Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Spanish Town Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Spanish Town

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $838 in Spanish Town.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,404 in Spanish Town.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,694 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,970 in Spanish Town.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 68% more expensive than Spanish Town, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 4% above, Spanish Town is 38% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Spanish Town
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
$7.30 JMD 1,149
-51.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
$61.6 JMD 9,679
-47.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
$8.52 JMD 1,340
-42.96%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
$4.44 JMD 699
-38.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
$1.33 JMD 208
-0.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
$0.76 JMD 120
-7.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
$2.57 JMD 404
13.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
$3.18 JMD 500
19.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Spanish Town
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
$1.90 JMD 299
-10.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
$2.58 JMD 405
-4.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
$0.42 JMD 66.3
185.71%
Eggs
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
$3.22 JMD 507
-24.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
$3.14 JMD 494
357.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
$1.98 JMD 311
117.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
$2.80 JMD 440
336.07%
Apples (1kg)
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
$2.21 JMD 347
66.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
$1.85 JMD 291
-16.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
$1.60 JMD 252
74.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
$1.83 JMD 287
27.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
$2.11 JMD 332
-6.64%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
$1.93 JMD 304
19.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$2.97 JMD 468
-64.31%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
$0.92 JMD 144
-20.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
$8.76 JMD 1,377
-62.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
$11.40 JMD 1,793
99.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
$1.55 JMD 243
81.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$2.47 JMD 389
12.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Spanish Town
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,217
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,047
$1.13 JMD 178
-60.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,094
$3.24 JMD 509
-86.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
$6.33 JMD 995
-1.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
$1.28 JMD 201
-33.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
$42.2K JMD 6.6M
-38.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
$34.1K JMD 5.4M
-7.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Spanish Town
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
$162 JMD 25.5K
-50.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
$21.92 JMD 3,448
-81.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
$50.8 JMD 7,982
-51.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Spanish Town
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
$13.21 JMD 2,078
-69.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Spanish Town
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$226 JMD 35.6K
34.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
$2,483 JMD 390.4K
166.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Spanish Town
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
$26.33 JMD 4,141
105.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
$25.43 JMD 4,000
52.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
$72.4 JMD 11.4K
19.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
$77.2 JMD 12.1K
-0.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Spanish Town
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$986 Rp 17.7M
$156 JMD 24.5K
533.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$658 Rp 11.8M
$123 JMD 19.4K
433.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
$616 JMD 97.0K
446.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
$376 JMD 59.1K
449.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Spanish Town
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$163 Rp 2.9M
$1,160 JMD 182.5K
-85.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
9.15
45.14%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Last update for Spanish Town: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $986 in Ubud, Bali and $156 in Spanish Town. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Spanish Town pays 610% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $62.0 in Spanish Town. Groceries flip the comparison at $297 vs $193, with Spanish Town cheaper for home cooking.

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 Spanish Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Spanish Town?
Spanish Town wins on cost – living expenses run 68% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Spanish Town the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or Spanish Town?
On paper, Spanish Town earns 610% 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 Spanish Town?
Rent for a central apartment: $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $156 in Spanish Town. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or Spanish Town?
Supermarket bills run roughly 54% higher in Ubud, Bali. 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 Spanish Town?
All in, you'll spend $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $838 in Spanish Town – a 68% 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 Spanish Town?
At $838 in Spanish Town versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Spanish Town but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Spanish Town the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Spanish Town?
Both work as nomad bases, but Spanish Town delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $838 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Spanish Town hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Spanish Town?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Spanish Town 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 Spanish Town gentler on the wallet – expenses run 68% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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