😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $676 in Shaoxing.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,078 in Shaoxing.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,480 in Shaoxing.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 108% more expensive than in Shaoxing, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Shaoxing is 49% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Shaoxing
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45Rp 62.1K
$2.83¥19.13
21.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34Rp 581.1K
$21.26¥144
52.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.84Rp 87.1K
$4.29¥29.00
12.82%
Cappuccino
$2.75Rp 49.4K
$2.81¥18.98
-2.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38Rp 24.9K
$0.44¥2.97
213.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75Rp 13.5K
$0.26¥1.77
188.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.99Rp 53.8K
$0.68¥4.61
339.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85Rp 69.2K
$1.65¥11.17
133.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Shaoxing
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74Rp 31.2K
$2.26¥15.27
-23.01%
White Bread(500g)
$2.46Rp 44.2K
$2.12¥14.33
16.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17Rp 21.0K
$0.77¥5.17
51.95%
Eggs
$2.43Rp 43.7K
$1.53¥10.34
58.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.50Rp 260.6K
$7.71¥52.1
88.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.35Rp 78.2K
$2.82¥19.04
54.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.98Rp 215.3K
$8.96¥60.5
33.71%
Apples(1kg)
$3.72Rp 66.8K
$1.89¥12.76
96.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63Rp 29.2K
$1.38¥9.36
18.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.74Rp 49.3K
$1.59¥10.77
72.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24Rp 40.3K
$1.17¥7.90
91.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92Rp 34.5K
$0.94¥6.33
104.26%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28Rp 40.9K
$0.97¥6.54
135.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 19.1K
$0.76¥5.16
39.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72Rp 12.9K
$0.61¥4.13
18.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29Rp 59.0K
$3.43¥23.18
-4.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.19Rp 416.8K
$10.21¥69.0
127.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78Rp 49.9K
$0.74¥5.02
275.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73Rp 49.1K
$1.49¥10.08
83.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Shaoxing
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,786
$0.27¥1.81
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.11Rp 145.7K
$16.86¥114
-51.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,675
$1.52¥10.25
-68.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42Rp 7,545
$0.39¥2.61
7.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.22Rp 111.8K
$8.42¥56.9
-26.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.6K
$1.18¥7.95
-31.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KRp 478.2M
$17.3K¥117.2K
53.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2KRp 578.5M
$14.2K¥96.3K
125.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Shaoxing
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.4Rp 1.4M
$42.53¥287
84.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07Rp 73.1K
$10.97¥74.1
-62.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33Rp 437.1K
$10.95¥74.0
122.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Shaoxing
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.6Rp 1.8M
$41.03¥277
140.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34Rp 113.9K
$14.12¥95.4
-55.10%
Cinema Ticket
$3.99Rp 71.6K
$5.64¥38.13
-29.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Shaoxing
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305Rp 5.5M
$407¥2,753
-25.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,642Rp 119.4M
$18.5K¥124.8K
-64.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Shaoxing
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1Rp 972.9K
$42.88¥290
26.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81Rp 679.4K
$30.15¥204
25.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.8Rp 1.6M
$69.5¥469
25.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4Rp 1.4M
$65.5¥442
16.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Shaoxing
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$992Rp 17.8M
$277¥1,871
258.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$673Rp 12.1M
$187¥1,267
258.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,375Rp 60.7M
$602¥4,069
460.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,050Rp 36.8M
$364¥2,460
463.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,805Rp 50.4M
$3,105¥21.0K
-9.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,227Rp 40.0M
$1,850¥12.5K
20.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Shaoxing
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$167Rp 3.0M
$916¥6,191
-81.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
3.87
243.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026
Last update for Shaoxing: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Ubud, Bali and $277 in Shaoxing. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Shaoxing pays 449% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $21.00 in Shaoxing for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $189 per month, with Shaoxing 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 Shaoxing: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and in Shaoxing?
Ubud, Bali and Shaoxing differ by about 108% in total monthly costs ($1,408 vs $676 including rent). Shaoxing is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 449% lower in Shaoxing. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Shaoxing?
Rent for a central apartment: $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $277 in Shaoxing. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ubud, Bali and Shaoxing?
Childcare runs $305 in Ubud, Bali versus $407 in Shaoxing. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 57% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $676 in Shaoxing versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Shaoxing but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Shaoxing the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Shaoxing?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ubud, Bali or Shaoxing safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Shaoxing are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ubud, Bali or Shaoxing?
Expats usually find Shaoxing gentler on the wallet – expenses run 108% less than in Ubud, Bali. 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