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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,593 in Scarborough, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,460 in Scarborough, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,326 in Scarborough, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 45% cheaper than Scarborough, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Scarborough sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 6%, Scarborough by 94%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Scarborough
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56 Rp 64.3K
$18.26 CA$25.39
-80.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73 Rp 590.3K
$80.0 CA$111
-59.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 Rp 89.2K
$11.16 CA$15.52
-55.65%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 48.9K
$4.22 CA$5.86
-35.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 24.2K
$2.17 CA$3.02
-38.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
$1.51 CA$2.10
-53.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 Rp 52.7K
$5.74 CA$7.99
-49.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 Rp 71.4K
$6.57 CA$9.14
-39.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Scarborough
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 Rp 32.6K
$2.40 CA$3.33
-24.58%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 45.4K
$2.56 CA$3.56
-1.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 Rp 20.9K
$2.69 CA$3.74
-56.88%
Eggs
$2.46 Rp 44.4K
$3.53 CA$4.91
-30.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.71 Rp 265.3K
$13.56 CA$18.86
8.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 Rp 77.9K
$11.54 CA$16.05
-62.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.14 Rp 218.9K
$14.90 CA$20.72
-18.52%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 Rp 69.3K
$3.45 CA$4.80
11.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 28.1K
$1.13 CA$1.58
38.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 51.1K
$2.95 CA$4.10
-4.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.9K
$3.53 CA$4.91
-33.99%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.5K
$1.60 CA$2.23
19.37%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 Rp 39.7K
$2.60 CA$3.62
-15.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 18.3K
$2.21 CA$3.08
-54.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 14.0K
$1.59 CA$2.22
-50.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 Rp 59.8K
$13.38 CA$18.61
-75.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.74 Rp 428.0K
$12.76 CA$17.74
86.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 50.3K
$2.52 CA$3.51
10.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 51.6K
$2.53 CA$3.52
13.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Scarborough
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,848
$2.41 CA$3.35
-88.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.03 Rp 144.8K
$105 CA$146
-92.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,230
$3.10 CA$4.31
-85.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,116
$1.23 CA$1.71
-63.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 Rp 109.9K
$23.02 CA$32.01
-73.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 14.3K
$1.10 CA$1.53
-28.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 471.6M
$24.7K CA$34.3K
5.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 579.2M
$21.3K CA$29.6K
50.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Scarborough
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$179 CA$249
-55.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 73.3K
$42.53 CA$59.2
-90.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 Rp 424.1K
$53.7 CA$74.7
-56.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Scarborough
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
$37.41 CA$52.0
163.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 Rp 119.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.15 Rp 74.8K
$14.24 CA$19.80
-70.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Scarborough
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.5M
$843 CA$1,173
-63.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,613 Rp 119.3M
$10.8K CA$15.1K
-39.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Scarborough
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 Rp 1.0M
$57.8 CA$80.3
-3.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31 Rp 690.9K
$43.00 CA$59.8
-10.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
$86.1 CA$120
2.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$103 CA$143
-24.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Scarborough
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 Rp 18.1M
$1,740 CA$2,420
-42.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$675 Rp 12.2M
$1,400 CA$1,947
-51.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,442 Rp 62.1M
$2,203 CA$3,063
56.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 Rp 36.8M
$1,629 CA$2,265
25.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,841 Rp 51.2M
$7,653 CA$10.6K
-62.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,264 Rp 40.8M
$6,335 CA$8,810
-64.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Scarborough
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$3,040 CA$4,228
-94.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
6.08
118.42%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Scarborough: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,740 in Scarborough. 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 1740% higher in Scarborough, 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $80.0 in Scarborough. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $352 – 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 Scarborough: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Scarborough cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Scarborough is pricier by about 83%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $3,889 in Scarborough. 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.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 1207% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $843 in Scarborough. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Scarborough?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,419, than in Scarborough at $2,593. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Scarborough it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ubud, Bali or Scarborough 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 Scarborough?
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, Scarborough makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities