🙂A single person spends $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,270 in Riverside, CA, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,635 in Riverside, CA, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $6,000 in Riverside, CA, rent included.
🙂Ubud, Bali is about 58% cheaper than Riverside, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Ubud, Bali and Riverside, CA sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 0%, Riverside, CA by 139%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Riverside, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44Rp 60.9K
$24.85$24.85
-86.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.31Rp 643.0K
$77.2$77.2
-52.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.71Rp 101.0K
$14.97$14.97
-61.86%
Cappuccino
$2.67Rp 47.3K
$5.85$5.85
-54.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75Rp 31.0K
$3.07$3.07
-43.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87Rp 15.4K
$2.43$2.43
-64.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95Rp 52.3K
$7.10$7.10
-58.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52Rp 80.0K
$9.93$9.93
-54.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Riverside, CA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62Rp 28.7K
$1.40$1.40
15.71%
White Bread(500g)
$2.33Rp 41.3K
$4.51$4.51
-48.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.11Rp 19.6K
$4.80$4.80
-76.88%
Eggs
$2.20Rp 39.0K
$5.39$5.39
-59.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.69Rp 313.3K
$15.92$15.92
11.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.10Rp 72.5K
$9.06$9.06
-54.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.18Rp 215.6K
$21.24$21.24
-42.66%
Apples(1kg)
$3.71Rp 65.6K
$4.60$4.60
-19.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59Rp 28.1K
$2.45$2.45
-35.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.28Rp 40.4K
$3.70$3.70
-38.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.95Rp 34.6K
$5.66$5.66
-65.55%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 33.7K
$4.45$4.45
-57.08%
Onion(1kg)
$2.33Rp 41.3K
$3.16$3.16
-26.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01Rp 17.8K
$2.07$2.07
-51.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 9,773
$2.72$2.72
-79.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23Rp 39.5K
$11.83$11.83
-81.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.07Rp 408.6K
$14.91$14.91
54.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42Rp 42.8K
$2.27$2.27
6.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00Rp 53.1K
$4.84$4.84
-38.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Riverside, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,814
$1.71$1.71
-84.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.98Rp 159.1K
$60.3$60.3
-85.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,566
$2.97$2.97
-83.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43Rp 7,679
$2.53$2.53
-83.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.64Rp 99.9K
$60.8$60.8
-90.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.80Rp 14.2K
$1.41$1.41
-43.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9KRp 441.7M
$36.6K$36.6K
-31.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7KRp 561.5M
$25.3K$25.3K
25.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Riverside, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.5Rp 1.4M
$234$234
-65.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49Rp 115.0K
$73.9$73.9
-91.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.77Rp 332.4K
$70.1$70.1
-73.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Riverside, CA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.9Rp 1.0M
$41.86$41.86
35.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.73Rp 331.7K
$19.87$19.87
-5.74%
Cinema Ticket
$4.54Rp 80.4K
$13.89$13.89
-67.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Riverside, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$481Rp 8.5M
$1,160$1,160
-58.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,711Rp 101.1M
$36.7K$36.7K
-84.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Riverside, CA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.52Rp 806.0K
$63.2$63.2
-27.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.88Rp 635.4K
$45.19$45.19
-20.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.4Rp 1.4M
$103$103
-21.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.7Rp 1.4M
$112$112
-29.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Riverside, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,115Rp 19.7M
$2,067$2,067
-46.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$698Rp 12.4M
$1,729$1,729
-59.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,637Rp 64.4M
$3,296$3,296
10.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,737Rp 30.8M
$2,662$2,662
-34.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,784Rp 49.3M
$3,745$3,745
-25.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,290Rp 40.5M
$3,619$3,619
-36.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Riverside, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$168Rp 3.0M
$3,949$3,949
-95.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
6.07
127.02%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026
Last update for Riverside, CA: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,067 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 2251% 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $77.0 in Riverside, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $449 – 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 139% 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 $2,052 per month in Ubud, Bali and $4,905 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali and $77.0 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 $1,368 in Ubud, Bali and $3,270 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 $1,368, than in Riverside, CA at $3,270. 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 $1,368 versus $3,270 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.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared