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 $1,396 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $406 in Rishikesh, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $626 in Rishikesh, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,273 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $846 in Rishikesh, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 244% more than Rishikesh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 2% above the global median, while Rishikesh is 70% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.37 Rp 59.5K

$3.08 ₹291

9.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.59 Rp 680.3K

$10.75 ₹1,015

258.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.52 Rp 97.3K

$3.76 ₹355

46.81%

Cappuccino

$2.64 Rp 46.6K

$1.48 ₹140

78.38%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 Rp 29.5K

$0.39 ₹36.49

328.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

$0.17 ₹16.18

352.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.63 Rp 46.4K

$2.07 ₹196

27.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.28 Rp 75.5K

$3.09 ₹292

38.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 Rp 27.3K

$0.58 ₹55.1

167.24%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 Rp 39.2K

$0.27 ₹25.57

722.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 Rp 19.8K

$0.80 ₹75.1

41.25%

Eggs

$2.09 Rp 36.8K

$0.93 ₹88.3

124.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 Rp 306.6K

$4.23 ₹399

311.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.87 Rp 68.2K

$3.41 ₹323

13.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.55 Rp 221.2K

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.8K

$1.97 ₹186

83.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.5K

$0.80 ₹75.3

95.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 Rp 41.5K

$1.04 ₹98.4

125.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 Rp 36.2K

$0.53 ₹50.5

288.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 33.5K

$0.28 ₹26.06

578.57%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

$0.33 ₹31.33

609.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 Rp 18.2K

$0.45 ₹42.90

128.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,779

$0.31 ₹29.68

77.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 Rp 39.7K

$2.13 ₹201

5.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.81 Rp 419.7K

$8.22 ₹777

189.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 Rp 40.8K

$1.59 ₹150

45.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 Rp 49.4K

$2.63 ₹249

6.46%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$6.39 ₹604

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,802

$0.24 ₹22.71

12.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.66 Rp 152.7K

$7.09 ₹670

22.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,489

$0.97 ₹92.0

-50.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 7,863

$0.25 ₹23.43

80.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.72 Rp 100.8K

$1.61 ₹152

255.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

$1.05 ₹99.6

-27.62%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.5K Rp 431.6M

$11.5K ₹1.1M

113.08%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.1K Rp 566.3M

$19.2K ₹1.8M

66.94%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

$41.57 ₹3,928

100.99%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.46 Rp 113.8K

$3.37 ₹318

91.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.99 Rp 334.8K

$6.93 ₹655

174.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 Rp 986.8K

$11.40 ₹1,077

390.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.62 Rp 328.2K

$7.28 ₹688

155.77%

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 Rp 75.5K

$5.31 ₹502

-19.40%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$487 Rp 8.6M

$93.3 ₹8,815

421.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,856 Rp 103.2M

$2,082 ₹196.7K

181.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.56 Rp 803.2K

$21.17 ₹2,000

115.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.38 Rp 641.4K

$21.17 ₹2,000

71.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 Rp 1.4M

$53.7 ₹5,069

52.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$46.46 ₹4,390

73.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,117 Rp 19.7M

$107 ₹10.1K

945.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 Rp 12.4M

$64.4 ₹6,085

988.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,537 Rp 62.4M

$273 ₹25.8K

1194.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,762 Rp 31.1M

$179 ₹16.9K

882.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,826 Rp 49.8M

$995 ₹94.0K

184.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,292 Rp 40.4M

$513 ₹48.5K

346.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 Rp 3.0M

$209 ₹19.7K

-18.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

129.67%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Last update for Rishikesh: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,117 in Ubud, Bali versus $107 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 23% 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 $39.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $11.00 in Rishikesh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $103 – 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

Ubud, Bali costs about 244% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,095 per month in Ubud, Bali and $610 in Rishikesh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,396 in Ubud, Bali and $406 in Rishikesh. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 22% less in Rishikesh. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Rishikesh, where all-in costs run around $406, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. In Rishikesh it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Rishikesh costs $406 versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

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.