Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Rishikesh Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Rishikesh

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $440 in Rishikesh, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $689 in Rishikesh, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $938 in Rishikesh, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 222% more than Rishikesh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Rishikesh is 67% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Rishikesh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56 Rp 63.9K
$3.44 ₹329
3.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73 Rp 586.8K
$9.75 ₹933
235.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 Rp 88.7K
$2.95 ₹283
67.80%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 48.6K
$2.15 ₹205
26.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 24.1K
$0.41 ₹38.94
226.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
$0.19 ₹17.71
268.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 Rp 52.3K
$2.09 ₹200
39.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 Rp 70.9K
$2.38 ₹228
66.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Rishikesh
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 Rp 32.4K
$0.70 ₹66.7
158.57%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 45.1K
$0.30 ₹29.04
740.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 Rp 20.8K
$0.88 ₹84.1
31.82%
Eggs
$2.46 Rp 44.1K
$1.02 ₹98.1
141.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.71 Rp 263.7K
$6.19 ₹592
137.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 Rp 77.4K
$3.41 ₹326
26.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.14 Rp 217.5K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 Rp 68.8K
$2.08 ₹199
84.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.9K
$0.82 ₹78.6
90.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 50.8K
$1.02 ₹97.4
177.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.7K
$0.63 ₹59.9
269.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
$0.37 ₹35.26
416.22%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 Rp 39.5K
$0.34 ₹32.13
547.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 18.2K
$0.70 ₹66.5
44.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 13.9K
$0.33 ₹31.92
136.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 Rp 59.4K
$2.27 ₹218
46.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.74 Rp 425.5K
$9.36 ₹896
153.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 50.0K
$1.77 ₹169
57.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 51.3K
$2.75 ₹264
4.00%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$6.79 ₹650
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Rishikesh
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,819
$0.30 ₹29.12
-10.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.03 Rp 143.9K
$23.03 ₹2,204
-65.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,181
$1.19 ₹114
-61.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,068
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 Rp 109.3K
$2.36 ₹226
158.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$1.21 ₹115
-34.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 468.8M
$19.1K ₹1.8M
37.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 575.8M
$27.5K ₹2.6M
16.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Rishikesh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$53.1 ₹5,077
50.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.9K
$3.77 ₹361
7.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 Rp 421.6K
$8.81 ₹843
166.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Rishikesh
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
$12.67 ₹1,213
679.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 Rp 118.8K
$6.82 ₹653
-2.79%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15 Rp 74.3K
$4.63 ₹443
-10.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Rishikesh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$90.4 ₹8,649
236.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,613 Rp 118.5M
$1,690 ₹161.7K
291.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Rishikesh
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 Rp 995.6K
$23.22 ₹2,222
139.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31 Rp 686.7K
$23.43 ₹2,242
63.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
$58.3 ₹5,576
52.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$34.92 ₹3,342
123.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Rishikesh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
$57.0 ₹5,458
1664.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$675 Rp 12.1M
$75.8 ₹7,253
791.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,442 Rp 61.7M
$279 ₹26.7K
1133.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 Rp 36.6M
$182 ₹17.4K
1021.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,841 Rp 50.9M
$1,167 ₹111.7K
143.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,264 Rp 40.6M
$920 ₹88.0K
146.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Rishikesh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$205 ₹19.6K
-19.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
7.25
83.17%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Rishikesh: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $57.0 in Rishikesh. 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 24% higher in Rishikesh, 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 $10.00 in Rishikesh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $117 – making Rishikesh the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Rishikesh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Rishikesh?
Ubud, Bali costs about 222% more than Rishikesh, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali vs Rishikesh?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $661 in Rishikesh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ubud, Bali or Rishikesh?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Rishikesh, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Rishikesh?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali and $440 in Rishikesh. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Ubud, Bali vs Rishikesh?
Public transport costs about 187% less in Rishikesh. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or Rishikesh?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Rishikesh, where all-in costs run around $440, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Rishikesh it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Rishikesh?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Rishikesh costs $440 versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Rishikesh?
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.
Should I move to Ubud, Bali or Rishikesh?
If budget matters most, go with Rishikesh. 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.

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