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 $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $336 in Shimla, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $540 in Shimla, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $744 in Shimla, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 318% more than Shimla, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% 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 64.0K

$1.69 ₹161

111.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

$5.85 ₹556

455.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

$3.44 ₹327

41.28%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

$0.95 ₹90.8

189.47%

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

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

$0.31 ₹29.95

325.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.17 ₹15.75

311.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

$1.59 ₹151

83.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

$2.35 ₹224

61.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

$0.70 ₹66.1

144.29%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

$0.41 ₹39.39

502.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$0.68 ₹64.4

76.47%

Eggs

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

$0.93 ₹88.5

162.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

$4.38 ₹417

228.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

$3.70 ₹352

16.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

$1.98 ₹188

85.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

$0.75 ₹71.7

106.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

$0.76 ₹72.8

267.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

$0.56 ₹52.9

316.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

$0.37 ₹35.35

432.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

$0.44 ₹41.53

425.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.22 ₹20.81

381.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$0.34 ₹32.12

114.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

$4.45 ₹423

-26.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

$6.73 ₹640

238.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

$1.75 ₹166

60.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$2.32 ₹221

19.83%

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

$5.86 ₹558

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

$0.24 ₹22.89

20.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

$8.93 ₹849

-9.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,047

$0.79 ₹75.2

-43.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

$1.19 ₹113

424.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

$1.19 ₹113

-28.57%

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

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

$15.0K ₹1.4M

72.86%

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

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

$19.7K ₹1.9M

60.82%

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

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

$19.70 ₹1,874

309.90%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

$3.54 ₹337

14.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

$7.79 ₹740

213.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

$14.61 ₹1,389

568.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

$7.04 ₹669

-8.38%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

$3.45 ₹328

17.10%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$46.45 ₹4,418

554.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

$2,348 ₹223.3K

181.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

$34.14 ₹3,247

58.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

$28.64 ₹2,723

35.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$47.27 ₹4,496

82.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

$29.50 ₹2,805

159.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

$93.2 ₹8,865

957.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.8M

$57.5 ₹5,464

1045.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

$225 ₹21.4K

1399.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

$139 ₹13.2K

1385.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

$958 ₹91.1K

186.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

$522 ₹49.7K

326.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

$546 ₹51.9K

-70.06%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Shimla: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $93.2 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 234% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $6.00 in Shimla. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 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: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, $336 in Shimla – roughly 318% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $504 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 $33.00 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 $1,404 in Ubud, Bali and $336 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 $336, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. 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 $336 in Shimla to $1,404 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.