😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,076 in Side.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,582 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,642 in Side.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,757 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,208 in Side.
😐Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 31% more expensive than Side, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Side is 20% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Side
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.42Rp 58.7K
$7.79₺350
-56.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96Rp 566.5K
$23.29₺1,047
41.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.08Rp 87.3K
$6.18₺278
-17.80%
Cappuccino
$2.82Rp 48.5K
$2.64₺119
6.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37Rp 23.5K
$1.74₺78.0
-21.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71Rp 12.2K
$0.47₺21.24
51.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.97Rp 51.0K
$3.14₺141
-5.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91Rp 67.2K
$4.10₺184
-4.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Side
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75Rp 30.0K
$0.84₺37.96
108.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.52Rp 43.2K
$0.98₺44.13
157.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.21Rp 20.8K
$0.88₺39.38
37.50%
Eggs
$2.33Rp 40.1K
$1.77₺79.5
31.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.50Rp 249.2K
$8.38₺377
73.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.36Rp 74.9K
$5.33₺240
-18.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.05Rp 207.0K
$16.31₺733
-26.12%
Apples(1kg)
$3.82Rp 65.6K
$1.01₺45.32
278.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61Rp 27.7K
$2.09₺93.9
-22.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.70Rp 46.5K
$0.73₺32.71
269.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23Rp 38.3K
$1.11₺49.76
100.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90Rp 32.6K
$0.56₺24.97
239.29%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18Rp 37.5K
$0.45₺20.33
384.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03Rp 17.7K
$1.27₺56.9
-18.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77Rp 13.3K
$0.34₺15.30
126.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.18Rp 54.7K
$2.05₺92.0
55.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.23Rp 399.2K
$8.72₺392
166.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.85Rp 48.9K
$1.70₺76.6
67.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72Rp 46.7K
$2.12₺95.3
28.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Side
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,022
$0.63₺28.09
-53.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.43Rp 144.8K
$30.68₺1,379
-72.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.49Rp 8,344
$1.08₺48.74
-54.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45Rp 7,812
$0.61₺27.31
-26.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.28Rp 107.8K
$7.65₺344
-17.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85Rp 14.6K
$1.16₺52.0
-26.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1KRp 447.8M
$40.1K₺1.8M
-34.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5KRp 541.8M
$42.7K₺1.9M
-26.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Side
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.8Rp 1.4M
$48.43₺2,177
64.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09Rp 70.3K
$8.03₺361
-49.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.06Rp 413.6K
$6.49₺292
270.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Side
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$96.2Rp 1.7M
$42.64₺1,917
125.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.53Rp 112.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.13Rp 71.1K
$6.47₺291
-36.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Side
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$297Rp 5.1M
$619₺27.8K
-52.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,661Rp 114.5M
$8,974₺403.4K
-25.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Side
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.0Rp 944.5K
$75.2₺3,379
-26.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.75Rp 666.0K
$45.66₺2,053
-15.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.6Rp 1.5M
$163₺7,318
-44.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9Rp 1.4M
$112₺5,025
-29.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Side
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,018Rp 17.5M
$513₺23.0K
98.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$660Rp 11.3M
$395₺17.8K
67.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,435Rp 59.0M
$889₺40.0K
286.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,053Rp 35.3M
$702₺31.6K
192.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,981Rp 51.2M
$1,382₺62.1K
115.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,368Rp 40.7M
$1,010₺45.4K
134.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Side
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$172Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
20
-33.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 21, 2026
Last update for Side: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,018 in Ubud, Bali and $513 in Side. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33 in Ubud, Bali vs $23 in Side for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $299 vs $198 per month, with Side cheaper across the board.
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 Side: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Side cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Side is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,112 in Ubud, Bali and $1,614 in Side to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Side?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,018 in Ubud, Bali versus $513 in Side. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and Side?
Supermarket bills run roughly 51% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or Side?
Dining out is cheaper in Side – a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Side?
At $1,076 in Side versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Side but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Side the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Side more family-friendly?
For families, Side is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Side?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Side are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Side gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared