😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,379 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,239 in Rio Grande.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,363 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,921 in Rio Grande.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,347 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,603 in Rio Grande.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 11% more expensive than in Rio Grande, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 1% above, Rio Grande is 10% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Rio Grande
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.31Rp 58.9K
$18.32$18.32
-81.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.08Rp 694.5K
$81.2$81.2
-51.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.62Rp 99.8K
$9.34$9.34
-39.83%
Cappuccino
$2.64Rp 46.9K
$3.51$3.51
-24.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58Rp 28.2K
$1.70$1.70
-7.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71Rp 12.6K
$1.40$1.40
-49.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.73Rp 48.5K
$3.04$3.04
-10.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32Rp 76.8K
$5.02$5.02
-13.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Rio Grande
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.54Rp 27.4K
$1.22$1.22
26.23%
White Bread(500g)
$2.30Rp 40.8K
$2.93$2.93
-21.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.03Rp 18.3K
$2.35$2.35
-56.17%
Eggs
$2.12Rp 37.7K
$5.56$5.56
-61.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.30Rp 307.5K
$12.33$12.33
40.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.03Rp 71.6K
$9.34$9.34
-56.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.42Rp 220.8K
$13.29$13.29
-6.55%
Apples(1kg)
$3.70Rp 65.7K
$5.05$5.05
-26.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62Rp 28.7K
$2.67$2.67
-39.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27Rp 40.3K
$4.94$4.94
-54.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99Rp 35.4K
$4.67$4.67
-57.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.83Rp 32.5K
$3.87$3.87
-52.71%
Onion(1kg)
$2.25Rp 40.1K
$2.21$2.21
1.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04Rp 18.6K
$1.98$1.98
-47.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56Rp 10.0K
$1.60$1.60
-65.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22Rp 39.5K
$11.94$11.94
-81.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.22Rp 412.7K
$14.77$14.77
57.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39Rp 42.5K
$3.01$3.01
-20.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87Rp 51.1K
$4.06$4.06
-29.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Rio Grande
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25Rp 4,416
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.17Rp 127.4K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.46Rp 8,163
$2.55$2.55
-81.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.46Rp 8,235
$1.52$1.52
-69.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.70Rp 101.2K
$42.23$42.23
-86.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76Rp 13.6K
$1.09$1.09
-30.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6KRp 436.7M
$39.3K$39.3K
-37.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.0KRp 551.5M
$27.8K$27.8K
11.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Rio Grande
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.2Rp 1.5M
$320$320
-74.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.33Rp 112.5K
$76.2$76.2
-91.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.54Rp 329.6K
$69.7$69.7
-73.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Rio Grande
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.1Rp 996.2K
$10.90$10.90
414.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.41Rp 327.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.26Rp 75.8K
$8.01$8.01
-46.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Rio Grande
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$489Rp 8.7M
$892$892
-45.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,793Rp 103.0M
$12.9K$12.9K
-55.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Rio Grande
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.98Rp 817.3K
$57.3$57.3
-19.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.86Rp 637.4K
$24.60$24.60
45.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.5Rp 1.4M
$89.8$89.8
-11.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.9Rp 1.4M
$50.1$50.1
61.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Rio Grande
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,144Rp 20.3M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$692Rp 12.3M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,532Rp 62.8M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,709Rp 30.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,785Rp 49.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,261Rp 40.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Rio Grande
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$169Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
6.55
110.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 15, 2026
Last update for Rio Grande: August 18, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $81.0 in Rio Grande for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $377 per month, with Ubud, Bali 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
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Rio Grande?
Rio Grande wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Rio Grande the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali and in Rio Grande?
You'd need roughly $2,069 in Ubud, Bali and $1,859 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 childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Rio Grande?
Childcare runs $489 in Ubud, Bali versus $892 in Rio Grande. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Rio Grande?
Dining out is cheaper in Rio Grande – a meal for two runs $81.0 versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Rio Grande?
At $1,239 in Rio Grande versus $1,379 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 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.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Rio Grande?
Both work as nomad bases, but Rio Grande delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,239 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Rio Grande hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Rio Grande?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Rio Grande gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% 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