Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Stip Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Stip

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $853 in Stip, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,260 in Stip, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,275 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,667 in Stip, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 62% more than Stip, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Stip is 38% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Stip
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33 Rp 58.7K
$7.53 MKD 398
-55.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.82 Rp 630.7K
$23.64 MKD 1,249
51.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.63 Rp 99.1K
$6.78 MKD 358
-16.96%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 49.7K
$1.86 MKD 98.2
51.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 Rp 30.8K
$1.55 MKD 82.0
12.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 Rp 14.0K
$1.16 MKD 61.4
-31.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 Rp 53.6K
$1.84 MKD 97.4
65.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
$2.92 MKD 154
47.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Stip
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 Rp 28.3K
$1.27 MKD 67.2
26.77%
White Bread (500g)
$2.27 Rp 39.9K
$0.82 MKD 43.07
176.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 20.6K
$1.16 MKD 61.5
0.86%
Eggs
$2.17 Rp 38.2K
$2.59 MKD 137
-16.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.63 Rp 310.5K
$8.69 MKD 459
102.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.05 Rp 71.4K
$7.52 MKD 397
-46.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.18 Rp 214.5K
$7.69 MKD 406
58.39%
Apples (1kg)
$3.62 Rp 63.7K
$0.93 MKD 49.25
289.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 Rp 28.8K
$1.43 MKD 75.3
14.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 40.6K
$1.39 MKD 73.5
66.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.96 Rp 34.5K
$1.72 MKD 90.8
13.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 Rp 32.5K
$0.93 MKD 48.93
97.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.37 Rp 41.7K
$0.89 MKD 46.77
166.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 Rp 18.5K
$0.59 MKD 31.21
77.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 Rp 9,560
$0.42 MKD 22.08
28.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.30 Rp 40.6K
$3.26 MKD 172
-29.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.08 Rp 406.4K
$7.61 MKD 402
203.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 Rp 41.2K
$1.09 MKD 57.4
114.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 Rp 54.0K
$1.53 MKD 81.0
100.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Stip
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,365
$0.65 MKD 34.21
-61.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.42 Rp 165.9K
$22.86 MKD 1,208
-58.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.49 Rp 8,631
$1.14 MKD 60.3
-57.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 Rp 8,349
$0.68 MKD 35.94
-30.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.60 Rp 98.6K
$5.79 MKD 306
-3.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.2K
$1.52 MKD 80.5
-46.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K Rp 440.3M
$36.7K MKD 1.9M
-31.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1K Rp 547.0M
$28.1K MKD 1.5M
10.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Stip
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.7 Rp 1.5M
$165 MKD 8,691
-49.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49 Rp 114.2K
$9.36 MKD 495
-30.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.79 Rp 330.8K
$17.13 MKD 905
9.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Stip
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.2 Rp 972.6K
$28.13 MKD 1,486
96.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.21 Rp 320.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
$6.64 MKD 351
-35.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Stip
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 Rp 8.7M
$381 MKD 20.1K
29.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,917 Rp 104.2M
$5,594 MKD 295.6K
5.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Stip
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.28 Rp 814.8K
$38.16 MKD 2,016
21.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.44 Rp 641.6K
$31.71 MKD 1,675
14.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.7 Rp 1.4M
$108 MKD 5,689
-25.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.8 Rp 1.4M
$114 MKD 6,022
-30.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Stip
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,114 Rp 19.6M
$209 MKD 11.0K
434.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$693 Rp 12.2M
$131 MKD 6,901
430.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,639 Rp 64.1M
$341 MKD 18.0K
967.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,712 Rp 30.1M
$204 MKD 10.8K
737.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,761 Rp 48.6M
$1,246 MKD 65.9K
121.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,293 Rp 40.4M
$1,000 MKD 52.8K
129.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Stip
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 2.9M
$472 MKD 24.9K
-64.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
4.25
224.24%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Last update for Stip: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $209 in Stip. 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 182% higher in Stip, 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $24.00 in Stip. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $294 vs $186 – making Stip 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 Stip: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Stip cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 62%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,067 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,279 in Stip. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Stip, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or in Stip?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali and $24.00 in Stip. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali and in Stip?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,378 in Ubud, Bali and $853 in Stip. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Stip?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Stip, where all-in costs run around $853, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,378. In Stip it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ubud, Bali or Stip more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Stip – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Stip?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Stip. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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