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 $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,126 in Saitama, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,821 in Saitama, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,516 in Saitama, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 26% more than Saitama, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Saitama is 16% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.9K

$6.06 ¥969

-41.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 586.8K

$33.98 ¥5,435

-3.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.7K

$4.78 ¥764

3.56%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.6K

$3.04 ¥487

-10.86%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.1K

$0.75 ¥120

78.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.69 ¥111

1.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.3K

$2.02 ¥324

44.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.9K

$3.13 ¥501

26.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

$1.58 ¥252

14.56%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.1K

$1.67 ¥268

50.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.8K

$3.03 ¥485

-61.72%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$2.24 ¥358

9.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 263.7K

$10.28 ¥1,644

43.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.4K

$6.14 ¥983

-29.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 217.5K

$15.59 ¥2,494

-22.13%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.8K

$5.89 ¥941

-34.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.9K

$1.34 ¥215

16.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.8K

$3.91 ¥626

-27.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.7K

$5.90 ¥943

-60.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.3K

$3.23 ¥516

-40.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.5K

$1.71 ¥273

28.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.2K

$1.35 ¥216

-25.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

$0.88 ¥141

-11.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.4K

$4.13 ¥660

-19.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 425.5K

$8.49 ¥1,358

179.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 50.0K

$1.84 ¥295

51.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.3K

$2.14 ¥342

33.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,819

$1.62 ¥259

-83.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.9K

$56.5 ¥9,029

-85.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,181

$3.44 ¥550

-86.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,068

$2.96 ¥473

-84.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 109.3K

$22.04 ¥3,526

-72.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$1.24 ¥198

-36.29%

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

$26.1K Rp 468.8M

$23.1K ¥3.7M

13.29%

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

$32.1K Rp 575.8M

$18.8K ¥3.0M

70.44%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$144 ¥23.0K

-44.47%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.9K

$19.50 ¥3,119

-79.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 421.6K

$33.90 ¥5,423

-30.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$67.8 ¥10.8K

45.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.8K

$14.10 ¥2,255

-52.98%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.3K

$12.14 ¥1,942

-65.82%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$276 ¥44.2K

9.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.5M

$13.7K ¥2.2M

-51.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 995.6K

$38.62 ¥6,177

43.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 686.7K

$27.40 ¥4,382

39.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$60.2 ¥9,629

47.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$69.5 ¥11.1K

12.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$429 ¥68.6K

134.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$255 ¥40.8K

164.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.7M

$858 ¥137.2K

301.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.6M

$660 ¥105.6K

208.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.9M

$4,524 ¥723.6K

-37.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.6M

$2,701 ¥432.1K

-16.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$1,535 ¥245.5K

-89.24%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Saitama: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $429 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 829% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $34.00 in Saitama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $304 – 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 26%, 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 $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,689 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 603% less in Saitama. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $276 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 $1,126, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. 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.