Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Rivas

For one person, living is cheaper in Rivas: $895 a month against $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $5,400 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Ubud, Bali outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Rivas, Nicaragua
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Rivas
🇳🇮 Nicaragua
$895
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Rivas

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Rivas actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,349 in Ubud, Bali versus $895 in Rivas.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,349
  • Rivas $895

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,305 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,658 in Rivas.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,305
  • Rivas $1,658

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,261 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,421 in Rivas.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,261
  • Rivas $2,421

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 51% more expensive than in Rivas, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32 Rp 60.3K
$3.89 NIO 143
-14.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.64 Rp 647.3K
$28.15 NIO 1,031
26.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.53 Rp 100.5K
$7.81 NIO 286
-29.19%
Cappuccino
$2.72 Rp 49.4K
$1.22 NIO 44.61
122.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 Rp 30.9K
$0.86 NIO 31.37
97.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
$0.69 NIO 25.30
10.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 48.2K
$1.52 NIO 55.5
74.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 Rp 79.6K
$2.20 NIO 80.6
99.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 Rp 27.1K
$1.22 NIO 44.53
22.13%
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 Rp 41.3K
$2.36 NIO 86.4
-3.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
$1.82 NIO 66.8
-34.62%
Eggs
$2.04 Rp 37.0K
$2.40 NIO 87.8
-15.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.70 Rp 321.5K
$11.49 NIO 421
54.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.96 Rp 72.0K
$6.25 NIO 229
-36.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.19 Rp 221.4K
$7.72 NIO 283
57.90%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 Rp 66.4K
$4.09 NIO 150
-10.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 27.6K
$0.58 NIO 21.23
162.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
$1.75 NIO 64.1
27.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.8K
$2.53 NIO 92.6
-22.13%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 33.6K
$3.96 NIO 145
-53.28%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 44.0K
$2.24 NIO 81.9
8.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 18.0K
$1.04 NIO 38.27
-4.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,324
$1.02 NIO 37.19
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 Rp 40.4K
$2.71 NIO 99.4
-18.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.24 Rp 403.9K
$14.52 NIO 532
53.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 Rp 41.0K
$1.47 NIO 53.8
53.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.9K
$2.16 NIO 79.1
37.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,559
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.82 Rp 142.1K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,982
$1.61 NIO 59.1
-72.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,811
$1.65 NIO 60.5
-73.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 Rp 98.2K
$6.71 NIO 246
-19.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 15.0K
$1.32 NIO 48.19
-37.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K Rp 433.0M
$23.2K NIO 848.3K
2.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 576.6M
$26.2K NIO 960.8K
21.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$149 NIO 5,453
-46.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 117.1K
$19.68 NIO 721
-67.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.58 Rp 337.4K
$32.29 NIO 1,183
-42.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.48 Rp 898.7K
$20.32 NIO 744
143.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.65 Rp 320.5K
$7.14 NIO 261
147.20%
Cinema Ticket
$4.27 Rp 77.6K
$9.25 NIO 339
-53.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$491 Rp 8.9M
$240 NIO 8,792
104.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,674 Rp 103.0M
$6,066 NIO 222.2K
-6.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.64 Rp 810.7K
$60.2 NIO 2,206
-25.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.95 Rp 634.8K
$64.5 NIO 2,361
-45.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 Rp 1.5M
$122 NIO 4,476
-34.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
$143 NIO 5,250
-44.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 Rp 20.4M
$150 NIO 5,508
647.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$671 Rp 12.2M
$124 NIO 4,539
441.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,565 Rp 64.7M
$744 NIO 27.2K
379.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,723 Rp 31.3M
$811 NIO 29.7K
112.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,732 Rp 49.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,284 Rp 41.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Rivas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
$497 NIO 18.2K
-67.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
11.92
15.60%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Last update for Rivas: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$672
Rivas
$124 81.5% $548
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$288
Rivas
$259 10.4% $30
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$108
Rivas
$87 18.9% $20
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Rivas
$176 63.3% $68
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$104
Rivas
$201 93% $97
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$58
Rivas
$39 33.1% $19
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$11
Rivas
$9.9 * 13.5% $1.5

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,125 in Ubud, Bali and $150 in Rivas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rivas pays about 3 times more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36 in Ubud, Bali vs $28 in Rivas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $259 per month, with Rivas cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇳🇮 Rivas
🕒 Local time
12:41 12:41 PM
22:41 10:41 PM
14 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
53,208
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

NIO, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 18,161 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,355 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.91 EUR).

Nicaraguan Córdoba exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 36.62 NIO (100 NIO = 2.73 USD). 1 EUR = 41.05 NIO (100 NIO = 2.44 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Rivas 17,700 km ≈ 23 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Rivas

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 34% 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 in Rivas?
On paper, salaries run 67% lower in Ubud, Bali. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali compared to Rivas?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,125 in Ubud, Bali versus $150 in Rivas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Rivas?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% 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 $1,349 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $895 in Rivas – Rivas is about 34% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Can you live on $800/month in Ubud, Bali or in Rivas?
Both cities are expensive relative to $800. Rivas is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ubud, Bali or Rivas?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Rivas?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Rivas are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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