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 $1,374 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $411 in Shillong, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,313 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $637 in Shillong, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,252 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $863 in Shillong, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 234% more than Shillong, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 2% above the global median, while Shillong is 70% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.32 Rp 59.8K

$3.29 ₹316

0.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.33 Rp 635.6K

$11.49 ₹1,103

207.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.33 Rp 95.9K

$4.62 ₹443

15.37%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.5K

$1.68 ₹161

63.69%

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

$1.73 Rp 31.1K

$0.41 ₹39.30

321.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 Rp 14.4K

$0.18 ₹16.85

344.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 53.0K

$1.22 ₹117

141.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.44 Rp 79.9K

$3.32 ₹318

33.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 Rp 27.0K

$0.66 ₹63.0

127.27%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 Rp 41.3K

$0.31 ₹29.72

641.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 Rp 19.8K

$0.58 ₹55.9

89.66%

Eggs

$2.16 Rp 38.9K

$0.91 ₹87.0

137.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.09 Rp 307.4K

$3.89 ₹373

339.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.88 Rp 69.8K

$2.46 ₹236

57.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.92 Rp 214.4K

Apples (1kg)

$3.57 Rp 64.1K

$2.06 ₹198

73.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 Rp 28.5K

$0.72 ₹68.8

119.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.36 Rp 42.5K

$0.95 ₹91.0

148.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.4K

$0.51 ₹49.00

286.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 Rp 32.5K

$0.31 ₹29.65

483.87%

Onion (1kg)

$2.39 Rp 43.0K

$0.36 ₹34.57

563.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 Rp 18.3K

$0.20 ₹19.17

410.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 Rp 8,841

$0.27 ₹26.19

81.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 Rp 40.4K

$5.12 ₹491

-56.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.30 Rp 401.2K

$4.63 ₹444

381.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 Rp 42.6K

$1.22 ₹117

94.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 52.1K

$1.97 ₹189

47.21%

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

$4.88 ₹469

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,482

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.55 Rp 153.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 Rp 7,950

$0.72 ₹68.9

-38.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,598

$0.30 ₹28.97

40.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.66 Rp 101.9K

$1.27 ₹122

345.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.7K

$1.06 ₹102

-23.58%

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

$23.7K Rp 427.1M

$12.7K ₹1.2M

87.50%

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

$31.0K Rp 557.4M

$16.1K ₹1.5M

92.16%

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

$82.3 Rp 1.5M

$35.12 ₹3,371

134.40%

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

$6.30 Rp 113.3K

$3.20 ₹307

96.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.63 Rp 335.3K

$6.22 ₹597

199.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 Rp 984.7K

$9.88 ₹948

453.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.45 Rp 331.9K

$5.23 ₹502

252.77%

Cinema Ticket

$4.24 Rp 76.3K

$3.17 ₹304

33.75%

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

$484 Rp 8.7M

$27.09 ₹2,600

1687.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,590 Rp 100.6M

$1,183 ₹113.5K

372.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.77 Rp 823.5K

$16.82 ₹1,614

172.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.69 Rp 642.2K

$22.08 ₹2,119

61.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.3 Rp 1.4M

$37.83 ₹3,631

106.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.1 Rp 1.4M

$27.60 ₹2,649

190.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,147 Rp 20.6M

$212 ₹20.3K

441.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$678 Rp 12.2M

$132 ₹12.7K

411.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,504 Rp 63.0M

$735 ₹70.5K

376.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,688 Rp 30.4M

$282 ₹27.1K

497.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,788 Rp 50.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,257 Rp 40.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$439 ₹42.2K

-62.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

7.38

86.72%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 28, 2026

Last update for Shillong: September 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,147 in Ubud, Bali versus $212 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 166% 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 $35.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $11.00 in Shillong. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $86.0 – 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 234% 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 $2,062 per month in Ubud, Bali and $616 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 $1,374 in Ubud, Bali and $411 in Shillong. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $484 per month in Ubud, Bali and $27.09 in Shillong. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Shillong, where all-in costs run around $411, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,374. 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 $411 versus $1,374 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.