Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Shillong Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Shillong

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $449 in Shillong, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $696 in Shillong, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $944 in Shillong, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 216% more than Shillong, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Shillong is 67% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.9K

$1.39 ₹133

156.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 586.8K

$10.66 ₹1,020

207.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.7K

$4.56 ₹436

8.55%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.6K

$1.18 ₹113

129.66%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.1K

$0.36 ₹34.58

272.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.12 ₹11.42

483.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.3K

$1.43 ₹137

104.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.9K

$3.29 ₹315

20.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

$0.65 ₹62.1

178.46%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.1K

$0.37 ₹34.96

581.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.8K

$0.52 ₹49.80

123.08%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$0.85 ₹81.6

189.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 263.7K

$4.41 ₹422

233.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.4K

$3.32 ₹318

30.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 217.5K

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.8K

$1.85 ₹177

107.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.9K

$0.75 ₹72.2

108.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.8K

$0.92 ₹88.0

207.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.7K

$0.60 ₹57.6

288.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.3K

$0.31 ₹29.74

516.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.5K

$0.36 ₹34.30

511.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.2K

$0.37 ₹35.25

172.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

$0.17 ₹15.88

358.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.4K

$4.08 ₹391

-18.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 425.5K

$4.63 ₹443

412.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 50.0K

$1.53 ₹146

82.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.3K

$2.81 ₹268

1.78%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$4.21 ₹403

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,819

$0.30 ₹28.91

-10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.9K

$8.88 ₹850

-9.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,181

$0.76 ₹73.1

-39.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,068

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 109.3K

$1.48 ₹141

312.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$1.15 ₹111

-31.30%

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

$26.1K Rp 468.8M

$13.9K ₹1.3M

87.46%

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

$32.1K Rp 575.8M

$18.0K ₹1.7M

78.56%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$39.75 ₹3,804

101.11%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.9K

$3.31 ₹317

22.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 421.6K

$5.70 ₹546

312.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$4.59 ₹439

2050.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.8K

$5.93 ₹568

11.80%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.3K

$2.98 ₹286

39.26%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$32.18 ₹3,080

844.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.5M

$1,908 ₹182.6K

246.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 995.6K

$25.38 ₹2,429

118.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 686.7K

$35.62 ₹3,409

7.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$45.79 ₹4,381

93.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$42.26 ₹4,044

84.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$254 ₹24.3K

296.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$158 ₹15.1K

327.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.7M

$466 ₹44.6K

638.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.6M

$319 ₹30.5K

539.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$438 ₹41.9K

-62.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

7.38

79.95%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Shillong: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $254 in Shillong. 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 165% higher in Shillong, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $11.00 in Shillong. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $94.0 – making Shillong 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 Shillong: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 216% more than Shillong, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $673 in Shillong. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Shillong, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali and $449 in Shillong. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 11% less in Shillong. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Shillong, where all-in costs run around $449, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Shillong it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Shillong costs $449 versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Shillong. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.