Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Riverside, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Riverside, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,029 in Riverside, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,310 in Riverside, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $5,590 in Riverside, CA, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 54% cheaper than Riverside, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Riverside, CA sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 5%, Riverside, CA by 127%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Riverside, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45 Rp 62.0K
$19.89 $19.89
-82.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 Rp 580.1K
$86.3 $86.3
-62.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.84 Rp 86.9K
$12.08 $12.08
-59.93%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.3K
$5.15 $5.15
-46.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 24.8K
$2.68 $2.68
-48.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
$1.96 $1.96
-61.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 53.7K
$7.06 $7.06
-57.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 69.1K
$6.98 $6.98
-44.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Riverside, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 31.1K
$1.11 $1.11
56.76%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 44.1K
$3.95 $3.95
-37.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
$4.09 $4.09
-71.39%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 43.6K
$7.15 $7.15
-66.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 Rp 260.2K
$10.60 $10.60
36.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.35 Rp 78.0K
$8.94 $8.94
-51.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.98 Rp 214.9K
$14.30 $14.30
-16.22%
Apples (1kg)
$3.72 Rp 66.7K
$3.41 $3.41
9.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
$1.97 $1.97
-17.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.74 Rp 49.2K
$4.16 $4.16
-34.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
$5.66 $5.66
-60.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 Rp 34.4K
$4.49 $4.49
-57.24%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.8K
$3.23 $3.23
-29.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$1.45 $1.45
-26.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
$2.17 $2.17
-66.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29 Rp 58.9K
$11.10 $11.10
-70.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.19 Rp 416.1K
$14.97 $14.97
54.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.8K
$2.60 $2.60
6.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 Rp 49.0K
$5.53 $5.53
-50.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Riverside, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,778
$1.79 $1.79
-84.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.11 Rp 145.4K
$59.4 $59.4
-86.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,659
$9.86 $9.86
-95.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,532
$4.43 $4.43
-90.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.22 Rp 111.6K
$28.63 $28.63
-78.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$1.24 $1.24
-34.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 477.4M
$23.8K $23.8K
11.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K Rp 577.4M
$23.9K $23.9K
34.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Riverside, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$286 $286
-72.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07 Rp 73.0K
$45.90 $45.90
-91.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33 Rp 436.4K
$60.6 $60.6
-59.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Riverside, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
$35.15 $35.15
180.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34 Rp 113.7K
$19.62 $19.62
-67.69%
Cinema Ticket
$3.99 Rp 71.5K
$13.93 $13.93
-71.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Riverside, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 Rp 5.5M
$1,188 $1,188
-74.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,642 Rp 119.2M
$23.7K $23.7K
-72.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Riverside, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 Rp 971.2K
$56.8 $56.8
-4.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81 Rp 678.2K
$34.40 $34.40
9.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
$84.5 $84.5
2.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
$83.4 $83.4
-8.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Riverside, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$992 Rp 17.8M
$2,054 $2,054
-51.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$1,637 $1,637
-58.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,375 Rp 60.5M
$3,321 $3,321
1.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
$2,462 $2,462
-16.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,805 Rp 50.3M
$3,789 $3,789
-25.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,227 Rp 39.9M
$3,568 $3,568
-37.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Riverside, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 3.0M
$3,855 $3,855
-95.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
6.58
101.82%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Riverside, CA: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,054 in Riverside, CA. 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 2209% higher in Riverside, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $86.0 in Riverside, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $395 – making Ubud, Bali 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 Riverside, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Riverside, CA?
Riverside, CA costs about 115% more than Ubud, Bali, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali and in Riverside, CA?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $4,544 in Riverside, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ubud, Bali or Riverside, CA?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Riverside, CA?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali and $86.0 in Riverside, CA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Riverside, CA?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,408 in Ubud, Bali and $3,029 in Riverside, CA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Riverside, CA?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,408, than in Riverside, CA at $3,029. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Riverside, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Riverside, CA?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,408 versus $3,029 in Riverside, CA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Riverside, CA?
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.
Should I move to Ubud, Bali or to Riverside, CA?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Riverside, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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