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 $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,379 in Riffa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,056 in Riffa, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,733 in Riffa, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 4% more than Riffa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ubud, Bali and Riffa sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 7%, Riffa by 3%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 61.9K

$6.53 BHD 2.45

-45.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

$46.83 BHD 17.61

-30.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

$5.84 BHD 2.19

-13.18%

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

$1.94 BHD 0.73

45.88%

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

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

$0.62 BHD 0.23

116.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

$0.26 BHD 0.10

165.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

$7.83 BHD 2.94

-61.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

$10.69 BHD 4.02

-63.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

$1.32 BHD 0.50

31.82%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

$1.35 BHD 0.51

88.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$2.40 BHD 0.90

-50.42%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

$2.16 BHD 0.81

12.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

$8.73 BHD 3.28

67.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

$7.02 BHD 2.64

-40.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

$10.12 BHD 3.80

17.98%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

$2.37 BHD 0.89

55.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

$1.91 BHD 0.72

-15.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

$1.77 BHD 0.66

51.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

$1.23 BHD 0.46

89.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

$0.87 BHD 0.33

119.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

$1.04 BHD 0.39

110.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

$1.51 BHD 0.57

-29.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

$0.54 BHD 0.20

33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

$6.52 BHD 2.45

-51.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

$13.18 BHD 4.95

78.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

$3.33 BHD 1.25

-17.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

$3.15 BHD 1.19

-8.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,029

$0.78 BHD 0.29

-62.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

$32.06 BHD 12.06

-74.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,863

$4.77 BHD 1.79

-90.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,305

$3.87 BHD 1.45

-89.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

$26.01 BHD 9.78

-76.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

$0.38 BHD 0.14

121.05%

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

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

$26.6K BHD 10.0K

-1.52%

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

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

$20.5K BHD 7,722

58.14%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$120 BHD 45.26

-34.85%

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

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

$26.25 BHD 9.87

-84.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

$39.19 BHD 14.73

-37.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

$80.7 BHD 30.36

19.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

$8.07 BHD 3.03

-49.94%

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

$395 BHD 149

-23.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

$6,638 BHD 2,496

-1.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

$40.23 BHD 15.13

33.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

$63.5 BHD 23.89

-40.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

$66.1 BHD 24.87

31.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$39.76 BHD 14.95

98.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

$1,173 BHD 441

-13.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.7M

$535 BHD 201

26.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

$2,125 BHD 799

59.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

$937 BHD 352

123.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

$1,410 BHD 530

-87.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

165.60%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Last update for Riffa: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,173 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 714% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $47.00 in Riffa. Groceries tell a different story – $298 in Ubud, Bali vs $240 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 4%, 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 $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $2,068 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 $1,438 in Ubud, Bali and $1,379 in Riffa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 292% 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 $1,379, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. 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.