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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $332 in Shimla, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,557 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $532 in Shimla, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,723 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $732 in Shimla, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 319% more than Shimla, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Shimla is 75% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.5K

$1.77 ₹169

101.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.32 Rp 583.4K

$5.84 ₹557

453.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.01 Rp 90.4K

$3.51 ₹335

42.74%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 51.0K

$1.00 ₹95.5

182.00%

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

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

$0.34 ₹32.46

297.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

$0.16 ₹15.70

356.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 Rp 53.0K

$1.58 ₹151

85.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 Rp 71.1K

$2.35 ₹224

67.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 Rp 32.1K

$0.73 ₹70.0

143.84%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 Rp 44.2K

$0.45 ₹42.80

444.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

$0.62 ₹59.1

85.48%

Eggs

$2.41 Rp 43.6K

$0.92 ₹88.1

161.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 Rp 258.7K

$4.31 ₹411

232.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.19 Rp 75.6K

$3.59 ₹343

16.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.06 Rp 217.7K

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 Rp 65.7K

$1.93 ₹184

88.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.3K

$0.69 ₹65.8

127.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 50.3K

$0.79 ₹75.8

253.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.5K

$0.56 ₹53.2

300.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 Rp 35.7K

$0.38 ₹36.01

421.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 41.1K

$0.43 ₹41.13

430.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 19.0K

$0.24 ₹22.92

337.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$0.37 ₹34.95

113.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 Rp 57.6K

$4.46 ₹426

-28.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 424.1K

$6.98 ₹665

236.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 52.3K

$1.78 ₹170

62.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 Rp 49.7K

$2.25 ₹215

22.67%

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

$5.68 ₹542

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,813

$0.24 ₹22.99

12.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 151.1K

$8.93 ₹852

-6.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,167

$0.83 ₹78.9

-45.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,298

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 Rp 109.6K

$1.18 ₹113

414.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

$1.18 ₹113

-27.12%

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

$26.6K Rp 480.0M

$15.1K ₹1.4M

76.43%

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

$32.5K Rp 587.6M

$20.1K ₹1.9M

62.32%

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

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

$19.55 ₹1,864

304.19%

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

$4.09 Rp 73.9K

$3.54 ₹338

15.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.85 Rp 430.5K

$7.68 ₹733

210.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

$14.43 ₹1,376

584.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 114.7K

$7.10 ₹677

-10.56%

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 Rp 72.3K

$3.46 ₹330

15.90%

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

$297 Rp 5.4M

$45.25 ₹4,315

556.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,602 Rp 119.2M

$2,380 ₹227.0K

177.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 Rp 964.5K

$33.95 ₹3,238

57.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.11 Rp 688.1K

$28.04 ₹2,675

35.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

$47.40 ₹4,521

87.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

$29.42 ₹2,806

160.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 Rp 18.4M

$96.7 ₹9,225

954.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 Rp 12.3M

$58.7 ₹5,594

1059.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,469 Rp 62.6M

$225 ₹21.4K

1443.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 Rp 37.7M

$138 ₹13.2K

1410.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,729 Rp 49.3M

$980 ₹93.4K

178.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,295 Rp 41.4M

$525 ₹50.1K

336.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 Rp 3.0M

$554 ₹52.8K

-70.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

8.25

60.97%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Last update for Shimla: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $96.7 in Shimla. 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 238% higher in Shimla, 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 $6.00 in Shimla. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $103 – making Shimla 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 Shimla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, $332 in Shimla – roughly 319% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,088 per month in Ubud, Bali and $498 in Shimla. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali and $6.00 in Shimla. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,392 in Ubud, Bali and $332 in Shimla. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Shimla, where all-in costs run around $332, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. In Shimla it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $332 in Shimla to $1,392 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Shimla. 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.