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

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$3.57 Rp 61.6K
$4.12 NIO 152
-13.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58 Rp 562.6K
$28.15 NIO 1,038
15.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 Rp 87.5K
$7.02 NIO 259
-27.78%
Cappuccino
$2.83 Rp 48.8K
$1.22 NIO 44.85
131.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 23.1K
$0.79 NIO 29.20
69.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
$0.74 NIO 27.11
-6.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 51.6K
$1.33 NIO 49.14
124.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 66.4K
$1.99 NIO 73.3
93.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 30.1K
$1.21 NIO 44.72
43.80%
White Bread (500g)
$2.54 Rp 43.8K
$2.38 NIO 87.6
6.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
$1.85 NIO 68.3
-35.68%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 41.9K
$2.27 NIO 83.5
7.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.66 Rp 253.2K
$11.42 NIO 421
28.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.18 Rp 72.1K
$6.64 NIO 245
-37.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 Rp 206.1K
$8.22 NIO 303
45.26%
Apples (1kg)
$3.69 Rp 63.6K
$3.87 NIO 143
-4.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.7K
$0.85 NIO 31.15
89.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 Rp 46.4K
$1.84 NIO 67.8
46.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 40.2K
$2.28 NIO 84.1
2.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 32.9K
$4.05 NIO 149
-52.84%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 37.7K
$2.18 NIO 80.4
0.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
$1.02 NIO 37.67
3.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
$1.01 NIO 37.27
-28.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 Rp 54.1K
$2.68 NIO 98.7
16.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 405.6K
$14.50 NIO 534
62.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 Rp 47.3K
$1.42 NIO 52.2
92.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 Rp 49.7K
$2.28 NIO 84.2
26.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,010
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 141.0K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 7,834
$1.53 NIO 56.5
-70.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,278
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.16 Rp 106.3K
$6.71 NIO 247
-8.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 14.5K
$1.36 NIO 50.1
-38.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K Rp 453.1M
$23.2K NIO 855.2K
13.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 560.8M
$26.5K NIO 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)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$97.0 NIO 3,575
-19.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95 Rp 68.2K
$16.99 NIO 626
-76.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40 Rp 421.4K
$37.86 NIO 1,395
-35.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 109.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 69.7K
$8.09 NIO 298
-50.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 Rp 5.2M
$123 NIO 4,543
145.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,523 Rp 112.6M
$6,038 NIO 222.6K
8.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 Rp 929.5K
$78.4 NIO 2,889
-31.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98 Rp 655.8K
$73.6 NIO 2,712
-48.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
$132 NIO 4,879
-34.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
$108 NIO 3,997
-27.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 Rp 11.6M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,390 Rp 58.5M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,098 Rp 36.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,985 Rp 51.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,339 Rp 40.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$173 Rp 3.0M
$494 NIO 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.

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