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 $1,396 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $983 in Saitama, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,315 in Saitama, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,273 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,646 in Saitama, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 42% more than Saitama, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Ubud, Bali sits 2% above the global median, while Saitama is 28% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.37 Rp 59.7K

$5.61 ¥872

-39.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.59 Rp 682.4K

$30.87 ¥4,804

25.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.52 Rp 97.6K

$4.75 ¥739

16.21%

Cappuccino

$2.64 Rp 46.8K

$2.98 ¥464

-11.41%

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

$1.67 Rp 29.6K

$0.71 ¥111

135.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

$0.59 ¥92.2

30.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.63 Rp 46.6K

$2.48 ¥386

6.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.28 Rp 75.7K

$3.08 ¥480

38.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 Rp 27.3K

$1.41 ¥220

9.93%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 Rp 39.3K

$1.72 ¥268

29.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 Rp 19.9K

$2.77 ¥432

-59.21%

Eggs

$2.09 Rp 36.9K

$1.97 ¥307

6.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 Rp 307.6K

$11.85 ¥1,844

46.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.87 Rp 68.4K

$5.34 ¥831

-27.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.55 Rp 221.9K

$14.55 ¥2,265

-13.75%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.9K

$5.55 ¥864

-34.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.6K

$2.20 ¥343

-29.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 Rp 41.6K

$2.77 ¥431

-15.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 Rp 36.4K

$4.06 ¥633

-49.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 33.6K

$2.51 ¥391

-24.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 Rp 41.3K

$1.54 ¥239

51.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 Rp 18.2K

$1.26 ¥196

-18.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,809

$0.72 ¥112

-23.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 Rp 39.8K

$3.69 ¥574

-39.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.81 Rp 421.0K

$6.35 ¥989

274.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 Rp 40.9K

$1.72 ¥268

34.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 Rp 49.5K

$1.99 ¥310

40.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,816

$3.35 ¥521

-91.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.66 Rp 153.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,515

$3.11 ¥485

-84.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 7,887

$2.46 ¥382

-81.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.72 Rp 101.1K

$20.32 ¥3,163

-71.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

$1.05 ¥164

-27.62%

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

$24.5K Rp 433.0M

$21.6K ¥3.4M

13.55%

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

$32.1K Rp 568.0M

$14.5K ¥2.3M

122.06%

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

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

$131 ¥20.4K

-36.22%

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

$6.46 Rp 114.2K

$17.94 ¥2,792

-63.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.99 Rp 335.9K

$31.96 ¥4,974

-40.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 Rp 989.8K

$61.9 ¥9,629

-9.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.62 Rp 329.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 Rp 75.7K

$10.82 ¥1,683

-60.44%

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

$487 Rp 8.6M

$633 ¥98.6K

-23.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,856 Rp 103.6M

$14.4K ¥2.2M

-59.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.56 Rp 805.6K

$34.98 ¥5,444

30.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.38 Rp 643.3K

$24.53 ¥3,818

48.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 Rp 1.4M

$55.4 ¥8,622

47.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$61.4 ¥9,560

30.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,117 Rp 19.7M

$409 ¥63.7K

172.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 Rp 12.4M

$226 ¥35.1K

210.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,537 Rp 62.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,762 Rp 31.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,826 Rp 50.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,292 Rp 40.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 Rp 3.0M

$1,517 ¥236.1K

-88.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

2.06

568.93%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Last update for Saitama: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,117 in Ubud, Bali versus $409 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 793% 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 $39.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $31.00 in Saitama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $278 – making Saitama 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 42%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,095 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,475 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,396 in Ubud, Bali and $983 in Saitama. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $487 per month in Ubud, Bali and $633 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 $983, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. 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.