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 $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $778 in Stip, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,138 in Stip, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,497 in Stip, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 82% more than Stip, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Stip is 42% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Stip
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
$5.74 MKD 302
-37.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
$16.11 MKD 849
103.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
$4.92 MKD 259
0.61%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
$1.89 MKD 99.4
43.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
$1.74 MKD 92.0
-22.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
$1.21 MKD 64.0
-42.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
$2.21 MKD 117
32.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
$2.79 MKD 147
41.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Stip
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
$1.29 MKD 67.9
40.31%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
$0.68 MKD 35.66
270.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
$1.10 MKD 58.2
5.45%
Eggs
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
$2.10 MKD 111
17.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
$10.32 MKD 544
42.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
$7.23 MKD 381
-40.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
$7.43 MKD 392
63.39%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
$0.97 MKD 51.2
295.88%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
$1.43 MKD 75.6
9.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
$1.31 MKD 69.0
116.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
$1.58 MKD 83.1
47.47%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
$0.93 MKD 48.85
105.38%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
$1.39 MKD 73.1
58.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
$0.53 MKD 28.17
90.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
$0.40 MKD 21.30
95.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
$3.05 MKD 161
8.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
$7.49 MKD 395
216.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
$1.01 MKD 53.4
176.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
$1.81 MKD 95.3
58.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Stip
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,800
$0.63 MKD 33.06
-57.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
$20.52 MKD 1,082
-60.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,150
$1.10 MKD 58.1
-58.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,037
$0.49 MKD 25.84
-8.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
$5.61 MKD 296
8.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$1.45 MKD 76.2
-45.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
$31.4K MKD 1.7M
-16.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
$34.4K MKD 1.8M
-6.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Stip
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$144 MKD 7,568
-44.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
$9.23 MKD 486
-56.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
$15.31 MKD 807
53.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Stip
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
$27.83 MKD 1,467
254.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
$4.74 MKD 250
-12.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Stip
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$216 MKD 11.4K
40.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
$1,182 MKD 62.3K
459.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Stip
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
$38.03 MKD 2,004
46.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
$31.80 MKD 1,676
20.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
$74.6 MKD 3,933
18.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$114 MKD 6,013
-31.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Stip
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
$207 MKD 10.9K
386.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$675 Rp 12.1M
$133 MKD 7,008
407.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
$344 MKD 18.1K
899.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
$204 MKD 10.8K
897.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
$1,257 MKD 66.3K
126.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
$1,026 MKD 54.1K
120.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Stip
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$467 MKD 24.6K
-64.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
7.1
87.04%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Stip: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $207 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $16.00 in Stip. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $185 – 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 82%, 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 $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,167 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 Stip?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $16.00 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 vs Stip?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali and $778 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 Ubud, Bali or Stip?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Stip, where all-in costs run around $778, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. 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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