Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Stellenbosch

For one person, living is cheaper in Stellenbosch: $1,156 a month against $1,331 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $2,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,331
/mo nomad
Stellenbosch
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,156
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Stellenbosch

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Stellenbosch actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,331 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,156 in Stellenbosch, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,331
  • Stellenbosch $1,156

A couple spends around $2,255 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,905 in Stellenbosch, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,255
  • Stellenbosch $1,905

A family of three spends $3,180 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,653 in Stellenbosch, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,180
  • Stellenbosch $2,653

Ubud, Bali costs about 15% more than Stellenbosch, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Ubud, Bali and Stellenbosch are more affordable than the global median – Ubud, Bali 2% lower, Stellenbosch 14% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Stellenbosch
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.38 Rp 60.9K
$7.38 R 122
-54.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.65 Rp 625.4K
$35.93 R 592
-3.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.57 Rp 100.6K
$4.91 R 80.9
13.44%
Cappuccino
$2.62 Rp 47.3K
$2.11 R 34.73
24.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 Rp 27.8K
$0.92 R 15.11
67.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 Rp 11.6K
$0.69 R 11.29
-7.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.67 Rp 48.1K
$2.74 R 45.08
-2.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26 Rp 76.9K
$3.53 R 58.1
20.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Stellenbosch
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 Rp 26.4K
$1.30 R 21.40
12.31%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 Rp 41.4K
$1.10 R 18.17
108.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 20.0K
$1.85 R 30.53
-40.00%
Eggs
$2.10 Rp 37.9K
$2.95 R 48.55
-28.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 Rp 287.7K
$8.65 R 143
84.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.88 Rp 70.1K
$5.93 R 97.7
-34.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.40 Rp 205.8K
$7.34 R 121
55.31%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 Rp 64.1K
$1.79 R 29.50
98.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 Rp 27.7K
$1.46 R 24.00
5.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.2K
$1.65 R 27.24
35.15%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.6K
$1.58 R 26.07
24.68%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 Rp 33.5K
$1.03 R 17.05
80.58%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 43.6K
$1.46 R 24.00
65.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 Rp 18.5K
$1.35 R 22.18
-24.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 Rp 9,427
$1.18 R 19.40
-55.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.20 Rp 39.7K
$3.54 R 58.4
-37.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.79 Rp 393.2K
$6.15 R 101
254.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 Rp 42.0K
$1.39 R 22.84
67.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.6K
$2.11 R 34.83
40.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Stellenbosch
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,519
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 147.5K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,901
$0.94 R 15.55
-53.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 Rp 8,446
$0.90 R 14.80
-47.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.60 Rp 101.1K
$4.91 R 81.0
14.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
$1.37 R 22.63
-39.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K Rp 441.3M
$34.8K R 572.8K
-29.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 572.1M
$33.8K R 557.0K
-6.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Stellenbosch
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.5 Rp 1.4M
$102 R 1,687
-24.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.14 Rp 110.9K
$25.99 R 428
-76.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.92 Rp 341.4K
$34.30 R 565
-44.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Stellenbosch
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 Rp 920.4K
$28.34 R 467
79.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.25 Rp 329.4K
$16.32 R 269
11.83%
Cinema Ticket
$4.38 Rp 79.1K
$8.85 R 146
-50.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Stellenbosch
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$492 Rp 8.9M
$265 R 4,372
85.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K Rp 220.6M
$2,338 R 38.5K
422.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Stellenbosch
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.16 Rp 815.1K
$52.5 R 864
-13.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.89 Rp 629.7K
$29.19 R 481
19.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
$120 R 1,981
-34.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$90.2 R 1,487
-13.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Stellenbosch
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 Rp 19.4M
$683 R 11.2K
57.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 Rp 12.0M
$482 R 7,947
37.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,510 Rp 63.4M
$1,465 R 24.1K
139.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,671 Rp 30.2M
$1,154 R 19.0K
44.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,340 Rp 42.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,236 Rp 40.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Stellenbosch
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
$2,568 R 42.3K
-93.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
10.7
28.79%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: November 1, 2026

Last update for Stellenbosch: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$665
Stellenbosch
$482 27.5% $183
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$279
Stellenbosch
$202 27.7% $77
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$106
Stellenbosch
$131 23.6% $25
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$106
Stellenbosch
$126 19.3% $20
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$103
Stellenbosch
$163 58.6% $60
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$60
Stellenbosch
$46 22.9% $14
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$12
Stellenbosch
$5.4 * 54.6% $6.5

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,078 in Ubud, Bali versus $683 in Stellenbosch. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Stellenbosch are about 15 times higher, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35 in Ubud, Bali versus $36 in Stellenbosch. Groceries tell a different story – $279 in Ubud, Bali vs $202 in Stellenbosch – so Stellenbosch wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇿🇦 Stellenbosch
🕒 Local time
17:24 5:24 PM
11:24 11:24 AM
6 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
19,068
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ZAR, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 18,049 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.54 USD). 1 EUR = 20,271 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.93 EUR).

South African Rand exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 16.48 ZAR (100 ZAR = 6.07 USD). 1 EUR = 18.51 ZAR (100 ZAR = 5.4 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Stellenbosch 10,060 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Stellenbosch

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Stellenbosch: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Stellenbosch?
Ubud, Bali costs about 15% more than Stellenbosch, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali and in Stellenbosch?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,996 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,734 in Stellenbosch. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ubud, Bali or Stellenbosch?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Stellenbosch, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $683 there versus $1,078 in Ubud, Bali.
How do dining costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Stellenbosch?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $35 in Ubud, Bali and $36 in Stellenbosch. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Stellenbosch?
Groceries cost about 38% more in Ubud, Bali, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Stellenbosch?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,331 in Ubud, Bali and $1,156 in Stellenbosch. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Stellenbosch – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

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