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 $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,002 in Somerset West, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,623 in Somerset West, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,245 in Somerset West, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 44% more than Somerset West, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 7% above the global median, while Somerset West is 25% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 61.9K

$8.35 R 140

-57.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

$39.50 R 662

-17.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

$5.02 R 84.1

1.00%

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

$2.04 R 34.16

38.73%

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

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

$0.87 R 14.58

54.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

$0.83 R 13.87

-16.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

$2.45 R 41.14

22.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

$2.59 R 43.51

48.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

$0.94 R 15.71

85.11%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

$0.90 R 15.04

182.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$1.82 R 30.59

-34.62%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

$2.09 R 34.98

16.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

$7.67 R 129

91.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

$4.70 R 78.8

-11.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

$7.61 R 128

56.90%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

$1.56 R 26.20

136.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

$1.41 R 23.72

14.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

$1.45 R 24.24

85.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

$1.57 R 26.36

48.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

$1.13 R 18.99

69.03%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

$1.22 R 20.53

79.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

$1.06 R 17.73

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

$1.00 R 16.72

-28.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

$3.03 R 50.8

3.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

$5.73 R 96.2

309.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

$1.40 R 23.45

95.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

$1.67 R 27.97

72.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,029

$1.64 R 27.47

-82.32%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,863

$1.36 R 22.81

-66.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,305

$0.94 R 15.69

-55.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

$4.37 R 73.2

40.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

$1.19 R 19.96

-29.41%

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

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

$19.8K R 332.2K

32.48%

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

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

$22.1K R 369.8K

47.28%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$68.3 R 1,146

14.77%

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

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

$30.11 R 505

-86.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

$40.84 R 685

-40.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

$37.90 R 636

154.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

$6.77 R 114

-40.32%

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

$214 R 3,586

41.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

$3,381 R 56.7K

92.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

$31.47 R 528

71.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

$27.32 R 458

39.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

$66.3 R 1,112

30.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$63.1 R 1,058

25.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

$631 R 10.6K

60.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.7M

$398 R 6,680

69.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

$1,221 R 20.5K

177.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

$867 R 14.5K

142.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

$1,226 R 20.6K

143.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

$891 R 14.9K

162.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

$1,393 R 23.4K

-87.57%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Somerset West: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $631 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 705% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $40.00 in Somerset West. Groceries tell a different story – $298 in Ubud, Bali vs $177 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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, $1,002 in Somerset West – roughly 44% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,503 in Somerset West. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,438 in Ubud, Bali and $1,002 in Somerset West. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Ubud, Bali and $214 in Somerset West. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Somerset West, where all-in costs run around $1,002, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. In Somerset West it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,002 in Somerset West to $1,438 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 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.