Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Simpson Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Simpson Bay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,396 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,927 in Simpson Bay, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $6,485 in Simpson Bay, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,273 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $9,042 in Simpson Bay, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 64% cheaper than Simpson Bay, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Simpson Bay sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 2%, Simpson Bay by 186%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Simpson Bay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.37 Rp 59.7K
$18.94 ANG 33.81
-82.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.59 Rp 682.4K
$130 ANG 232
-70.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.52 Rp 97.6K
$13.03 ANG 23.26
-57.64%
Cappuccino
$2.64 Rp 46.8K
$4.44 ANG 7.92
-40.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 Rp 29.6K
$3.03 ANG 5.40
-44.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 Rp 13.6K
$2.92 ANG 5.22
-73.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.63 Rp 46.6K
$5.60 ANG 10.00
-53.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28 Rp 75.7K
$3.93 ANG 7.01
8.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Simpson Bay
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 Rp 27.3K
$4.06 ANG 7.25
-61.82%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 Rp 39.3K
$2.82 ANG 5.03
-21.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 Rp 19.9K
$3.04 ANG 5.42
-62.83%
Eggs
$2.09 Rp 36.9K
$4.44 ANG 7.93
-52.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.39 Rp 307.6K
$24.67 ANG 44.04
-29.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.87 Rp 68.4K
$13.58 ANG 24.25
-71.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.55 Rp 221.9K
$16.97 ANG 30.30
-26.05%
Apples (1kg)
$3.62 Rp 63.9K
$4.28 ANG 7.64
-15.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.6K
$3.56 ANG 6.35
-56.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.35 Rp 41.6K
$6.62 ANG 11.81
-64.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 Rp 36.4K
$5.04 ANG 8.99
-59.13%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 33.6K
$4.03 ANG 7.20
-52.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.34 Rp 41.3K
$3.47 ANG 6.19
-32.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 Rp 18.2K
$3.05 ANG 5.45
-66.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 9,809
$1.40 ANG 2.51
-60.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25 Rp 39.8K
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$23.81 Rp 421.0K
$15.27 ANG 27.26
55.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31 Rp 40.9K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 Rp 49.5K
$1.71 ANG 3.05
63.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Simpson Bay
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,816
$3.05 ANG 5.45
-91.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.66 Rp 153.2K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,515
$14.81 ANG 26.44
-96.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 7,887
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.72 Rp 101.1K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 Rp 13.4K
$1.32 ANG 2.36
-42.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5K Rp 433.0M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 568.0M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Simpson Bay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.6 Rp 1.5M
$505 ANG 902
-83.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.46 Rp 114.2K
$34.81 ANG 62.1
-81.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.99 Rp 335.9K
$88.2 ANG 157
-78.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Simpson Bay
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.0 Rp 989.8K
$73.7 ANG 131
-24.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.62 Rp 329.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.28 Rp 75.7K
$8.23 ANG 14.69
-48.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Simpson Bay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$487 Rp 8.6M
$753 ANG 1,345
-35.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,856 Rp 103.6M
$12.0K ANG 21.5K
-51.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Simpson Bay
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.56 Rp 805.6K
$50.2 ANG 89.6
-9.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.38 Rp 643.3K
$39.86 ANG 71.1
-8.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.0 Rp 1.4M
$100 ANG 179
-18.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
$59.4 ANG 106
35.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Simpson Bay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,117 Rp 19.7M
$2,297 ANG 4,101
-51.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$701 Rp 12.4M
$2,280 ANG 4,070
-69.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,537 Rp 62.5M
$5,893 ANG 10.5K
-39.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,762 Rp 31.2M
$5,742 ANG 10.2K
-69.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,826 Rp 50.0M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,292 Rp 40.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Simpson Bay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$170 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
0
-

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Last update for Simpson Bay: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,117 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,297 in Simpson Bay. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $130 in Simpson Bay. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $468 – making Ubud, Bali 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 Simpson Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Simpson Bay?
Simpson Bay costs about 181% more than Ubud, Bali, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali and in Simpson Bay?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,095 per month in Ubud, Bali and $5,891 in Simpson Bay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ubud, Bali or Simpson Bay?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Simpson Bay?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali and $130 in Simpson Bay. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Simpson Bay?
Groceries cost about 60% more in Simpson Bay, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Simpson Bay?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,396, than in Simpson Bay at $3,927. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Simpson Bay it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Simpson Bay?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,396 versus $3,927 in Simpson Bay. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Simpson Bay?
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.
Should I move to Ubud, Bali or to Simpson Bay?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Simpson Bay makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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