Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Ras al-Khaimah

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,368 a month against $1,840 in Ras al-Khaimah, rent and utilities included – about $5,700 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,368
/mo nomad
Ras al-Khaimah
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
$1,840
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Ras al-Khaimah

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 Ras al-Khaimah actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,840 in Ras al-Khaimah, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,368
  • Ras al-Khaimah $1,840

A couple spends around $2,314 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,803 in Ras al-Khaimah, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,314
  • Ras al-Khaimah $2,803

A family of three spends $3,260 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,767 in Ras al-Khaimah, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,260
  • Ras al-Khaimah $3,767

Ubud, Bali is about 26% cheaper than Ras al-Khaimah, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Ras al-Khaimah sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 1%, Ras al-Khaimah by 36%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Ras al-Khaimah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33 Rp 59.9K
$13.76 AED 50.5
-75.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.18 Rp 633.2K
$40.26 AED 148
-12.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.80 Rp 104.5K
$7.53 AED 27.64
-22.97%
Cappuccino
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$5.51 AED 20.22
-50.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 Rp 29.5K
$1.11 AED 4.08
47.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
$0.48 AED 1.76
72.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.70 Rp 48.6K
$10.16 AED 37.32
-73.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 Rp 77.4K
$9.70 AED 35.63
-55.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Ras al-Khaimah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 Rp 27.1K
$1.63 AED 6.00
-7.98%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 Rp 41.4K
$2.08 AED 7.65
10.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
$1.96 AED 7.20
-39.80%
Eggs
$2.14 Rp 38.6K
$2.35 AED 8.62
-8.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.48 Rp 314.6K
$12.68 AED 46.57
37.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.03 Rp 72.5K
$9.95 AED 36.56
-59.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.23 Rp 220.1K
$15.46 AED 56.8
-20.89%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 Rp 63.9K
$2.01 AED 7.39
76.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$1.67 AED 6.14
-5.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
$1.55 AED 5.69
44.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.93 Rp 34.7K
$1.36 AED 4.98
41.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.88 Rp 33.9K
$0.96 AED 3.54
95.83%
Onion (1kg)
$2.29 Rp 41.3K
$0.87 AED 3.20
163.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 17.9K
$1.74 AED 6.39
-43.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 Rp 9,475
$0.44 AED 1.61
20.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
$6.97 AED 25.61
-67.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.01 Rp 414.2K
$13.58 AED 49.89
69.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 Rp 42.2K
$2.63 AED 9.66
-11.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 Rp 52.4K
$2.88 AED 10.56
1.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Ras al-Khaimah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 Rp 4,315
$2.12 AED 7.80
-88.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.82 Rp 158.7K
$114 AED 419
-92.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,684
$1.69 AED 6.21
-71.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,233
$0.80 AED 2.93
-42.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 Rp 98.2K
$8.16 AED 29.96
-33.21%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 Rp 15.9K
$0.93 AED 3.41
-5.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K Rp 442.2M
$45.8K AED 168.2K
-46.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2K Rp 561.4M
$22.3K AED 82.0K
39.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Ras al-Khaimah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 Rp 1.5M
$121 AED 444
-31.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 116.0K
$44.73 AED 164
-85.58%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.57 Rp 334.2K
$79.4 AED 291
-76.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Ras al-Khaimah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.8 Rp 1.0M
$57.9 AED 213
-3.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.11 Rp 326.0K
$40.22 AED 148
-54.97%
Cinema Ticket
$4.38 Rp 78.9K
$12.72 AED 46.70
-65.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Ras al-Khaimah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$493 Rp 8.9M
$299 AED 1,099
64.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,754 Rp 103.6M
$4,462 AED 16.4K
28.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Ras al-Khaimah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.19 Rp 831.4K
$80.6 AED 296
-42.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.33 Rp 636.0K
$53.1 AED 195
-33.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$119 AED 438
-33.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$117 AED 430
-33.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Ras al-Khaimah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,142 Rp 20.6M
$767 AED 2,819
48.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$676 Rp 12.2M
$657 AED 2,413
2.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,503 Rp 63.1M
$1,660 AED 6,095
111.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,700 Rp 30.6M
$1,243 AED 4,563
36.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 Rp 50.1M
$5,007 AED 18.4K
-44.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
$1,962 AED 7,207
14.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Ras al-Khaimah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$1,577 AED 5,791
-89.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
4.92
180.08%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 11, 2026

Last update for Ras al-Khaimah: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$676
Ras al-Khaimah
$657 2.8% $19
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$290
Ras al-Khaimah
$285 2% $5.8
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$109
Ras al-Khaimah
$275 153% $167
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$108
Ras al-Khaimah
$245 127% $137
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Ras al-Khaimah
$167 54.9% $59
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$65
Ras al-Khaimah
$83 29% $19
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$13
Ras al-Khaimah
$128 923% $116

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,142 in Ubud, Bali versus $767 in Ras al-Khaimah. 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 858% higher in Ras al-Khaimah, 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 $35.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $40.00 in Ras al-Khaimah. Groceries tell a different story – $290 in Ubud, Bali vs $285 in Ras al-Khaimah – so Ras al-Khaimah wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇦🇪 Ras al-Khaimah
🕒 Local time
15:22 3:22 PM
11:22 11:22 AM
4 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
241,000
💱 Currency
UAE Dirham AED د.إ
Exchange rates and currency converter

AED, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

UAE Dirham exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3.67 AED (1 AED = 0.272 USD). 1 EUR = 4.13 AED (1 AED = 0.242 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Ras al-Khaimah 7,450 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Ras al-Khaimah

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 Ras al-Khaimah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ras al-Khaimah cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Ras al-Khaimah is pricier by about 35%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,051 per month in Ubud, Bali and $2,760 in Ras al-Khaimah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Ras al-Khaimah?
Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Ras al-Khaimah – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or in Ras al-Khaimah?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali and $40.00 in Ras al-Khaimah. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Ras al-Khaimah?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,368, than in Ras al-Khaimah at $1,840. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ras al-Khaimah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ubud, Bali or Ras al-Khaimah more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ubud, Bali – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Ras al-Khaimah?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ras al-Khaimah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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