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