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

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$3.42 Rp 58.7K
$7.79 ₺350
-56.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96 Rp 566.5K
$23.29 ₺1,047
41.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.08 Rp 87.3K
$6.18 ₺278
-17.80%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 48.5K
$2.64 ₺119
6.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 Rp 23.5K
$1.74 ₺78.0
-21.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 Rp 12.2K
$0.47 ₺21.24
51.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.97 Rp 51.0K
$3.14 ₺141
-5.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 Rp 67.2K
$4.10 ₺184
-4.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Side
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.75 Rp 30.0K
$0.84 ₺37.96
108.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 43.2K
$0.98 ₺44.13
157.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 Rp 20.8K
$0.88 ₺39.38
37.50%
Eggs
$2.33 Rp 40.1K
$1.77 ₺79.5
31.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 Rp 249.2K
$8.38 ₺377
73.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.36 Rp 74.9K
$5.33 ₺240
-18.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.05 Rp 207.0K
$16.31 ₺733
-26.12%
Apples (1kg)
$3.82 Rp 65.6K
$1.01 ₺45.32
278.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.7K
$2.09 ₺93.9
-22.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.70 Rp 46.5K
$0.73 ₺32.71
269.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 38.3K
$1.11 ₺49.76
100.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 32.6K
$0.56 ₺24.97
239.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 Rp 37.5K
$0.45 ₺20.33
384.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 Rp 17.7K
$1.27 ₺56.9
-18.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 Rp 13.3K
$0.34 ₺15.30
126.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.18 Rp 54.7K
$2.05 ₺92.0
55.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.23 Rp 399.2K
$8.72 ₺392
166.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.85 Rp 48.9K
$1.70 ₺76.6
67.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 Rp 46.7K
$2.12 ₺95.3
28.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Side
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,022
$0.63 ₺28.09
-53.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.43 Rp 144.8K
$30.68 ₺1,379
-72.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.49 Rp 8,344
$1.08 ₺48.74
-54.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 7,812
$0.61 ₺27.31
-26.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.28 Rp 107.8K
$7.65 ₺344
-17.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 14.6K
$1.16 ₺52.0
-26.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 447.8M
$40.1K ₺1.8M
-34.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5K Rp 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)
$79.8 Rp 1.4M
$48.43 ₺2,177
64.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09 Rp 70.3K
$8.03 ₺361
-49.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.06 Rp 413.6K
$6.49 ₺292
270.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Side
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.2 Rp 1.7M
$42.64 ₺1,917
125.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.53 Rp 112.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.13 Rp 71.1K
$6.47 ₺291
-36.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Side
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$297 Rp 5.1M
$619 ₺27.8K
-52.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,661 Rp 114.5M
$8,974 ₺403.4K
-25.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Side
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.0 Rp 944.5K
$75.2 ₺3,379
-26.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.75 Rp 666.0K
$45.66 ₺2,053
-15.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.6 Rp 1.5M
$163 ₺7,318
-44.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
$112 ₺5,025
-29.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Side
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,018 Rp 17.5M
$513 ₺23.0K
98.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$660 Rp 11.3M
$395 ₺17.8K
67.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,435 Rp 59.0M
$889 ₺40.0K
286.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,053 Rp 35.3M
$702 ₺31.6K
192.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,981 Rp 51.2M
$1,382 ₺62.1K
115.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,368 Rp 40.7M
$1,010 ₺45.4K
134.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Side
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$172 Rp 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.

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