Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Schenectady, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Schenectady, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,493 in Schenectady, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,451 in Schenectady, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,732 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,410 in Schenectady, NY.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 42% less than in Schenectady, NY, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 7% above, Schenectady, NY 86% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 61.4K

$18.72 $18.72

-80.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 560.9K

$64.3 $64.3

-49.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.2K

$12.08 $12.08

-58.03%

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 48.6K

$4.06 $4.06

-30.30%

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

$1.34 Rp 23.1K

$2.40 $2.40

-44.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 11.9K

$1.88 $1.88

-63.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.5K

$4.96 $4.96

-39.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.2K

$5.83 $5.83

-33.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.0K

$1.01 $1.01

72.28%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 43.7K

$3.97 $3.97

-36.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.5K

$5.81 $5.81

-79.52%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 41.8K

$4.96 $4.96

-51.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 252.4K

$16.56 $16.56

-11.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 71.9K

$13.72 $13.72

-69.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 205.5K

$17.77 $17.77

-32.81%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.5K

$4.64 $4.64

-20.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.6K

$1.46 $1.46

10.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.2K

$4.64 $4.64

-42.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.1K

$4.75 $4.75

-50.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 32.8K

$3.28 $3.28

-41.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.6K

$2.52 $2.52

-13.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.2K

$1.93 $1.93

-45.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.4K

$1.71 $1.71

-57.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 53.9K

$12.98 $12.98

-75.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 404.4K

$14.11 $14.11

66.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.1K

$1.76 $1.76

55.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.6K

$3.36 $3.36

-14.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 4,996

$1.47 $1.47

-80.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 140.6K

$55.6 $55.6

-85.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,811

$2.92 $2.92

-84.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,256

$1.42 $1.42

-70.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.0K

$27.90 $27.90

-77.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.5K

$0.87 $0.87

-3.45%

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

$26.2K Rp 451.8M

$30.4K $30.4K

-13.56%

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

$32.5K Rp 559.1M

$25.2K $25.2K

28.92%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$212 $212

-62.95%

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

$3.95 Rp 68.0K

$58.4 $58.4

-93.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 420.1K

$76.1 $76.1

-67.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

$68.7 $68.7

40.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 109.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 69.5K

$14.91 $14.91

-72.90%

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

$1,381 $1,381

-78.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 112.3M

$28.4K $28.4K

-77.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 926.8K

$47.15 $47.15

14.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 653.9K

$44.31 $44.31

-14.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

$85.6 $85.6

1.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$158 $158

-50.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.4M

$1,297 $1,297

-21.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.6M

$1,082 $1,082

-37.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.4M

$2,194 $2,194

54.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.1M

$1,456 $1,456

44.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.4M

$2,504 $2,504

19.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.3M

$2,480 $2,480

-5.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

$3,778 $3,778

-95.42%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Schenectady, NY: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali and $1,297 in Schenectady, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Schenectady, NY pays 2082% 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 in Ubud, Bali vs $64 in Schenectady, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $426 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

Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 73% 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.

On paper, Schenectady, NY earns 2082% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,297 in Schenectady, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 581% less than in Schenectady, NY. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $303 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,381 in Schenectady, NY. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,493 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.

Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,438 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.

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.

Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Schenectady, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.