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: $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $861 in Spanish Town.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,433 in Spanish Town.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,732 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,005 in Spanish Town.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 67% more expensive than Spanish Town, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 7% above, Spanish Town is 36% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Spanish Town
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 61.6K
$7.35 JMD 1,158
-51.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58 Rp 562.6K
$62.3 JMD 9,809
-47.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 Rp 87.5K
$8.78 JMD 1,383
-42.26%
Cappuccino
$2.83 Rp 48.8K
$4.47 JMD 704
-36.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 23.1K
$1.30 JMD 205
3.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
$0.75 JMD 118
-8.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 51.6K
$2.57 JMD 406
16.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 66.4K
$3.11 JMD 490
23.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Spanish Town
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 30.1K
$1.85 JMD 291
-5.95%
White Bread (500g)
$2.54 Rp 43.8K
$2.67 JMD 421
-4.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
$0.45 JMD 71.1
164.44%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 41.9K
$3.22 JMD 507
-24.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.66 Rp 253.2K
$3.19 JMD 503
359.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.18 Rp 72.1K
$1.99 JMD 314
110.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 Rp 206.1K
$2.79 JMD 439
327.96%
Apples (1kg)
$3.69 Rp 63.6K
$2.24 JMD 353
64.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.7K
$1.87 JMD 294
-13.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 Rp 46.4K
$1.53 JMD 242
75.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 40.2K
$1.94 JMD 305
20.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 32.9K
$2.12 JMD 333
-9.91%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 37.7K
$1.99 JMD 314
10.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
$3.02 JMD 476
-64.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
$0.91 JMD 144
-20.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 Rp 54.1K
$8.91 JMD 1,404
-64.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 405.6K
$11.36 JMD 1,789
106.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 Rp 47.3K
$1.54 JMD 242
77.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 Rp 49.7K
$2.47 JMD 388
16.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Spanish Town
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,010
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 141.0K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 7,834
$1.11 JMD 175
-59.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,278
$3.27 JMD 514
-87.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.16 Rp 106.3K
$6.28 JMD 988
-1.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 14.5K
$1.28 JMD 202
-34.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K Rp 453.1M
$42.7K JMD 6.7M
-38.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 560.8M
$34.0K JMD 5.3M
-4.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Spanish Town
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$161 JMD 25.3K
-51.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95 Rp 68.2K
$22.23 JMD 3,501
-82.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40 Rp 421.4K
$50.1 JMD 7,882
-51.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Spanish Town
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 109.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 69.7K
$13.11 JMD 2,064
-69.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Spanish Town
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 Rp 5.2M
$225 JMD 35.4K
34.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,523 Rp 112.6M
$2,457 JMD 386.9K
165.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Spanish Town
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 Rp 929.5K
$25.73 JMD 4,052
109.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98 Rp 655.8K
$25.06 JMD 3,947
51.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
$70.5 JMD 11.1K
23.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
$77.7 JMD 12.2K
1.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Spanish Town
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
$156 JMD 24.5K
549.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 Rp 11.6M
$128 JMD 20.1K
428.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,390 Rp 58.5M
$638 JMD 100.5K
430.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,098 Rp 36.2M
$373 JMD 58.8K
462.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,985 Rp 51.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,339 Rp 40.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Spanish Town
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$173 Rp 3.0M
$1,166 JMD 183.7K
-85.16%
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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Spanish Town: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali and $156 in Spanish Town. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Spanish Town pays 574% 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 $298 vs $195, 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 67% 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 574% 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: $1,012 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 53% 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 $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $861 in Spanish Town – a 67% 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 $861 in Spanish Town versus $1,438 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 $861 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 67% 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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