Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Simi Valley, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Simi Valley, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,245 in Simi Valley, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,540 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,580 in Simi Valley, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Ubud, Bali versus $5,914 in Simi Valley, CA.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 56% less than in Simi Valley, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 6% above, Simi Valley, CA 142% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Simi Valley, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56 Rp 63.9K
$23.24 $23.24
-84.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73 Rp 586.8K
$69.0 $69.0
-52.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 Rp 88.7K
$10.09 $10.09
-50.94%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 48.6K
$5.57 $5.57
-51.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 24.1K
$2.05 $2.05
-34.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
$2.05 $2.05
-65.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 Rp 52.3K
$5.32 $5.32
-45.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 Rp 70.9K
$7.38 $7.38
-46.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Simi Valley, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 Rp 32.4K
$1.15 $1.15
57.39%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 45.1K
$2.45 $2.45
2.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 Rp 20.8K
$4.59 $4.59
-74.73%
Eggs
$2.46 Rp 44.1K
$4.61 $4.61
-46.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.71 Rp 263.7K
$12.32 $12.32
19.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 Rp 77.4K
$10.90 $10.90
-60.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.14 Rp 217.5K
$14.53 $14.53
-16.45%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 Rp 68.8K
$2.10 $2.10
82.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.9K
$1.92 $1.92
-18.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 50.8K
$3.70 $3.70
-23.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.7K
$5.34 $5.34
-56.37%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
$2.60 $2.60
-26.54%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 Rp 39.5K
$3.06 $3.06
-28.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 18.2K
$2.00 $2.00
-49.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 13.9K
$2.03 $2.03
-61.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 Rp 59.4K
$11.57 $11.57
-71.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.74 Rp 425.5K
$10.15 $10.15
133.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 50.0K
$1.69 $1.69
65.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 51.3K
$4.75 $4.75
-39.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Simi Valley, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,819
$2.02 $2.02
-86.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.03 Rp 143.9K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,181
$4.09 $4.09
-88.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,068
$2.10 $2.10
-78.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 Rp 109.3K
$31.41 $31.41
-80.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$1.24 $1.24
-36.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 468.8M
$28.3K $28.3K
-7.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 575.8M
$26.9K $26.9K
19.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Simi Valley, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$204 $204
-60.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.9K
$54.5 $54.5
-92.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 Rp 421.6K
$72.4 $72.4
-67.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Simi Valley, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
$43.47 $43.47
127.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 Rp 118.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.15 Rp 74.3K
$12.14 $12.14
-65.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Simi Valley, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$1,187 $1,187
-74.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,613 Rp 118.5M
$39.5K $39.5K
-83.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Simi Valley, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 Rp 995.6K
$69.5 $69.5
-20.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31 Rp 686.7K
$40.00 $40.00
-4.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
$75.9 $75.9
16.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$159 $159
-50.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Simi Valley, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
$2,076 $2,076
-51.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$675 Rp 12.1M
$1,992 $1,992
-66.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,442 Rp 61.7M
$2,431 $2,431
41.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 Rp 36.6M
$3,300 $3,300
-38.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,841 Rp 50.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,264 Rp 40.6M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Simi Valley, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$4,906 $4,906
-96.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
6.69
98.51%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Simi Valley, CA: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali and $2,076 in Simi Valley, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Simi Valley, CA pays 2869% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $69.0 in Simi Valley, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $302 vs $356 per month, with Ubud, Bali 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 Simi Valley, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Simi Valley, CA?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 129% lower than in Simi Valley, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or Simi Valley, CA?
On paper, Simi Valley, CA earns 2869% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali vs Simi Valley, CA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,076 in Simi Valley, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or Simi Valley, CA?
Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in Simi Valley, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Simi Valley, CA?
All in, you'll spend $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $3,245 in Simi Valley, CA – a 129% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or Simi Valley, CA?
At $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,245 in Simi Valley, CA, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Simi Valley, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Simi Valley, CA?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,419 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Simi Valley, CA?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Simi Valley, CA 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 129% less than in Simi Valley, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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