Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Retford Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Retford

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,396 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,159 in Retford, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,360 in Retford, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,273 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,560 in Retford, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 20% more than Retford, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Ubud, Bali sits 2% above the global median, while Retford is 16% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Retford
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.37 Rp 59.5K
$15.17 £11.22
-77.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.59 Rp 680.3K
$66.7 £49.37
-42.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.52 Rp 97.3K
$7.35 £5.44
-24.90%
Cappuccino
$2.64 Rp 46.6K
$4.11 £3.04
-35.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 Rp 29.5K
$1.82 £1.35
-8.24%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 Rp 13.6K
$1.84 £1.36
-58.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.63 Rp 46.4K
$4.38 £3.24
-39.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28 Rp 75.5K
$4.32 £3.20
-0.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Retford
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 Rp 27.3K
$1.84 £1.36
-15.76%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 Rp 39.2K
$1.92 £1.42
15.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 Rp 19.8K
$1.40 £1.03
-19.29%
Eggs
$2.09 Rp 36.8K
$4.86 £3.59
-57.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.39 Rp 306.7K
$11.40 £8.43
52.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.87 Rp 68.2K
$4.19 £3.10
-7.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.55 Rp 221.3K
$12.76 £9.44
-1.65%
Apples (1kg)
$3.62 Rp 63.8K
$1.38 £1.02
162.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.5K
$1.37 £1.01
13.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.35 Rp 41.5K
$1.35 £1.00
74.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 Rp 36.2K
$1.73 £1.28
19.08%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 33.5K
$1.46 £1.08
30.14%
Onion (1kg)
$2.34 Rp 41.2K
$1.56 £1.15
50.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 Rp 18.2K
$0.42 £0.31
145.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 9,780
$1.60 £1.19
-65.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25 Rp 39.7K
$23.60 £17.46
-90.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.81 Rp 419.7K
$7.96 £5.89
199.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31 Rp 40.8K
$1.72 £1.27
34.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 Rp 49.4K
$2.09 £1.54
33.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Retford
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,802
$2.76 £2.04
-90.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.66 Rp 152.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,489
$13.64 £10.09
-96.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 7,864
$3.99 £2.95
-88.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.72 Rp 100.8K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 Rp 13.4K
$2.07 £1.53
-63.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5K Rp 431.7M
$40.4K £29.9K
-39.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 566.3M
$44.4K £32.9K
-27.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Retford
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.6 Rp 1.5M
$353 £261
-76.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.46 Rp 113.8K
$28.89 £21.38
-77.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.99 Rp 334.9K
$47.34 £35.02
-59.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Retford
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.0 Rp 986.9K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.62 Rp 328.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.28 Rp 75.5K
$16.50 £12.21
-74.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Retford
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$487 Rp 8.6M
$1,986 £1,469
-75.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,856 Rp 103.2M
$24.6K £18.2K
-76.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Retford
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.56 Rp 803.2K
$87.5 £64.7
-47.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.38 Rp 641.4K
$61.4 £45.46
-40.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.0 Rp 1.4M
$112 £83.0
-26.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
$160 £118
-49.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Retford
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,117 Rp 19.7M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$701 Rp 12.4M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,537 Rp 62.4M
$1,146 £847
208.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,762 Rp 31.1M
$1,100 £814
60.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,826 Rp 49.8M
$2,197 £1,626
28.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,292 Rp 40.4M
$2,039 £1,508
12.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Retford
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$170 Rp 3.0M
$1,746 £1,292
-90.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
5.3
160.00%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Last update for Retford: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 928% higher in Retford, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $67.0 in Retford. Groceries tell a different story – $293 in Ubud, Bali vs $242 in Retford – so Retford wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Retford: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Ubud, Bali and in Retford compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, $1,159 in Retford – roughly 20% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Ubud, Bali compared to Retford?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,095 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,739 in Retford. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Retford?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,396 in Ubud, Bali and $1,159 in Retford. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ubud, Bali and Retford?
Kindergarten costs $487 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,986 in Retford. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Retford, where all-in costs run around $1,159, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. In Retford it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Retford?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,159 in Retford to $1,396 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Ubud, Bali or Retford safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Ubud, Bali and Retford?
If budget matters most, go with Retford. 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.

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