Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Saipan

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,353 a month against $1,771 in Saipan, rent and utilities included – about $5,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,353
/mo nomad
Saipan
🇲🇵 Northern Mariana Islands
$1,771
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $1,353 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,771 in Saipan, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,353
  • Saipan $1,771

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,592 in Saipan, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,297
  • Saipan $2,592

A family of three spends $3,241 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,412 in Saipan, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,241
  • Saipan $3,412

Ubud, Bali is about 24% cheaper than Saipan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Ubud, Bali and Saipan sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 0%, Saipan by 31%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Saipan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.23 Rp 58.1K
$14.97 $14.97
-78.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.88 Rp 627.8K
$42.86 $42.86
-18.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.70 Rp 102.5K
$14.78 $14.78
-61.43%
Cappuccino
$2.62 Rp 47.1K
$5.48 $5.48
-52.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 Rp 31.0K
$2.01 $2.01
-14.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$1.37 $1.37
-40.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 47.7K
$6.04 $6.04
-56.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37 Rp 78.6K
$7.40 $7.40
-40.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Saipan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$2.58 $2.58
-39.15%
White Bread (500g)
$2.19 Rp 39.5K
$5.68 $5.68
-61.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
$45.44 $45.44
-97.40%
Eggs
$2.16 Rp 38.8K
$5.91 $5.91
-63.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.65 Rp 317.7K
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.78 Rp 68.0K
$13.32 $13.32
-71.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.95 Rp 215.1K
$6.57 $6.57
81.89%
Apples (1kg)
$3.60 Rp 64.8K
$6.54 $6.54
-44.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.6K
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.6K
$6.40 $6.40
-63.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
$2.10 $2.10
-15.24%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.9K
$2.21 $2.21
5.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 Rp 18.0K
$4.89 $4.89
-79.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 Rp 9,509
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.29 Rp 41.1K
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$22.07 Rp 397.3K
$14.86 $14.86
48.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 Rp 42.2K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 Rp 53.6K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Saipan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 Rp 4,112
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.90 Rp 160.2K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.47 Rp 8,466
$4.87 $4.87
-90.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,737
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.47 Rp 98.4K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
$1.44 $1.44
-42.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9K Rp 429.8M
$36.8K $36.8K
-35.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8K Rp 590.1M
$22.3K $22.3K
47.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Saipan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.0 Rp 1.4M
$380 $380
-78.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.56 Rp 118.1K
$61.0 $61.0
-89.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.60 Rp 334.8K
$90.4 $90.4
-79.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Saipan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.1 Rp 974.1K
$60.9 $60.9
-11.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.28 Rp 329.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.25 Rp 76.5K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Saipan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$493 Rp 8.9M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,597 Rp 100.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Saipan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.58 Rp 820.4K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.96 Rp 629.4K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 Rp 1.4M
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.5 Rp 1.4M
$39.41 $39.41
99.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Saipan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,131 Rp 20.4M
$789 $789
43.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$375 $375
79.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,613 Rp 65.0M
$778 $778
364.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,702 Rp 30.6M
$812 $812
109.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,717 Rp 48.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Saipan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
$1,019 $1,019
-83.67%
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 19, 2026

Last update for Saipan: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$673
Saipan
–
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$287
Saipan
–
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$107
Saipan
–
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$106
Saipan
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$105
Saipan
–
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$63
Saipan
–
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$12
Saipan
–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,131 in Ubud, Bali versus $789 in Saipan. 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 512% higher in Saipan, 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 $35.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $43.00 in Saipan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $287 vs $493 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇲🇵 Saipan
🕒 Local time
20:41 8:41 PM
22:41 10:41 PM
2 h ahead of Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
48,220 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

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).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Saipan 4,270 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Saipan

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 Saipan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Saipan cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Saipan is pricier by about 31%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,030 per month in Ubud, Bali and $2,657 in Saipan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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 food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Saipan?
Groceries cost about 72% more in Saipan, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or in Saipan?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali and $43.00 in Saipan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Saipan?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,353, than in Saipan at $1,771. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saipan it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ubud, Bali or Saipan more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ubud, Bali – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Saipan?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Saipan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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