Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Stafford, VA Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Stafford, VA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,619 in Stafford, VA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,999 in Stafford, VA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,732 in Ubud, Bali versus $5,379 in Stafford, VA.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 45% less than in Stafford, VA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 7% above, Stafford, VA 96% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Stafford, VA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 61.9K
$17.76 $17.76
-79.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58 Rp 564.7K
$119 $119
-72.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 Rp 87.8K
$11.85 $11.85
-57.22%
Cappuccino
$2.83 Rp 49.0K
$5.61 $5.61
-49.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 23.2K
$2.99 $2.99
-55.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
$2.44 $2.44
-71.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 51.8K
$7.13 $7.13
-58.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 66.7K
$10.16 $10.16
-62.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Stafford, VA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 30.2K
$1.13 $1.13
53.98%
White Bread (500g)
$2.54 Rp 44.0K
$3.05 $3.05
-16.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
$6.82 $6.82
-82.55%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 42.0K
$4.28 $4.28
-43.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.66 Rp 254.1K
$17.72 $17.72
-17.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.18 Rp 72.4K
$10.98 $10.98
-61.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 Rp 206.9K
$19.60 $19.60
-39.08%
Apples (1kg)
$3.69 Rp 63.9K
$6.34 $6.34
-41.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.8K
$2.00 $2.00
-19.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 Rp 46.5K
$5.27 $5.27
-48.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 40.4K
$6.38 $6.38
-63.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.0K
$3.51 $3.51
-45.58%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 37.9K
$3.69 $3.69
-40.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
$2.57 $2.57
-58.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
$2.49 $2.49
-71.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 Rp 54.3K
$12.31 $12.31
-74.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 407.1K
$16.12 $16.12
45.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 Rp 47.5K
$2.83 $2.83
-3.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 Rp 49.9K
$4.72 $4.72
-38.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Stafford, VA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,029
$1.98 $1.98
-85.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 141.6K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 7,863
$3.96 $3.96
-88.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,305
$1.53 $1.53
-72.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.16 Rp 106.7K
$30.21 $30.21
-79.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 14.6K
$0.88 $0.88
-4.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K Rp 454.9M
$29.7K $29.7K
-11.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 562.9M
$25.3K $25.3K
28.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Stafford, VA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$139 $139
-43.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95 Rp 68.5K
$60.4 $60.4
-93.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40 Rp 423.0K
$68.9 $68.9
-64.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Stafford, VA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
$43.74 $43.74
120.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 110.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 70.0K
$16.97 $16.97
-76.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Stafford, VA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 Rp 5.2M
$2,659 $2,659
-88.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,523 Rp 113.1M
$40.9K $40.9K
-84.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Stafford, VA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 Rp 933.1K
$79.5 $79.5
-32.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98 Rp 658.3K
$50.8 $50.8
-25.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
$104 $104
-16.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
$146 $146
-45.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Stafford, VA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
$1,631 $1,631
-37.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 Rp 11.7M
$1,368 $1,368
-50.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,390 Rp 58.8M
$2,664 $2,664
27.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,098 Rp 36.4M
$2,263 $2,263
-7.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,985 Rp 51.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,339 Rp 40.5M
$3,221 $3,221
-27.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Stafford, VA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$173 Rp 3.0M
$7,642 $7,642
-97.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
6
121.33%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Last update for Stafford, VA: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali and $1,631 in Stafford, VA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Stafford, VA pays 4314% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $119 in Stafford, VA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $464 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

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 Stafford, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stafford, VA cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 82% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ubud, Bali or Stafford, VA?
On paper, Stafford, VA earns 4314% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Stafford, VA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,631 in Stafford, VA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and Stafford, VA?
Supermarket bills run roughly 56% higher in Stafford, VA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali vs Stafford, VA?
All in, you'll spend $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $2,619 in Stafford, VA – a 82% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Stafford, VA?
At $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,619 in Stafford, VA, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Stafford, VA. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Stafford, VA more family-friendly?
For families, Ubud, Bali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Stafford, VA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Stafford, VA?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Stafford, VA 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 82% less than in Stafford, VA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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