Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Ruwi

For one person, living is cheaper in Ruwi: $639 a month against $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $8,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,368
/mo nomad
Ruwi
🇴🇲 Oman
$639
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Ruwi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $639 in Ruwi.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,368
  • Ruwi $639

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,314 in Ubud, Bali versus $833 in Ruwi.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,314
  • Ruwi $833

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,260 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,028 in Ruwi.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,260
  • Ruwi $1,028

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 114% more expensive than in Ruwi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 1% above, Ruwi is 53% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Ruwi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33 Rp 59.9K
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.18 Rp 633.2K
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.80 Rp 104.5K
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 Rp 29.5K
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.70 Rp 48.6K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 Rp 77.4K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Ruwi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 Rp 27.1K
$1.99 OMR 0.77
-24.62%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 Rp 41.4K
$1.98 OMR 0.76
16.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
$0.99 OMR 0.38
19.19%
Eggs
$2.14 Rp 38.6K
$1.17 OMR 0.45
82.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.48 Rp 314.6K
$2.03 OMR 0.78
761.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.03 Rp 72.5K
$2.05 OMR 0.79
96.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.23 Rp 220.1K
$4.93 OMR 1.90
148.07%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 Rp 63.9K
$0.98 OMR 0.38
262.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$1.02 OMR 0.39
53.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
$1.02 OMR 0.39
119.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.93 Rp 34.7K
$1.03 OMR 0.40
87.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.88 Rp 33.9K
$0.99 OMR 0.38
89.90%
Onion (1kg)
$2.29 Rp 41.3K
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 17.9K
$0.98 OMR 0.38
1.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 Rp 9,475
$1.02 OMR 0.39
-48.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$23.01 Rp 414.2K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 Rp 42.2K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 Rp 52.4K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Ruwi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 Rp 4,315
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.82 Rp 158.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,684
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,233
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 Rp 98.2K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 Rp 15.9K
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K Rp 442.2M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2K Rp 561.4M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Ruwi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 Rp 1.5M
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 116.0K
$25.53 OMR 9.83
-74.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.57 Rp 334.2K
$79.3 OMR 30.55
-76.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Ruwi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.8 Rp 1.0M
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.11 Rp 326.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.38 Rp 78.9K
$8.97 OMR 3.45
-51.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Ruwi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$493 Rp 8.9M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,754 Rp 103.6M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Ruwi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.19 Rp 831.4K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.33 Rp 636.0K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Ruwi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,142 Rp 20.6M
$396 OMR 152
188.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$676 Rp 12.2M
$397 OMR 153
70.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,503 Rp 63.1M
$901 OMR 347
288.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,700 Rp 30.6M
$581 OMR 224
192.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 Rp 50.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Ruwi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$4,398 OMR 1,693
-96.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
0
-

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 11, 2026

Last update for Ruwi: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$676
Ruwi
–
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$290
Ruwi
–
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$109
Ruwi
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$108
Ruwi
–
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Ruwi
–
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$65
Ruwi
–
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$13
Ruwi
–

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,142 in Ubud, Bali and $396 in Ruwi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ruwi pays 2573% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇴🇲 Ruwi
🕒 Local time
16:42 4:42 PM
12:42 12:42 PM
4 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
💱 Currency
Omani Rial OMR ر.ع.
Exchange rates and currency converter

OMR, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Omani Rial exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.385 OMR (1 OMR = 2.6 USD). 1 EUR = 0.433 OMR (1 OMR = 2.31 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Ruwi 7,120 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Ruwi

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 Ruwi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and in Ruwi?
Ubud, Bali and Ruwi differ by about 114% in total monthly costs ($1,368 vs $639 including rent). Ruwi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 2573% lower in Ruwi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Ruwi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,142 in Ubud, Bali versus $396 in Ruwi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 145% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Ruwi?
All in, you'll spend $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $639 in Ruwi – a 114% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $639 in Ruwi versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ruwi but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Ruwi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Ruwi?
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.
Is Ubud, Bali or Ruwi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Ruwi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ubud, Bali or Ruwi?
Expats usually find Ruwi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 114% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?