Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Saitama Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Saitama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,127 in Saitama, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,830 in Saitama, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,533 in Saitama, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 25% more than Saitama, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Saitama is 16% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.0K

$5.87 ¥955

-41.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 580.1K

$34.39 ¥5,590

-5.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 86.9K

$4.98 ¥810

-2.81%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

$3.08 ¥500

-10.71%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

$0.71 ¥115

94.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

$0.74 ¥121

1.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.7K

$2.03 ¥329

47.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.1K

$3.04 ¥495

26.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

$1.51 ¥245

15.23%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$1.66 ¥270

48.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

$2.94 ¥477

-60.20%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.6K

$2.23 ¥363

8.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 260.2K

$10.20 ¥1,658

42.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 78.0K

$5.91 ¥960

-26.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 214.9K

$15.52 ¥2,523

-22.81%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.7K

$5.95 ¥968

-37.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$1.34 ¥218

21.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.2K

$3.90 ¥634

-29.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

$5.91 ¥960

-62.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.4K

$3.24 ¥526

-40.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

$1.76 ¥286

29.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$1.34 ¥218

-20.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$0.81 ¥132

-11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 58.9K

$4.06 ¥660

-18.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.1K

$8.17 ¥1,328

183.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.8K

$1.77 ¥287

57.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.0K

$2.03 ¥329

34.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,778

$1.68 ¥273

-83.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.4K

$54.8 ¥8,907

-85.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,659

$3.44 ¥558

-86.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,532

$2.87 ¥466

-85.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.6K

$21.85 ¥3,552

-71.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$1.18 ¥192

-31.36%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.6K Rp 477.4M

$23.5K ¥3.8M

13.25%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.2K Rp 577.4M

$18.2K ¥3.0M

76.82%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$141 ¥22.9K

-44.41%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.07 Rp 73.0K

$19.47 ¥3,164

-79.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 436.4K

$34.15 ¥5,551

-28.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$69.2 ¥11.2K

42.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.7K

$13.76 ¥2,236

-53.92%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.5K

$11.91 ¥1,936

-66.50%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$305 Rp 5.5M

$283 ¥46.1K

7.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.2M

$13.8K ¥2.2M

-51.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 971.2K

$37.81 ¥6,145

43.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 678.2K

$28.07 ¥4,562

34.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

$59.9 ¥9,727

45.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

$68.7 ¥11.2K

11.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.8M

$428 ¥69.6K

131.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.1M

$259 ¥42.0K

160.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.5M

$877 ¥142.6K

284.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

$656 ¥106.5K

212.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.3M

$4,887 ¥794.2K

-42.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 39.9M

$2,152 ¥349.8K

3.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$1,474 ¥239.6K

-88.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

1.86

613.98%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Saitama: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $428 in Saitama. 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 783% higher in Saitama, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $34.00 in Saitama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $300 – 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 Saitama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 25%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,691 in Saitama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Saitama, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 576% less in Saitama. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $305 per month in Ubud, Bali and $283 in Saitama. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Saitama, where all-in costs run around $1,127, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In Saitama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Saitama – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Saitama. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.