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 $1,395 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,626 in Scarborough, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,559 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,481 in Scarborough, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,724 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,336 in Scarborough, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 47% cheaper than Scarborough, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Scarborough sit above the global median โ€“ Ubud, Bali by 4%, Scarborough by 95%.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Scarborough
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.48 Rpย 59.7K
$18.31 CA$25.08
-80.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.88 Rpย 564.0K
$80.8 CA$111
-59.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.09 Rpย 87.3K
$11.01 CA$15.08
-53.77%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rpย 47.1K
$4.08 CA$5.59
-32.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rpย 23.7K
$2.17 CA$2.97
-36.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 Rpย 12.2K
$1.45 CA$1.98
-51.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.88 Rpย 49.4K
$5.99 CA$8.21
-51.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.87 Rpย 66.4K
$6.77 CA$9.27
-42.84%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Scarborough
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 Rpย 30.7K
$2.33 CA$3.19
-23.18%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 Rpย 42.0K
$2.56 CA$3.51
-4.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 Rpย 20.7K
$2.76 CA$3.79
-56.16%
Eggs
$2.39 Rpย 40.9K
$3.49 CA$4.78
-31.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.70 Rpย 252.1K
$13.23 CA$18.13
11.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.24 Rpย 72.7K
$11.29 CA$15.46
-62.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.08 Rpย 207.1K
$14.42 CA$19.76
-16.23%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 Rpย 62.9K
$3.54 CA$4.85
3.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rpย 27.6K
$1.17 CA$1.60
37.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.72 Rpย 46.6K
$2.87 CA$3.93
-5.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 Rpย 39.0K
$3.35 CA$4.59
-32.24%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 Rpย 32.6K
$1.60 CA$2.20
18.75%
Onion (1kg)
$2.30 Rpย 39.4K
$2.54 CA$3.48
-9.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 Rpย 17.4K
$2.22 CA$3.04
-54.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rpย 13.4K
$1.57 CA$2.15
-50.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.24 Rpย 55.7K
$13.21 CA$18.09
-75.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.06 Rpย 412.7K
$13.28 CA$18.20
81.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.84 Rpย 48.7K
$2.47 CA$3.38
14.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rpย 47.8K
$2.57 CA$3.53
8.56%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Scarborough
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rpย 4,610
$2.47 CA$3.39
-89.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.24 Rpย 141.4K
$104 CA$142
-92.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rpย 7,708
$3.18 CA$4.36
-85.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rpย 7,305
$1.18 CA$1.62
-63.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.02 Rpย 103.3K
$22.61 CA$30.97
-73.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 Rpย 14.7K
$1.10 CA$1.51
-21.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rpย 447.1M
$25.4K CA$34.8K
2.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rpย 543.7M
$20.8K CA$28.5K
52.34%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Scarborough
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.3 Rpย 1.3M
$178 CA$244
-56.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.00 Rpย 68.5K
$42.30 CA$58.0
-90.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.35 Rpย 417.7K
$55.1 CA$75.5
-55.79%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Scarborough
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$95.8 Rpย 1.6M
$36.23 CA$49.63
164.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.46 Rpย 110.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.01 Rpย 68.7K
$14.25 CA$19.53
-71.86%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Scarborough
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$302 Rpย 5.2M
$839 CA$1,150
-64.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,545 Rpย 112.3M
$10.8K CA$14.9K
-39.68%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Scarborough
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 Rpย 916.3K
$57.6 CA$78.8
-7.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.55 Rpย 661.2K
$42.86 CA$58.7
-10.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.1 Rpย 1.5M
$87.2 CA$120
2.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rpย 1.4M
$104 CA$143
-24.48%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Scarborough
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,016 Rpย 17.4M
$1,745 CA$2,390
-41.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$672 Rpย 11.5M
$1,396 CA$1,912
-51.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,368 Rpย 57.8M
$2,225 CA$3,049
51.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,108 Rpย 36.2M
$1,647 CA$2,257
27.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,001 Rpย 51.5M
$7,846 CA$10.7K
-61.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,337 Rpย 40.1M
$6,164 CA$8,445
-62.09%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Scarborough
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$178 Rpย 3.0M
$3,074 CA$4,211
-94.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
6.08
118.42%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 12, 2026

Last update for Scarborough: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,016 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,745 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 1632% 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 in Ubud, Bali versus $81 in Scarborough. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $348 โ€“ 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 โ€“ Scarborough is pricier by about 88%, 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 $2,092 per month in Ubud, Bali and $3,939 in Scarborough. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ€“ 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 1158% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $302 per month in Ubud, Bali and $839 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 $1,395, than in Scarborough at $2,626. 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 โ€“ 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 โ€“ 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.

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