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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,449 in Rethymno, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,232 in Rethymno, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,015 in Rethymno, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 2% cheaper than Rethymno, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Rethymno sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 6%, Rethymno by 8%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Rethymno
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
$13.81 €11.88
-74.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
$46.46 €39.96
-29.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
$11.43 €9.83
-56.69%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
$3.39 €2.91
-20.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
$1.76 €1.51
-23.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
$0.47 €0.40
48.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
$5.96 €5.13
-51.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
$5.90 €5.08
-32.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Rethymno
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
$1.89 €1.63
-4.23%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
$1.44 €1.24
75.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
$2.66 €2.29
-56.39%
Eggs
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
$4.25 €3.66
-42.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
$16.85 €14.49
-12.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
$11.63 €10.01
-62.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
$14.64 €12.59
-17.08%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
$2.25 €1.94
70.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
$2.19 €1.88
-28.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
$1.49 €1.28
89.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
$1.87 €1.61
24.60%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
$0.77 €0.66
148.05%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
$1.55 €1.33
41.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
$0.93 €0.80
8.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
$0.37 €0.31
110.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
$5.16 €4.44
-35.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
$6.87 €5.91
245.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
$1.88 €1.62
48.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
$3.42 €2.94
-16.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Rethymno
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,800
$1.59 €1.37
-83.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
$45.98 €39.55
-82.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,150
$4.73 €4.07
-90.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,037
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
$11.46 €9.86
-46.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$2.10 €1.81
-62.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
$34.2K €29.4K
-23.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
$26.0K €22.4K
23.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Rethymno
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$158 €136
-49.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
$19.69 €16.93
-79.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
$33.21 €28.56
-29.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Rethymno
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
$47.65 €40.99
107.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
$7.99 €6.87
-48.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Rethymno
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$384 €331
-20.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
$4,208 €3,619
57.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Rethymno
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
$99.5 €85.6
-44.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
$45.67 €39.29
-16.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
$87.5 €75.3
1.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$136 €117
-42.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Rethymno
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
$583 €501
72.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$675 Rp 12.1M
$441 €379
53.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
$968 €833
255.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
$765 €658
166.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
$4,050 €3,483
-29.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
$2,923 €2,514
-22.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Rethymno
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$1,165 €1,002
-85.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
4.3
208.84%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Rethymno: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $583 in Rethymno. 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 605% higher in Rethymno, 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 $46.00 in Rethymno. Groceries tell a different story – $302 in Ubud, Bali vs $297 in Rethymno – so Rethymno 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 Rethymno: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rethymno cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Rethymno is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $2,174 in Rethymno. 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 Rethymno?
Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Rethymno – 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 Rethymno?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $46.00 in Rethymno. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Rethymno?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,419, than in Rethymno at $1,449. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rethymno it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ubud, Bali or Rethymno 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 Rethymno?
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, Rethymno makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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