๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $352 in Ratlam.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,582 in Ubud, Bali versus $522 in Ratlam.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,757 in Ubud, Bali versus $691 in Ratlam.
๐Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 300% more expensive than Ratlam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Ratlam is 74% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Ratlam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.42Rpย 58.7K
$1.96โน184
74.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96Rpย 566.5K
$6.80โน638
384.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.08Rpย 87.3K
$2.95โน277
72.20%
Cappuccino
$2.82Rpย 48.5K
$1.58โน148
78.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37Rpย 23.5K
$0.36โน33.99
280.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71Rpย 12.2K
$0.13โน12.42
446.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.97Rpย 51.0K
$2.19โน206
35.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91Rpย 67.2K
$5.30โน497
-26.23%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Ratlam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75Rpย 30.0K
$0.62โน58.2
182.26%
White Bread(500g)
$2.52Rpย 43.2K
$0.48โน45.09
425.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.21Rpย 20.8K
$0.72โน67.5
68.06%
Eggs
$2.33Rpย 40.1K
$0.82โน77.0
184.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.50Rpย 249.2K
$4.90โน460
195.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.36Rpย 74.9K
$2.31โน217
88.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.05Rpย 207.0K
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.82Rpย 65.6K
$2.36โน222
61.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61Rpย 27.7K
$0.45โน42.39
257.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.70Rpย 46.5K
$1.01โน94.8
167.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23Rpย 38.3K
$0.80โน74.9
178.75%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90Rpย 32.6K
$0.16โน14.95
1087.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18Rpย 37.5K
$0.22โน20.51
890.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03Rpย 17.7K
$0.50โน46.76
106.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77Rpย 13.3K
$0.34โน31.71
126.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.18Rpย 54.7K
$3.57โน335
-10.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.23Rpย 399.2K
$5.19โน487
347.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.85Rpย 48.9K
$1.61โน151
77.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72Rpย 46.7K
$2.24โน210
21.43%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.64โน530
-
๐ Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Ratlam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rpย 5,022
$0.28โน26.01
3.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.43Rpย 144.8K
$8.62โน809
-2.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.49Rpย 8,344
$0.70โน65.9
-30.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45Rpย 7,812
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.28Rpย 107.8K
$1.49โน140
321.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85Rpย 14.6K
$1.18โน111
-27.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1KRpย 447.8M
$15.3Kโน1.4M
69.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5KRpย 541.8M
$19.9Kโน1.9M
58.07%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Ratlam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.8Rpย 1.4M
$28.76โน2,700
177.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09Rpย 70.3K
$3.96โน371
3.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.06Rpย 413.6K
$5.89โน553
308.49%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Ratlam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$96.2Rpย 1.7M
$5.91โน555
1527.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.53Rpย 112.2K
$6.90โน648
-5.36%
Cinema Ticket
$4.13Rpย 71.1K
$3.42โน321
20.76%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Ratlam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$297Rpย 5.1M
$62.3โน5,849
376.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,661Rpย 114.5M
$1,092โน102.5K
509.95%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Ratlam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.0Rpย 944.5K
$7.91โน743
594.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.75Rpย 666.0K
$9.39โน881
312.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.6Rpย 1.5M
$17.64โน1,656
407.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9Rpย 1.4M
$29.04โน2,726
171.69%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Ratlam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,018Rpย 17.5M
$136โน12.7K
650.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$660Rpย 11.3M
$92.2โน8,655
615.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,435Rpย 59.0M
$175โน16.4K
1868.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,053Rpย 35.3M
$144โน13.5K
1330.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,981Rpย 51.2M
$969โน91.0K
207.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,368Rpย 40.7M
$517โน48.5K
358.32%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Ratlam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$172Rpย 3.0M
$401โน37.6K
-57.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
9.1
45.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 21, 2026
Last update for Ratlam: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,018 in Ubud, Bali and $136 in Ratlam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐRatlam pays 133% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
๐Dining out: $33 in Ubud, Bali vs $7 in Ratlam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $299 vs $96 per month, with Ratlam cheaper across the board.
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 Ratlam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and Ratlam?
Ubud, Bali and Ratlam differ by about 300% in total monthly costs ($1,408 vs $352 including rent). Ratlam is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Ratlam earns 133% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and Ratlam?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,018 in Ubud, Bali versus $136 in Ratlam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Ratlam?
All in, you'll spend $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $352 in Ratlam โ a 300% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Ubud, Bali and Ratlam?
A monthly transit pass in Ratlam runs roughly 2% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $352 in Ratlam versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ratlam but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Ratlam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Ratlam?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ubud, Bali or Ratlam safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Ratlam are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ubud, Bali or Ratlam?
Expats usually find Ratlam gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 300% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared