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: $1,392 in Ubud, Bali versus $859 in Spanish Town.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,557 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,446 in Spanish Town.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,723 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,032 in Spanish Town.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 62% more expensive than in Spanish Town, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Spanish Town is 35% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Spanish Town
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.6K
$7.69 JMD 1,210
-53.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.32 Rp 584.4K
$62.6 JMD 9,846
-48.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.01 Rp 90.5K
$8.56 JMD 1,347
-41.47%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 51.1K
$4.40 JMD 692
-35.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 Rp 24.4K
$1.31 JMD 206
3.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
$0.70 JMD 110
4.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.93 Rp 53.0K
$2.43 JMD 382
20.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94 Rp 71.2K
$3.11 JMD 488
26.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Spanish Town
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.78 Rp 32.2K
$1.92 JMD 301
-7.29%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 Rp 44.3K
$2.57 JMD 404
-4.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 Rp 20.8K
$0.43 JMD 67.2
167.44%
Eggs
$2.41 Rp 43.7K
$3.04 JMD 479
-20.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 Rp 259.1K
$3.10 JMD 487
362.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.19 Rp 75.7K
$1.91 JMD 300
119.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.06 Rp 218.1K
$2.74 JMD 431
340.15%
Apples (1kg)
$3.64 Rp 65.8K
$2.18 JMD 343
66.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$1.89 JMD 298
-16.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 50.4K
$1.53 JMD 241
82.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.5K
$1.83 JMD 288
22.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 Rp 35.8K
$2.12 JMD 333
-6.60%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 41.2K
$1.94 JMD 305
17.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 Rp 19.1K
$2.99 JMD 471
-64.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$0.90 JMD 142
-12.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.19 Rp 57.7K
$8.65 JMD 1,361
-63.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 424.8K
$11.61 JMD 1,825
102.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 Rp 52.4K
$1.55 JMD 244
87.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 Rp 49.8K
$2.48 JMD 389
11.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Spanish Town
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,821
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.37 Rp 151.3K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,180
$1.08 JMD 169
-58.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,311
$3.15 JMD 495
-85.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.07 Rp 109.7K
$6.35 JMD 999
-4.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
$1.22 JMD 193
-29.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 480.7M
$43.0K JMD 6.8M
-38.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 588.6M
$32.9K JMD 5.2M
-1.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Spanish Town
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.0 Rp 1.4M
$166 JMD 26.2K
-52.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09 Rp 74.0K
$22.08 JMD 3,473
-81.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.85 Rp 431.2K
$51.1 JMD 8,033
-53.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Spanish Town
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.8 Rp 1.8M
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 114.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.01 Rp 72.5K
$12.93 JMD 2,034
-68.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Spanish Town
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$297 Rp 5.4M
$230 JMD 36.2K
29.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,602 Rp 119.4M
$2,516 JMD 395.8K
162.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Spanish Town
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 Rp 966.0K
$26.46 JMD 4,161
101.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.11 Rp 689.2K
$25.26 JMD 3,973
50.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.7 Rp 1.6M
$71.6 JMD 11.3K
23.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.6 Rp 1.4M
$77.1 JMD 12.1K
-0.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Spanish Town
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,020 Rp 18.4M
$159 JMD 25.0K
540.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 Rp 12.3M
$123 JMD 19.3K
453.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,469 Rp 62.7M
$633 JMD 99.6K
447.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,090 Rp 37.8M
$380 JMD 59.8K
450.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,729 Rp 49.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,295 Rp 41.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Spanish Town
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
$1,183 JMD 186.0K
-86.16%
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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Spanish Town: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali and $159 in Spanish Town. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Spanish Town pays 622% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $63.0 in Spanish Town. Groceries flip the comparison at $298 vs $192, 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 62% 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 in Spanish Town?
On paper, salaries run 622% lower in Spanish Town. 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 compared to Spanish Town?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $159 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 in Spanish Town?
Supermarket bills run roughly 55% 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 $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $859 in Spanish Town – a 62% 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 in Spanish Town?
At $859 in Spanish Town versus $1,392 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 $859 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 62% 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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