Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Raleigh, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Raleigh, NC

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,850 in Raleigh, NC, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,128 in Raleigh, NC, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $5,406 in Raleigh, NC, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 51% cheaper than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Raleigh, NC sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 4%, Raleigh, NC by 112%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

$19.36 $19.36

-81.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

$75.5 $75.5

-56.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

$10.15 $10.15

-52.12%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

$5.31 $5.31

-48.21%

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

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

$2.34 $2.34

-43.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$1.98 $1.98

-64.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

$5.53 $5.53

-47.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

$5.83 $5.83

-34.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

$0.86 $0.86

98.84%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

$4.08 $4.08

-39.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$3.16 $3.16

-62.03%

Eggs

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

$4.71 $4.71

-48.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

$13.60 $13.60

5.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

$11.55 $11.55

-62.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

$16.44 $16.44

-25.73%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

$6.73 $6.73

-45.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

$1.46 $1.46

6.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

$5.58 $5.58

-50.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

$6.09 $6.09

-61.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

$3.66 $3.66

-46.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

$4.09 $4.09

-43.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$2.25 $2.25

-52.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$2.24 $2.24

-67.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

$7.68 $7.68

-57.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

$14.77 $14.77

54.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

$2.02 $2.02

39.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$3.04 $3.04

-8.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

$2.05 $2.05

-85.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

$45.71 $45.71

-82.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,047

$2.57 $2.57

-82.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

$1.69 $1.69

-73.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

$15.13 $15.13

-58.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

$0.80 $0.80

6.25%

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

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

$29.5K $29.5K

-11.96%

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

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

$26.1K $26.1K

21.45%

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

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

$187 $187

-56.72%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

$63.8 $63.8

-93.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

$72.2 $72.2

-66.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

$40.04 $40.04

143.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

$34.03 $34.03

-81.05%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

$14.86 $14.86

-72.81%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$1,492 $1,492

-79.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

$24.1K $24.1K

-72.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

$52.3 $52.3

3.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

$48.35 $48.35

-19.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$101 $101

-14.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

$137 $137

-44.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

$1,792 $1,792

-45.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.8M

$1,573 $1,573

-58.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

$3,003 $3,003

12.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

$2,419 $2,419

-14.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

$3,872 $3,872

-29.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

$2,199 $2,199

1.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

$4,384 $4,384

-96.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

6.53

103.37%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Last update for Raleigh, NC: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,792 in Raleigh, NC. 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 2583% higher in Raleigh, NC, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $75.0 in Raleigh, NC. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $425 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Raleigh, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Raleigh, NC costs about 103% more than Ubud, Bali, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $4,275 in Raleigh, NC. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 467% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,492 in Raleigh, NC. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,404, than in Raleigh, NC at $2,850. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Raleigh, NC it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,404 versus $2,850 in Raleigh, NC. 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 Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Raleigh, NC makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.