Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Somerset West Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Somerset West

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,394 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $991 in Somerset West, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,551 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,610 in Somerset West, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,708 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,229 in Somerset West, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 41% more than Somerset West, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Somerset West is 26% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Somerset West
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.40 Rp 60.2K
$8.46 R 137
-59.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.38 Rp 573.6K
$39.46 R 639
-17.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.00 Rp 88.6K
$4.94 R 79.9
1.21%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 50.0K
$1.98 R 32.02
42.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 24.4K
$0.81 R 13.11
70.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.0K
$0.89 R 14.40
-17.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.98 Rp 52.8K
$2.49 R 40.27
19.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97 Rp 70.3K
$2.58 R 41.72
53.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Somerset West
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 Rp 31.8K
$0.87 R 14.04
105.75%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 43.7K
$0.96 R 15.48
156.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.2K
$1.84 R 29.80
-34.78%
Eggs
$2.39 Rp 42.3K
$2.15 R 34.85
11.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.40 Rp 255.1K
$7.78 R 126
85.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.28 Rp 75.9K
$4.97 R 80.5
-13.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.82 Rp 209.4K
$7.46 R 121
58.45%
Apples (1kg)
$3.78 Rp 67.0K
$1.49 R 24.05
153.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 28.9K
$1.49 R 24.16
9.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.80 Rp 49.6K
$1.51 R 24.41
85.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 Rp 40.0K
$1.54 R 25.00
46.75%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 Rp 35.3K
$1.11 R 18.03
80.18%
Onion (1kg)
$2.21 Rp 39.2K
$1.24 R 20.09
78.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 Rp 18.9K
$1.09 R 17.62
-1.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 Rp 13.5K
$0.99 R 16.08
-23.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 Rp 55.4K
$3.00 R 48.60
4.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.81 Rp 421.9K
$6.36 R 103
274.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.84 Rp 50.3K
$1.35 R 21.89
110.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.2K
$1.66 R 26.83
67.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Somerset West
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,726
$1.67 R 26.96
-83.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.37 Rp 148.2K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,034
$1.43 R 23.15
-68.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,578
$1.01 R 16.37
-57.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.98 Rp 105.9K
$4.40 R 71.2
35.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
$1.25 R 20.17
-36.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.8K Rp 457.2M
$20.0K R 323.3K
29.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.8K Rp 563.4M
$22.1K R 357.0K
44.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Somerset West
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.7 Rp 1.4M
$70.8 R 1,146
14.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.14 Rp 73.3K
$29.44 R 477
-85.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.12 Rp 427.2K
$42.03 R 680
-42.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Somerset West
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$97.8 Rp 1.7M
$39.07 R 632
150.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.64 Rp 117.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 71.5K
$6.79 R 110
-40.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Somerset West
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$297 Rp 5.3M
$212 R 3,432
40.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,590 Rp 116.7M
$3,349 R 54.2K
96.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Somerset West
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 Rp 976.8K
$31.80 R 515
73.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.51 Rp 682.1K
$27.81 R 450
38.48%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
$66.6 R 1,077
29.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.0 Rp 1.4M
$64.4 R 1,042
21.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Somerset West
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$985 Rp 17.5M
$625 R 10.1K
57.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 Rp 11.8M
$392 R 6,346
69.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,446 Rp 61.0M
$1,236 R 20.0K
178.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,042 Rp 36.2M
$880 R 14.2K
132.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,829 Rp 50.1M
$1,296 R 21.0K
118.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,282 Rp 40.4M
$919 R 14.9K
148.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Somerset West
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$169 Rp 3.0M
$1,437 R 23.3K
-88.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
10.5
26.48%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 14, 2026

Last update for Somerset West: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $985 in Ubud, Bali versus $625 in Somerset West. 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 749% higher in Somerset West, 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 $39.00 in Somerset West. Groceries tell a different story – $299 in Ubud, Bali vs $180 in Somerset West – so Somerset West wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Somerset West: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Ubud, Bali and Somerset West compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,394 in Ubud, Bali, $991 in Somerset West – roughly 41% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Ubud, Bali compared to Somerset West?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,091 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,487 in Somerset West. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Ubud, Bali and Somerset West?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Somerset West, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Somerset West?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,394 in Ubud, Bali and $991 in Somerset West. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ubud, Bali and Somerset West?
Kindergarten costs $297 per month in Ubud, Bali and $212 in Somerset West. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Somerset West, where all-in costs run around $991, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,394. In Somerset West it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Somerset West?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $991 in Somerset West to $1,394 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Ubud, Bali or Somerset West safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Ubud, Bali and Somerset West?
If budget matters most, go with Somerset West. 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.

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