Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Rio Grande Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Rio Grande

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $754 in Rio Grande.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,582 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,175 in Rio Grande.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,757 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,597 in Rio Grande.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 87% more expensive than Rio Grande, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Rio Grande is 44% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Rio Grande
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.42 Rp 58.7K
$6.15 R$30.59
-44.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96 Rp 566.5K
$23.25 R$116
41.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.08 Rp 87.3K
$6.22 R$30.90
-18.33%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 48.5K
$1.28 R$6.36
120.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 Rp 23.5K
$1.10 R$5.48
24.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 Rp 12.2K
$0.70 R$3.47
1.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.97 Rp 51.0K
$2.18 R$10.85
36.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 Rp 67.2K
$3.54 R$17.59
10.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Rio Grande
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.75 Rp 30.0K
$0.90 R$4.48
94.44%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 43.2K
$1.40 R$6.95
80.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 Rp 20.8K
$1.05 R$5.21
15.24%
Eggs
$2.33 Rp 40.1K
$1.77 R$8.78
31.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 Rp 249.2K
$3.62 R$18.01
300.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.36 Rp 74.9K
$4.48 R$22.27
-2.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.05 Rp 207.0K
$9.69 R$48.17
24.36%
Apples (1kg)
$3.82 Rp 65.6K
$2.08 R$10.33
83.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.7K
$1.31 R$6.51
22.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.70 Rp 46.5K
$1.34 R$6.65
101.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 38.3K
$0.57 R$2.81
291.23%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 32.6K
$1.06 R$5.28
79.25%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 Rp 37.5K
$0.65 R$3.21
235.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 Rp 17.7K
$0.38 R$1.87
171.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 Rp 13.3K
$0.57 R$2.82
35.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.18 Rp 54.7K
$1.91 R$9.47
66.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.23 Rp 399.2K
$7.84 R$38.99
196.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.85 Rp 48.9K
$1.02 R$5.07
179.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 Rp 46.7K
$1.87 R$9.28
45.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Rio Grande
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,022
$0.88 R$4.35
-67.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.43 Rp 144.8K
$37.82 R$188
-77.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.49 Rp 8,344
$1.64 R$8.14
-70.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 7,812
$1.04 R$5.17
-56.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.28 Rp 107.8K
$5.29 R$26.29
18.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 14.6K
$1.09 R$5.43
-22.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 447.8M
$24.7K R$122.7K
5.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5K Rp 541.8M
$27.5K R$136.8K
14.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Rio Grande
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.8 Rp 1.4M
$59.7 R$297
33.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09 Rp 70.3K
$7.89 R$39.21
-48.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.06 Rp 413.6K
$19.75 R$98.2
21.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Rio Grande
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.2 Rp 1.7M
$22.67 R$113
324.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.53 Rp 112.2K
$21.69 R$108
-69.89%
Cinema Ticket
$4.13 Rp 71.1K
$2.68 R$13.34
54.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Rio Grande
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$297 Rp 5.1M
$307 R$1,527
-3.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,661 Rp 114.5M
$7,125 R$35.4K
-6.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Rio Grande
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.0 Rp 944.5K
$28.35 R$141
93.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.75 Rp 666.0K
$36.44 R$181
6.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.6 Rp 1.5M
$73.3 R$364
22.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
$62.2 R$309
26.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Rio Grande
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,018 Rp 17.5M
$313 R$1,555
225.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$660 Rp 11.3M
$217 R$1,078
204.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,435 Rp 59.0M
$588 R$2,921
484.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,053 Rp 35.3M
$434 R$2,156
373.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,981 Rp 51.2M
$1,879 R$9,340
58.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,368 Rp 40.7M
$1,240 R$6,163
90.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Rio Grande
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$172 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
10
32.80%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 21, 2026

Last update for Rio Grande: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,018 in Ubud, Bali and $313 in Rio Grande. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $33 in Ubud, Bali vs $23 in Rio Grande for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $299 vs $160 per month, with Rio Grande 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 Rio Grande: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and Rio Grande?
Ubud, Bali and Rio Grande differ by about 87% in total monthly costs ($1,408 vs $754 including rent). Rio Grande is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Ubud, Bali compared to Rio Grande?
You'd need roughly $2,112 in Ubud, Bali and $1,131 in Rio Grande to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and Rio Grande?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,018 in Ubud, Bali versus $313 in Rio Grande. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Ubud, Bali and Rio Grande?
A monthly transit pass in Rio Grande runs roughly 349% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ubud, Bali and Rio Grande?
Childcare runs $297 in Ubud, Bali versus $307 in Rio Grande. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $754 in Rio Grande versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Rio Grande but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Rio Grande the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Rio Grande?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ubud, Bali or Rio Grande safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Rio Grande 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 Rio Grande?
Expats usually find Rio Grande gentler on the wallet – expenses run 87% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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