🙂A single person spends $1,374 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,539 in Sheldon, IA, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,313 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,728 in Sheldon, IA, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,252 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,916 in Sheldon, IA, rent included.
🙂Ubud, Bali is about 46% cheaper than Sheldon, IA, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Ubud, Bali and Sheldon, IA sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 2%, Sheldon, IA by 88%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Sheldon, IA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32Rp 59.6K
$19.82$19.82
-83.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.33Rp 633.8K
$81.5$81.5
-56.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.33Rp 95.7K
$10.10$10.10
-47.23%
Cappuccino
$2.75Rp 49.4K
$5.82$5.82
-52.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73Rp 31.0K
$3.07$3.07
-43.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80Rp 14.3K
$2.30$2.30
-65.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95Rp 52.9K
$6.98$6.98
-57.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44Rp 79.6K
$7.85$7.85
-43.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Sheldon, IA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.50Rp 26.9K
$0.90$0.90
66.67%
White Bread(500g)
$2.30Rp 41.2K
$3.66$3.66
-37.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.10Rp 19.7K
$6.45$6.45
-82.95%
Eggs
$2.16Rp 38.7K
$2.06$2.06
4.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.09Rp 306.5K
$10.09$10.09
69.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.88Rp 69.6K
$12.98$12.98
-70.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.92Rp 213.8K
$8.70$8.70
37.01%
Apples(1kg)
$3.57Rp 64.0K
$5.85$5.85
-38.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58Rp 28.4K
$1.29$1.29
22.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.36Rp 42.4K
$5.50$5.50
-57.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97Rp 35.3K
$5.13$5.13
-61.60%
Potato(1kg)
$1.81Rp 32.4K
$4.55$4.55
-60.22%
Onion(1kg)
$2.39Rp 42.9K
$4.18$4.18
-42.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02Rp 18.3K
$1.96$1.96
-47.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49Rp 8,815
$2.60$2.60
-81.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25Rp 40.3K
$12.92$12.92
-82.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.30Rp 400.0K
$16.24$16.24
37.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.37Rp 42.5K
$2.79$2.79
-15.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90Rp 51.9K
$5.85$5.85
-50.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Sheldon, IA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25Rp 4,469
$2.09$2.09
-88.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.55Rp 153.4K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.44Rp 7,927
$5.06$5.06
-91.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42Rp 7,575
$1.73$1.73
-75.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.66Rp 101.6K
$24.42$24.42
-76.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.6K
$1.02$1.02
-20.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7KRp 425.9M
$36.5K$36.5K
-34.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.0KRp 555.7M
$25.5K$25.5K
21.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Sheldon, IA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.3Rp 1.5M
$179$179
-53.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.30Rp 113.0K
$53.9$53.9
-88.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.63Rp 334.3K
$72.6$72.6
-74.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Sheldon, IA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.7Rp 981.8K
$42.98$42.98
27.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.45Rp 330.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.24Rp 76.0K
$15.68$15.68
-72.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Sheldon, IA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$484Rp 8.7M
$1,342$1,342
-63.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,590Rp 100.3M
$36.8K$36.8K
-84.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Sheldon, IA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.77Rp 821.1K
$57.5$57.5
-20.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.69Rp 640.3K
$43.31$43.31
-17.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.3Rp 1.4M
$101$101
-22.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.1Rp 1.4M
$105$105
-23.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Sheldon, IA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,147Rp 20.6M
$1,706$1,706
-32.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$678Rp 12.2M
$1,365$1,365
-50.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,504Rp 62.9M
$2,361$2,361
48.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,688Rp 30.3M
$1,885$1,885
-10.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,788Rp 50.0M
$2,488$2,488
12.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,257Rp 40.5M
$2,433$2,433
-7.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Sheldon, IA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$165Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
6.27
119.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 28, 2026
Last update for Sheldon, IA: September 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,147 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,706 in Sheldon, IA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $81.0 in Sheldon, IA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $405 – 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 Sheldon, IA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Ubud, Bali and in Sheldon, IA compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,374 in Ubud, Bali, $2,539 in Sheldon, IA – roughly 85% apart. Sheldon, IA costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Ubud, Bali compared to Sheldon, IA?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,062 per month in Ubud, Bali and $3,809 in Sheldon, IA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Ubud, Bali and Sheldon, IA?
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 restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali and $81.0 in Sheldon, IA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 41% more in Sheldon, IA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,374, than in Sheldon, IA at $2,539. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sheldon, IA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Sheldon, IA?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,374 in Ubud, Bali to $2,539 in Sheldon, IA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Ubud, Bali or Sheldon, IA safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Ubud, Bali and Sheldon, IA?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sheldon, IA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared