😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $680 in Rivas.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,087 in Rivas.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,732 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,495 in Rivas.
😐Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 112% more expensive than Rivas, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 7% above, Rivas is 49% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57Rp 61.6K
$4.12NIO 152
-13.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58Rp 562.6K
$28.15NIO 1,038
15.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.07Rp 87.5K
$7.02NIO 259
-27.78%
Cappuccino
$2.83Rp 48.8K
$1.22NIO 44.85
131.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34Rp 23.1K
$0.79NIO 29.20
69.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69Rp 12.0K
$0.74NIO 27.11
-6.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.99Rp 51.6K
$1.33NIO 49.14
124.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85Rp 66.4K
$1.99NIO 73.3
93.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74Rp 30.1K
$1.21NIO 44.72
43.80%
White Bread(500g)
$2.54Rp 43.8K
$2.38NIO 87.6
6.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19Rp 20.6K
$1.85NIO 68.3
-35.68%
Eggs
$2.43Rp 41.9K
$2.27NIO 83.5
7.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.66Rp 253.2K
$11.42NIO 421
28.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.18Rp 72.1K
$6.64NIO 245
-37.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94Rp 206.1K
$8.22NIO 303
45.26%
Apples(1kg)
$3.69Rp 63.6K
$3.87NIO 143
-4.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61Rp 27.7K
$0.85NIO 31.15
89.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.69Rp 46.4K
$1.84NIO 67.8
46.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 40.2K
$2.28NIO 84.1
2.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 32.9K
$4.05NIO 149
-52.84%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19Rp 37.7K
$2.18NIO 80.4
0.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 18.3K
$1.02NIO 37.67
3.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72Rp 12.5K
$1.01NIO 37.27
-28.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13Rp 54.1K
$2.68NIO 98.7
16.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.49Rp 405.6K
$14.50NIO 534
62.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74Rp 47.3K
$1.42NIO 52.2
92.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88Rp 49.7K
$2.28NIO 84.2
26.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,010
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.17Rp 141.0K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 7,834
$1.53NIO 56.5
-70.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42Rp 7,278
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.16Rp 106.3K
$6.71NIO 247
-8.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84Rp 14.5K
$1.36NIO 50.1
-38.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2KRp 453.1M
$23.2KNIO 855.2K
13.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5KRp 560.8M
$26.5KNIO 978.3K
22.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.4Rp 1.4M
$97.0NIO 3,575
-19.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95Rp 68.2K
$16.99NIO 626
-76.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40Rp 421.4K
$37.86NIO 1,395
-35.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$96.5Rp 1.7M
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35Rp 109.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.04Rp 69.7K
$8.09NIO 298
-50.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$303Rp 5.2M
$123NIO 4,543
145.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,523Rp 112.6M
$6,038NIO 222.6K
8.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8Rp 929.5K
$78.4NIO 2,889
-31.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98Rp 655.8K
$73.6NIO 2,712
-48.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.8Rp 1.5M
$132NIO 4,879
-34.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9Rp 1.4M
$108NIO 3,997
-27.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,012Rp 17.5M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$674Rp 11.6M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,390Rp 58.5M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,098Rp 36.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,985Rp 51.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,339Rp 40.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$173Rp 3.0M
$494NIO 18.2K
-64.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
10.25
29.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026
Last update for Rivas: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Rivas pays 185% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $28.00 in Rivas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $261 per month, with Rivas 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 Rivas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Rivas?
Rivas wins on cost – living expenses run 112% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Rivas the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or Rivas?
On paper, Rivas earns 185% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or Rivas?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Rivas?
All in, you'll spend $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $680 in Rivas – a 112% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or Rivas?
At $680 in Rivas versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Rivas but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Rivas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Rivas?
Both work as nomad bases, but Rivas delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $680 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Rivas hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Rivas?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Rivas 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 Rivas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 112% 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