😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $684 in Rivas.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,082 in Rivas.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,694 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,480 in Rivas.
😐Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 105% more expensive than Rivas, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 4% above, Rivas is 49% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57Rp 64.0K
$3.91NIO 143
-8.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.50Rp 582.3K
$28.30NIO 1,037
14.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.86Rp 87.1K
$7.16NIO 262
-32.12%
Cappuccino
$2.75Rp 49.2K
$1.28NIO 46.97
114.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32Rp 23.7K
$0.86NIO 31.41
53.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70Rp 12.6K
$0.69NIO 25.22
1.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.91Rp 52.2K
$1.35NIO 49.38
115.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79Rp 68.0K
$1.95NIO 71.4
94.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71Rp 30.6K
$1.22NIO 44.66
40.16%
White Bread(500g)
$2.47Rp 44.3K
$2.46NIO 89.9
0.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20Rp 21.5K
$1.79NIO 65.6
-32.96%
Eggs
$2.44Rp 43.8K
$2.25NIO 82.2
8.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.38Rp 257.7K
$11.02NIO 404
30.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.31Rp 77.1K
$6.58NIO 241
-34.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.21Rp 218.7K
$7.89NIO 289
54.75%
Apples(1kg)
$3.68Rp 66.0K
$3.92NIO 144
-6.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55Rp 27.8K
$0.84NIO 30.78
84.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.79Rp 49.9K
$1.75NIO 64.0
59.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 41.8K
$2.21NIO 80.8
5.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97Rp 35.3K
$3.85NIO 141
-48.83%
Onion(1kg)
$2.31Rp 41.4K
$2.22NIO 81.4
4.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 19.1K
$1.03NIO 37.69
2.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73Rp 13.1K
$1.01NIO 36.89
-27.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28Rp 58.8K
$2.64NIO 96.6
24.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.79Rp 408.4K
$14.86NIO 544
53.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81Rp 50.3K
$1.41NIO 51.6
99.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78Rp 49.9K
$2.16NIO 79.0
28.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,217
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.06Rp 144.4K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 8,047
$1.54NIO 56.3
-70.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45Rp 8,094
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.24Rp 111.7K
$6.76NIO 248
-7.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85Rp 15.2K
$1.34NIO 49.25
-36.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0KRp 465.4M
$23.0KNIO 842.3K
12.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7KRp 567.2M
$26.2KNIO 957.9K
21.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8Rp 1.4M
$96.8NIO 3,543
-16.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06Rp 72.7K
$17.04NIO 624
-76.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.42Rp 437.6K
$37.88NIO 1,387
-35.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$97.7Rp 1.7M
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.45Rp 115.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.04Rp 72.4K
$8.19NIO 300
-50.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304Rp 5.4M
$125NIO 4,594
142.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,621Rp 118.6M
$5,921NIO 216.9K
11.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2Rp 971.7K
$76.8NIO 2,811
-29.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.78Rp 694.7K
$72.1NIO 2,639
-46.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.1Rp 1.5M
$134NIO 4,890
-35.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7Rp 1.4M
$109NIO 4,001
-29.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$986Rp 17.7M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$658Rp 11.8M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,369Rp 60.4M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,066Rp 37.0M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,741Rp 49.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,228Rp 39.9M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$163Rp 2.9M
$497NIO 18.2K
-67.10%
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: June 9, 2026
Last update for Rivas: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Rivas pays 204% 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 $297 vs $258 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 105% 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 204% 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 15% 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 $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $684 in Rivas – a 105% 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 $684 in Rivas versus $1,404 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 $684 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 105% 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