🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,477 in Schenectady, NY.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,460 in Schenectady, NY.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,694 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,443 in Schenectady, NY.
🙂Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 43% less than in Schenectady, NY, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali4% above, Schenectady, NY84% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Schenectady, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57Rp 64.0K
$19.19$19.19
-81.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.50Rp 582.3K
$64.9$64.9
-49.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.86Rp 87.1K
$11.80$11.80
-58.81%
Cappuccino
$2.75Rp 49.2K
$4.14$4.14
-33.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32Rp 23.7K
$2.46$2.46
-46.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70Rp 12.6K
$1.97$1.97
-64.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.91Rp 52.2K
$5.07$5.07
-42.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79Rp 68.0K
$6.08$6.08
-37.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Schenectady, NY
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71Rp 30.6K
$1.02$1.02
67.65%
White Bread(500g)
$2.47Rp 44.3K
$3.96$3.96
-37.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20Rp 21.5K
$5.73$5.73
-79.06%
Eggs
$2.44Rp 43.8K
$4.94$4.94
-50.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.38Rp 257.7K
$16.31$16.31
-11.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.31Rp 77.1K
$13.47$13.47
-68.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.21Rp 218.7K
$17.44$17.44
-29.99%
Apples(1kg)
$3.68Rp 66.0K
$4.73$4.73
-22.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55Rp 27.8K
$1.46$1.46
6.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.79Rp 49.9K
$4.69$4.69
-40.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 41.8K
$4.85$4.85
-51.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97Rp 35.3K
$3.27$3.27
-39.76%
Onion(1kg)
$2.31Rp 41.4K
$2.57$2.57
-10.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 19.1K
$1.84$1.84
-42.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73Rp 13.1K
$1.80$1.80
-59.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28Rp 58.8K
$12.85$12.85
-74.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.79Rp 408.4K
$14.10$14.10
61.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81Rp 50.3K
$1.75$1.75
60.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78Rp 49.9K
$3.35$3.35
-17.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Schenectady, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,217
$1.53$1.53
-81.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.06Rp 144.4K
$54.4$54.4
-85.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 8,047
$2.98$2.98
-84.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45Rp 8,094
$1.40$1.40
-67.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.24Rp 111.7K
$27.87$27.87
-77.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85Rp 15.2K
$0.90$0.90
-5.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0KRp 465.4M
$30.0K$30.0K
-13.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7KRp 567.2M
$26.1K$26.1K
21.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Schenectady, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8Rp 1.4M
$209$209
-61.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06Rp 72.7K
$57.2$57.2
-92.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.42Rp 437.6K
$78.8$78.8
-69.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Schenectady, NY
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$97.7Rp 1.7M
$70.6$70.6
38.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.45Rp 115.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.04Rp 72.4K
$15.28$15.28
-73.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Schenectady, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304Rp 5.4M
$1,419$1,419
-78.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,621Rp 118.6M
$27.9K$27.9K
-76.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Schenectady, NY
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2Rp 971.7K
$47.58$47.58
13.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.78Rp 694.7K
$45.35$45.35
-14.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.1Rp 1.5M
$85.6$85.6
0.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7Rp 1.4M
$159$159
-51.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Schenectady, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$986Rp 17.7M
$1,302$1,302
-24.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$658Rp 11.8M
$1,083$1,083
-39.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,369Rp 60.4M
$2,241$2,241
50.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,066Rp 37.0M
$1,444$1,444
43.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,741Rp 49.1M
$2,496$2,496
9.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,228Rp 39.9M
$2,489$2,489
-10.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Schenectady, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$163Rp 2.9M
$3,864$3,864
-95.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
6.45
105.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026
Last update for Schenectady, NY: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $986 in Ubud, Bali and $1,302 in Schenectady, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Schenectady, NY pays 2264% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $65.0 in Schenectady, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $424 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.
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 Schenectady, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Schenectady, NY?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 76% lower than in Schenectady, NY. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or Schenectady, NY?
On paper, Schenectady, NY earns 2264% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali vs Schenectady, NY?
Rent for a central apartment: $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,302 in Schenectady, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Ubud, Bali vs Schenectady, NY?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 575% less than in Schenectady, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and Schenectady, NY?
Childcare runs $304 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,419 in Schenectady, NY. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or Schenectady, NY?
At $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,477 in Schenectady, NY, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Schenectady, NY. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Schenectady, NY?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,404 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Schenectady, NY?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Schenectady, NY are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 76% less than in Schenectady, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared