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 $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $443 in Shillong, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $684 in Shillong, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $924 in Shillong, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 218% more than Shillong, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Shillong is 67% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 61.8K

$1.43 ₹138

141.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 578.5K

$10.30 ₹992

213.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 86.7K

$4.71 ₹454

2.76%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.1K

$1.22 ₹118

125.41%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

$0.36 ₹34.74

283.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.4K

$0.14 ₹13.19

435.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.5K

$1.43 ₹138

109.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 68.9K

$3.28 ₹316

17.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

$0.61 ₹58.7

185.25%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.0K

$0.36 ₹35.09

583.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 20.9K

$0.52 ₹50.1

125.00%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.5K

$0.82 ₹79.2

196.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 259.5K

$4.43 ₹427

227.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 77.8K

$3.31 ₹319

31.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 214.3K

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.5K

$1.93 ₹186

92.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.1K

$0.75 ₹71.8

117.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.1K

$0.97 ₹93.5

182.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.1K

$0.55 ₹53.3

307.27%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.3K

$0.29 ₹27.52

562.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.7K

$0.36 ₹34.64

533.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.0K

$0.37 ₹35.51

186.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$0.18 ₹17.51

300.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 58.8K

$4.13 ₹398

-20.34%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 414.9K

$4.75 ₹457

388.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.7K

$1.49 ₹143

86.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 48.9K

$2.78 ₹267

-1.80%

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

$4.36 ₹419

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,765

$0.30 ₹29.21

-10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.0K

$8.48 ₹816

-4.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,636

$0.80 ₹77.1

-40.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,511

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.3K

$1.43 ₹138

334.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$1.19 ₹115

-31.93%

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

$26.6K Rp 476.1M

$13.7K ₹1.3M

94.24%

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

$32.2K Rp 575.9M

$17.7K ₹1.7M

81.45%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$40.08 ₹3,859

95.48%

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

$4.07 Rp 72.8K

$3.44 ₹331

18.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 435.2K

$5.68 ₹547

328.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$4.53 ₹436

2076.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.3K

$5.89 ₹567

7.64%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.3K

$2.87 ₹276

39.02%

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

$305 Rp 5.5M

$32.21 ₹3,101

847.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 118.8M

$1,919 ₹184.8K

246.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 968.6K

$25.14 ₹2,420

115.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 676.3K

$35.50 ₹3,418

6.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

$46.95 ₹4,520

84.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

$42.64 ₹4,105

79.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.7M

$253 ₹24.4K

291.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.0M

$156 ₹15.0K

330.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.4M

$464 ₹44.7K

626.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.7M

$318 ₹30.6K

544.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 39.8M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$441 ₹42.5K

-62.17%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Shillong: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $253 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 164% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $10.00 in Shillong. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $93.0 – 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 218% 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 $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $664 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 $1,408 in Ubud, Bali and $443 in Shillong. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 5% 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 $443, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. 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 $443 versus $1,408 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.