Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Sikkim

For one person, living is cheaper in Sikkim: $361 a month against $1,331 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $11,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Sikkim, India
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,331
/mo nomad
Sikkim
🇮🇳 India
$361
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Sikkim

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Sikkim actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,331 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $361 in Sikkim, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,331
  • Sikkim $361

A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $582 in Sikkim, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,255
  • Sikkim $582

A family of three spends $3,180 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $802 in Sikkim, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,180
  • Sikkim $802

Ubud, Bali costs about 268% more than Sikkim, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Ubud, Bali and Sikkim are more affordable than the global median – Ubud, Bali 2% lower, Sikkim 73% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Sikkim
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.38 Rp 60.9K
$2.05 ₹194
64.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.65 Rp 625.4K
$10.64 ₹1,005
225.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.57 Rp 100.6K
$3.71 ₹351
50.13%
Cappuccino
$2.62 Rp 47.3K
$1.58 ₹149
65.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 Rp 27.8K
$0.41 ₹38.29
275.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 Rp 11.6K
$0.13 ₹12.27
392.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.67 Rp 48.1K
$1.84 ₹174
45.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26 Rp 76.9K
$2.94 ₹278
44.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Sikkim
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 Rp 26.4K
$0.71 ₹67.4
105.63%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 Rp 41.4K
$0.48 ₹45.06
377.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 20.0K
$0.40 ₹37.96
177.50%
Eggs
$2.10 Rp 37.9K
$1.47 ₹139
42.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 Rp 287.7K
$4.44 ₹420
259.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.88 Rp 70.1K
$2.84 ₹268
36.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.40 Rp 205.8K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 Rp 64.1K
$1.94 ₹184
82.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 Rp 27.7K
$0.67 ₹63.0
129.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.2K
$0.90 ₹85.2
147.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.6K
$0.45 ₹42.58
337.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 Rp 33.5K
$0.45 ₹42.21
313.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 43.6K
$0.53 ₹49.80
356.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 Rp 18.5K
$0.44 ₹41.41
131.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 Rp 9,427
$0.33 ₹31.20
57.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.20 Rp 39.7K
$2.42 ₹229
-9.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.79 Rp 393.2K
$4.16 ₹393
423.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 Rp 42.0K
$1.25 ₹118
86.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.6K
$2.59 ₹244
14.67%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$2.72 ₹257
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Sikkim
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,519
$0.21 ₹19.80
19.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 147.5K
$7.10 ₹671
15.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,901
$0.82 ₹77.4
-46.34%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 Rp 8,446
$0.27 ₹25.72
74.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.60 Rp 101.1K
$1.54 ₹146
263.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
$1.12 ₹106
-25.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K Rp 441.3M
$11.4K ₹1.1M
113.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 572.1M
$19.8K ₹1.9M
60.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Sikkim
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.5 Rp 1.4M
$34.33 ₹3,243
125.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.14 Rp 110.9K
$3.28 ₹310
87.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.92 Rp 341.4K
$6.53 ₹617
189.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Sikkim
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 Rp 920.4K
$14.39 ₹1,359
254.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.25 Rp 329.4K
$6.62 ₹625
175.68%
Cinema Ticket
$4.38 Rp 79.1K
$2.88 ₹272
52.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Sikkim
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$492 Rp 8.9M
$45.67 ₹4,314
978.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K Rp 220.6M
$1,415 ₹133.6K
763.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Sikkim
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.16 Rp 815.1K
$22.01 ₹2,079
105.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.89 Rp 629.7K
$23.30 ₹2,201
49.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
$39.04 ₹3,688
100.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$28.82 ₹2,722
170.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Sikkim
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 Rp 19.4M
$120 ₹11.3K
799.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 Rp 12.0M
$78.0 ₹7,364
752.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,510 Rp 63.4M
$271 ₹25.6K
1195.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,671 Rp 30.2M
$186 ₹17.6K
797.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,340 Rp 42.2M
$919 ₹86.8K
154.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,236 Rp 40.4M
$528 ₹49.8K
323.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Sikkim
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
$470 ₹44.4K
-64.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
8.86
55.53%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: November 1, 2026

Last update for Sikkim: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$665
Sikkim
$78 88.3% $587
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$279
Sikkim
$94 66.2% $185
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$106
Sikkim
$51 52.1% $55
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$106
Sikkim
$64 39.8% $42
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$103
Sikkim
$44 56.9% $58
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$60
Sikkim
$20 66.3% $40
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$12
Sikkim
$10 15.3% $1.8

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,078 in Ubud, Bali versus $120 in Sikkim. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Sikkim are about 2.8 times higher, 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 $35 in Ubud, Bali versus $11 in Sikkim. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $279 vs $94 – making Sikkim the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇮🇳 Sikkim
🕒 Local time
15:50 3:50 PM
13:20 1:20 PM
2 h 30 min behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
610,577
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 18,049 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.54 USD). 1 EUR = 20,271 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.93 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 94.47 INR (100 INR = 1.06 USD). 1 EUR = 106 INR (1,000 INR = 9.43 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Sikkim 4,950 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Sikkim

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Sikkim: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sikkim cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 268%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,996 per month in Ubud, Bali and $542 in Sikkim. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sikkim, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $120 there versus $1,078 in Ubud, Bali.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or in Sikkim?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $35 in Ubud, Bali and $11 in Sikkim. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali and in Sikkim?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,331 in Ubud, Bali and $361 in Sikkim. That makes Sikkim about 73% cheaper.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Sikkim?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sikkim, where all-in costs run around $361, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,331. In Sikkim it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ubud, Bali or Sikkim more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sikkim – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Sikkim?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Sikkim is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 73% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?