🙂A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,004 in Riverside, CA, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,231 in Riverside, CA, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $5,457 in Riverside, CA, rent included.
🙂Ubud, Bali is about 53% cheaper than Riverside, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Ubud, Bali and Riverside, CA sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 6%, Riverside, CA by 124%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Riverside, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56Rp 63.9K
$19.83$19.83
-82.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73Rp 586.8K
$86.5$86.5
-62.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.95Rp 88.7K
$12.16$12.16
-59.29%
Cappuccino
$2.71Rp 48.6K
$4.97$4.97
-45.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34Rp 24.1K
$2.78$2.78
-51.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70Rp 12.5K
$1.95$1.95
-64.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92Rp 52.3K
$7.13$7.13
-59.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96Rp 70.9K
$6.96$6.96
-43.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Riverside, CA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81Rp 32.4K
$1.07$1.07
69.16%
White Bread(500g)
$2.52Rp 45.1K
$4.06$4.06
-37.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.16Rp 20.8K
$4.01$4.01
-71.07%
Eggs
$2.46Rp 44.1K
$7.26$7.26
-66.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.71Rp 263.7K
$10.45$10.45
40.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.32Rp 77.4K
$8.80$8.80
-50.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.14Rp 217.5K
$14.57$14.57
-16.68%
Apples(1kg)
$3.84Rp 68.8K
$3.55$3.55
8.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56Rp 27.9K
$1.89$1.89
-17.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.83Rp 50.8K
$4.05$4.05
-30.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 41.7K
$5.59$5.59
-58.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 34.3K
$4.39$4.39
-56.49%
Onion(1kg)
$2.20Rp 39.5K
$3.16$3.16
-30.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01Rp 18.2K
$1.44$1.44
-29.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78Rp 13.9K
$2.11$2.11
-63.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32Rp 59.4K
$11.18$11.18
-70.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.74Rp 425.5K
$14.90$14.90
59.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79Rp 50.0K
$2.55$2.55
9.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86Rp 51.3K
$5.71$5.71
-49.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Riverside, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,819
$1.79$1.79
-84.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.03Rp 143.9K
$61.2$61.2
-86.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.46Rp 8,181
$10.15$10.15
-95.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45Rp 8,068
$4.28$4.28
-89.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.10Rp 109.3K
$29.39$29.39
-79.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79Rp 14.2K
$1.25$1.25
-36.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1KRp 468.8M
$24.0K$24.0K
8.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1KRp 575.8M
$24.5K$24.5K
31.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Riverside, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.9Rp 1.4M
$290$290
-72.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06Rp 72.9K
$46.60$46.60
-91.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52Rp 421.6K
$61.3$61.3
-61.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Riverside, CA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.7Rp 1.8M
$34.35$34.35
187.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63Rp 118.8K
$20.29$20.29
-67.32%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15Rp 74.3K
$14.11$14.11
-70.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Riverside, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304Rp 5.4M
$1,186$1,186
-74.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,613Rp 118.5M
$23.6K$23.6K
-72.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Riverside, CA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5Rp 995.6K
$55.6$55.6
-0.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31Rp 686.7K
$34.26$34.26
11.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.6Rp 1.6M
$84.4$84.4
4.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9Rp 1.4M
$86.5$86.5
-9.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Riverside, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,006Rp 18.0M
$2,095$2,095
-51.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$675Rp 12.1M
$1,621$1,621
-58.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,442Rp 61.7M
$3,275$3,275
5.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039Rp 36.6M
$2,522$2,522
-19.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,841Rp 50.9M
$3,856$3,856
-26.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,264Rp 40.6M
$3,633$3,633
-37.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Riverside, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$165Rp 3.0M
$3,848$3,848
-95.71%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Riverside, CA: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,095 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 2229% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $87.0 in Riverside, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $393 – 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 112% 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 vs Riverside, CA?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $4,507 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 vs Riverside, CA?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $87.0 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 $1,419 in Ubud, Bali and $3,004 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 Riverside, CA?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,419, than in Riverside, CA at $3,004. 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 $1,419 versus $3,004 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 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.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared