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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,240 in Riffa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,920 in Riffa, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,600 in Riffa, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 10% more than Riffa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Riffa is 9% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 Rp 60.9K

$6.57 BHD 2.47

-47.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.31 Rp 643.0K

$40.07 BHD 15.10

-9.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 Rp 101.0K

$6.10 BHD 2.30

-6.39%

Cappuccino

$2.67 Rp 47.3K

$3.92 BHD 1.48

-31.89%

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

$1.75 Rp 31.0K

$0.63 BHD 0.24

177.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 Rp 15.4K

$0.26 BHD 0.10

234.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.3K

$6.75 BHD 2.54

-56.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 Rp 80.0K

$8.08 BHD 3.05

-44.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$1.46 BHD 0.55

10.96%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$0.68 BHD 0.26

242.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 Rp 19.6K

$1.89 BHD 0.71

-41.27%

Eggs

$2.20 Rp 39.0K

$2.26 BHD 0.85

-2.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.69 Rp 313.3K

$7.92 BHD 2.98

123.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 Rp 72.5K

$5.96 BHD 2.25

-31.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 215.6K

$8.66 BHD 3.27

40.65%

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 Rp 65.6K

$2.33 BHD 0.88

59.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.1K

$1.69 BHD 0.64

-5.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.4K

$1.85 BHD 0.70

23.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 Rp 34.6K

$1.03 BHD 0.39

89.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.7K

$1.01 BHD 0.38

89.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$0.68 BHD 0.26

242.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 17.8K

$0.51 BHD 0.19

98.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,773

$0.51 BHD 0.19

7.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 Rp 39.5K

$5.18 BHD 1.95

-56.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.07 Rp 408.6K

$13.16 BHD 4.96

75.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 Rp 42.8K

$1.83 BHD 0.69

32.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.1K

$2.60 BHD 0.98

15.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,814

$0.81 BHD 0.31

-66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.98 Rp 159.1K

$35.93 BHD 13.54

-75.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,566

$5.33 BHD 2.01

-90.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,679

$3.47 BHD 1.31

-87.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.64 Rp 99.9K

$10.65 BHD 4.01

-47.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

$0.47 BHD 0.18

70.21%

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

$24.9K Rp 441.7M

$22.4K BHD 8,451

11.25%

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

$31.7K Rp 561.5M

$20.8K BHD 7,857

52.11%

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

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

$131 BHD 49.33

-37.76%

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

$6.49 Rp 115.0K

$24.04 BHD 9.06

-73.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.77 Rp 332.4K

$35.17 BHD 13.25

-46.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

$72.9 BHD 27.48

-21.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 Rp 331.7K

$13.08 BHD 4.93

43.20%

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 Rp 80.4K

$10.48 BHD 3.95

-56.68%

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

$481 Rp 8.5M

$481 BHD 181

-0.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,711 Rp 101.1M

$5,745 BHD 2,165

-0.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.52 Rp 806.0K

$29.48 BHD 11.11

54.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 Rp 635.4K

$21.48 BHD 8.10

67.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$66.4 BHD 25.02

21.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

$39.07 BHD 14.72

101.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 Rp 19.7M

$910 BHD 343

22.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$698 Rp 12.4M

$424 BHD 160

64.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,637 Rp 64.4M

$1,519 BHD 572

139.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

$852 BHD 321

104.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 Rp 3.0M

$1,412 BHD 532

-88.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

5.5

150.55%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Riffa: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $910 in Riffa. 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 741% higher in Riffa, 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $40.00 in Riffa. Groceries tell a different story – $295 in Ubud, Bali vs $205 in Riffa – so Riffa 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 Riffa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 10%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,052 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,860 in Riffa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,368 in Ubud, Bali and $1,240 in Riffa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 300% less in Riffa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Riffa, where all-in costs run around $1,240, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. In Riffa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Riffa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Riffa. 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.