Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Stanford, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Stanford, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,736 in Stanford, CA, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,030 in Stanford, CA, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $5,324 in Stanford, CA, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 47% cheaper than Stanford, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Stanford, CA sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 7%, Stanford, CA by 104%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 61.9K

$19.71 $19.71

-81.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

$60.7 $60.7

-46.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

$14.99 $14.99

-66.18%

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

$5.06 $5.06

-44.07%

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

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

$2.65 $2.65

-49.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

$1.83 $1.83

-62.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

$7.31 $7.31

-59.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

$7.77 $7.77

-50.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

$1.51 $1.51

15.23%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

$4.71 $4.71

-46.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$6.76 $6.76

-82.40%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

$6.08 $6.08

-60.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

$12.99 $12.99

12.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

$11.93 $11.93

-64.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

$23.75 $23.75

-49.73%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

$6.73 $6.73

-45.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

$2.89 $2.89

-44.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

$5.19 $5.19

-48.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

$6.49 $6.49

-64.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

$3.27 $3.27

-41.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

$3.33 $3.33

-34.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

$2.13 $2.13

-50.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

$2.77 $2.77

-74.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

$9.15 $9.15

-65.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

$9.91 $9.91

137.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

$1.75 $1.75

56.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

$3.18 $3.18

-9.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,029

$2.02 $2.02

-85.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,863

$4.05 $4.05

-88.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,305

$1.96 $1.96

-78.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

$38.47 $38.47

-83.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

$1.20 $1.20

-30.00%

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

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

$30.1K $30.1K

-12.77%

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

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

$25.5K $25.5K

27.13%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$247 $247

-68.23%

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

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

$63.7 $63.7

-93.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

$63.5 $63.5

-61.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

$43.07 $43.07

124.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

$17.10 $17.10

-76.37%

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

$1,305 $1,305

-76.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

$37.4K $37.4K

-82.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

$45.21 $45.21

19.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

$46.40 $46.40

-18.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

$66.2 $66.2

30.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$146 $146

-46.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

$1,596 $1,596

-36.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.7M

$1,372 $1,372

-50.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

$2,665 $2,665

27.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

$2,198 $2,198

-4.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

$2,568 $2,568

16.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

$2,445 $2,445

-4.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

$5,034 $5,034

-96.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

6.36

108.81%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Last update for Stanford, CA: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,596 in Stanford, CA. 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 2808% higher in Stanford, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $61.0 in Stanford, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $481 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Stanford, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Stanford, CA costs about 90% more than Ubud, Bali, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $4,105 in Stanford, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $61.0 in Stanford, CA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 61% more in Stanford, CA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,438, than in Stanford, CA at $2,736. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Stanford, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,438 versus $2,736 in Stanford, CA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Stanford, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.