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: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $748 in Rio Grande.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,540 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,191 in Rio Grande.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,634 in Rio Grande.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 90% more expensive than Rio Grande, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 6% above, Rio Grande is 44% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Rio Grande
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56 Rp 64.3K
$6.43 R$33.11
-44.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73 Rp 590.3K
$23.28 R$120
40.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 Rp 89.3K
$6.32 R$32.55
-21.68%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 48.9K
$1.23 R$6.34
120.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 24.2K
$1.05 R$5.41
27.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
$0.68 R$3.53
2.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 Rp 52.7K
$2.13 R$10.99
37.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 Rp 71.4K
$3.65 R$18.81
8.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Rio Grande
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 Rp 32.6K
$0.90 R$4.64
101.11%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 45.4K
$1.44 R$7.43
75.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 Rp 20.9K
$1.06 R$5.43
9.43%
Eggs
$2.46 Rp 44.4K
$1.82 R$9.37
35.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.71 Rp 265.3K
$3.52 R$18.13
317.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 Rp 77.9K
$4.63 R$23.86
-6.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.14 Rp 218.9K
$9.53 R$49.09
27.39%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 Rp 69.3K
$2.00 R$10.32
92.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 28.1K
$1.32 R$6.82
18.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 51.1K
$1.33 R$6.84
112.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.9K
$0.52 R$2.70
348.08%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.5K
$1.10 R$5.68
73.64%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 Rp 39.7K
$0.60 R$3.11
266.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 18.3K
$0.35 R$1.78
188.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 14.0K
$0.56 R$2.89
39.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 Rp 59.8K
$1.96 R$10.08
69.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.74 Rp 428.1K
$8.07 R$41.55
194.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 50.3K
$0.98 R$5.03
184.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 51.6K
$1.89 R$9.75
51.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Rio Grande
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,848
$0.86 R$4.41
-68.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.03 Rp 144.8K
$38.94 R$201
-79.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,231
$1.67 R$8.59
-72.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,117
$1.04 R$5.38
-56.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 Rp 109.9K
$5.26 R$27.10
15.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 14.3K
$1.10 R$5.65
-28.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 471.6M
$24.7K R$127.2K
5.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 579.3M
$27.7K R$142.5K
16.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Rio Grande
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$59.4 R$306
34.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 73.3K
$7.97 R$41.06
-49.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 Rp 424.2K
$20.14 R$104
16.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Rio Grande
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
$22.64 R$117
335.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 Rp 119.6K
$21.31 R$110
-68.89%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15 Rp 74.8K
$2.67 R$13.77
55.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Rio Grande
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.5M
$309 R$1,591
-1.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,613 Rp 119.3M
$7,256 R$37.4K
-8.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Rio Grande
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 Rp 1.0M
$28.39 R$146
95.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31 Rp 690.9K
$36.33 R$187
5.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
$71.7 R$369
23.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$63.8 R$329
22.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Rio Grande
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 Rp 18.2M
$315 R$1,624
219.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$675 Rp 12.2M
$219 R$1,131
207.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,442 Rp 62.1M
$588 R$3,028
485.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 Rp 36.8M
$430 R$2,215
374.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,841 Rp 51.2M
$1,453 R$7,484
95.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,264 Rp 40.8M
$1,051 R$5,413
115.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Rio Grande
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Rio Grande: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali and $315 in Rio Grande. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $23.00 in Rio Grande for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $302 vs $161 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 90% in total monthly costs ($1,419 vs $748 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 $2,129 in Ubud, Bali and $1,122 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: $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $315 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 385% 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 $304 in Ubud, Bali versus $309 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 $748 in Rio Grande versus $1,419 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 90% 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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