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 $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $774 in Stip, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,153 in Stip, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,532 in Stip, rent included.

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

Ubud, Bali sits 5% 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
$3.45 Rp 62.1K
$5.80 MKD 311
-40.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 Rp 581.1K
$15.99 MKD 858
102.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.84 Rp 87.1K
$4.95 MKD 266
-2.22%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
$1.98 MKD 106
38.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 24.9K
$1.76 MKD 94.5
-21.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
$1.23 MKD 66.1
-39.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 53.8K
$2.29 MKD 123
30.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 69.2K
$2.65 MKD 142
45.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Stip
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 31.2K
$1.33 MKD 71.2
30.83%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 44.2K
$0.67 MKD 36.09
267.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
$1.12 MKD 60.0
4.46%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 43.7K
$2.03 MKD 109
19.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 Rp 260.6K
$10.33 MKD 555
40.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.35 Rp 78.2K
$7.34 MKD 394
-40.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.98 Rp 215.3K
$7.50 MKD 403
59.73%
Apples (1kg)
$3.72 Rp 66.8K
$0.90 MKD 48.53
313.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
$1.38 MKD 74.0
18.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.74 Rp 49.3K
$1.31 MKD 70.2
109.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
$1.63 MKD 87.5
37.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 Rp 34.5K
$0.99 MKD 52.9
93.94%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.9K
$1.37 MKD 73.8
66.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$0.58 MKD 31.02
82.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
$0.41 MKD 22.01
75.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29 Rp 59.0K
$2.95 MKD 159
11.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.19 Rp 416.8K
$7.60 MKD 408
205.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$0.99 MKD 53.1
180.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$1.79 MKD 95.9
52.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Stip
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,786
$0.64 MKD 34.35
-57.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.11 Rp 145.7K
$19.79 MKD 1,063
-59.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,675
$1.16 MKD 62.1
-58.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,545
$0.53 MKD 28.38
-20.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.22 Rp 111.8K
$5.61 MKD 301
10.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$1.49 MKD 80.0
-45.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 478.2M
$31.7K MKD 1.7M
-16.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K Rp 578.5M
$34.4K MKD 1.8M
-6.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Stip
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$147 MKD 7,914
-46.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07 Rp 73.1K
$9.36 MKD 503
-56.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33 Rp 437.1K
$15.45 MKD 829
57.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Stip
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
$27.94 MKD 1,500
252.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34 Rp 113.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.99 Rp 71.6K
$4.75 MKD 255
-16.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Stip
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 Rp 5.5M
$219 MKD 11.8K
39.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,642 Rp 119.4M
$1,186 MKD 63.7K
459.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Stip
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 Rp 972.9K
$36.87 MKD 1,979
46.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81 Rp 679.4K
$31.76 MKD 1,705
19.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
$75.4 MKD 4,049
15.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
$114 MKD 6,105
-32.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Stip
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$992 Rp 17.8M
$209 MKD 11.2K
375.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$133 MKD 7,150
405.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,375 Rp 60.7M
$338 MKD 18.1K
899.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
$203 MKD 10.9K
911.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,805 Rp 50.4M
$1,228 MKD 65.9K
128.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,227 Rp 40.0M
$988 MKD 53.0K
125.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Stip
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 3.0M
$463 MKD 24.9K
-63.94%
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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Stip: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 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 177% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $16.00 in Stip. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 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 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 $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,161 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 $32.00 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 and in Stip?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,408 in Ubud, Bali and $774 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 $774, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. 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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