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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $388 in Sikkim, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,557 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $620 in Sikkim, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,723 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $853 in Sikkim, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 259% more than Sikkim, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Sikkim is 71% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.5K

$2.39 ₹228

49.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.32 Rp 583.4K

$10.49 ₹1,000

208.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.01 Rp 90.4K

$3.64 ₹347

37.64%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 51.0K

$1.53 ₹146

84.31%

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

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

$0.37 ₹35.56

264.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

$0.14 ₹13.16

421.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 Rp 53.0K

$1.69 ₹161

73.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 Rp 71.1K

$3.10 ₹295

27.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 Rp 32.1K

$0.77 ₹73.7

131.17%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 Rp 44.2K

$0.54 ₹51.3

353.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

$0.45 ₹42.85

155.56%

Eggs

$2.41 Rp 43.6K

$1.61 ₹154

49.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 Rp 258.7K

$5.05 ₹482

183.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.19 Rp 75.6K

$3.11 ₹296

34.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.06 Rp 217.7K

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 Rp 65.7K

$1.96 ₹187

85.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.3K

$0.69 ₹65.8

127.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 50.3K

$0.91 ₹87.2

206.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.5K

$0.50 ₹47.92

348.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 Rp 35.7K

$0.54 ₹51.9

266.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 41.1K

$0.59 ₹56.2

286.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 19.0K

$0.45 ₹43.10

133.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$0.33 ₹31.86

139.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 Rp 57.6K

$2.59 ₹247

23.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 424.1K

$4.07 ₹388

477.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 52.3K

$1.37 ₹130

111.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 Rp 49.7K

$2.92 ₹279

-5.48%

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

$3.09 ₹295

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,813

$0.30 ₹28.92

-10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 151.1K

$8.54 ₹815

-1.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,167

$0.78 ₹74.1

-42.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,298

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 Rp 109.6K

$1.41 ₹135

330.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

$1.21 ₹115

-28.93%

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

$26.6K Rp 480.0M

$14.1K ₹1.3M

88.51%

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

$32.5K Rp 587.6M

$21.7K ₹2.1M

49.90%

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

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

$39.59 ₹3,775

99.60%

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

$4.09 Rp 73.9K

$3.39 ₹323

20.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.85 Rp 430.5K

$7.58 ₹722

214.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

$16.03 ₹1,529

516.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 114.7K

$7.15 ₹682

-11.19%

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 Rp 72.3K

$2.86 ₹272

40.21%

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

$297 Rp 5.4M

$51.6 ₹4,925

475.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,602 Rp 119.2M

$1,530 ₹145.9K

331.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 Rp 964.5K

$24.42 ₹2,329

118.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.11 Rp 688.1K

$25.56 ₹2,437

49.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

$42.35 ₹4,039

109.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

$31.60 ₹3,013

142.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 Rp 18.4M

$122 ₹11.7K

734.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 Rp 12.3M

$75.0 ₹7,151

807.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,469 Rp 62.6M

$276 ₹26.4K

1155.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 Rp 37.7M

$179 ₹17.1K

1068.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,729 Rp 49.3M

$1,050 ₹100.1K

160.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,295 Rp 41.4M

$531 ₹50.7K

331.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 Rp 3.0M

$474 ₹45.2K

-65.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

8.67

53.17%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Last update for Sikkim: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $122 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 run about 190% higher in Sikkim, 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 $10.00 in Sikkim. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $102 – making Sikkim 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 Sikkim: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 259%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,088 per month in Ubud, Bali and $581 in Sikkim. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sikkim, 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 $10.00 in Sikkim. 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 $388 in Sikkim. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sikkim, where all-in costs run around $388, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. In Sikkim it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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 Sikkim. 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.