9K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,972
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,801
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 Rp 98.1K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 15.0K
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K Rp 432.4M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 575.9M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Punakha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 116.9K
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.58 Rp 337.0K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Punakha
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.48 Rp 897.5K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.65 Rp 320.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.27 Rp 77.5K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Punakha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$491 Rp 8.9M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,674 Rp 102.9M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Punakha
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.64 Rp 809.7K
$21.41 BTN 2,035
108.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.95 Rp 634.0K
$10.42 BTN 991
235.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$42.00 BTN 3,992
90.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
$36.72 BTN 3,490
116.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Punakha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 Rp 20.4M
$95.7 BTN 9,098
1075.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$671 Rp 12.2M
$84.8 BTN 8,063
691.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,565 Rp 64.7M
$138 BTN 13.1K
2479.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,723 Rp 31.3M
$120 BTN 11.4K
1330.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,732 Rp 49.5M
$3,125 BTN 297.0K
-12.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,284 Rp 41.4M
$2,890 BTN 274.6K
-20.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Punakha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
$242 BTN 23.0K
-32.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
0
-

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Last update for Punakha: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$672
Punakha
–
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$288
Punakha
–
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$108
Punakha
–
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Punakha
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$104
Punakha
–
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$58
Punakha
–
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$11
Punakha
–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,125 in Ubud, Bali versus $96 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 48% higher in Punakha, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇧🇹 Punakha
🕒 Local time
21:11 9:11 PM
19:11 7:11 PM
2 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
21,500
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BTN, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18,138 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,241 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Bhutanese Ngultrum exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 95.05 BTN (100 BTN = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 106 BTN (1,000 BTN = 9.43 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Punakha 4,860 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Punakha

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 Punakha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Punakha?
Ubud, Bali costs about 902% more than Punakha, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali and in Punakha?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,023 per month in Ubud, Bali and $202 in Punakha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ubud, Bali or Punakha?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Punakha, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $96 there versus $1,125 in Ubud, Bali.
Can you live on $800/month in Ubud, Bali or in Punakha?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Punakha, where all-in costs run around $135, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,349. In Punakha it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ubud, Bali or Punakha?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $135 in Punakha to $1,349 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Punakha?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

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