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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $743 in Swakopmund.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,540 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,120 in Swakopmund.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,497 in Swakopmund.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 91% more expensive than Swakopmund, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 6% above, Swakopmund is 45% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Swakopmund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
$5.48 NAD 89.1
-35.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
$33.89 NAD 551
-3.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
$3.20 NAD 52.1
54.69%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
$1.64 NAD 26.64
65.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
$0.74 NAD 12.05
81.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
$0.55 NAD 8.91
27.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
$1.23 NAD 19.99
137.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
$1.62 NAD 26.39
144.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Swakopmund
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
$1.26 NAD 20.51
43.65%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
$0.85 NAD 13.75
196.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
-
-
Eggs
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
$2.15 NAD 34.92
14.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
$7.08 NAD 115
107.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
$1.43 NAD 23.23
9.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
$1.92 NAD 31.28
21.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
$2.25 NAD 36.50
-55.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
$3.02 NAD 49.05
9.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
$6.81 NAD 111
248.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
$0.57 NAD 9.26
389.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Swakopmund
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,800
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,150
$0.69 NAD 11.23
-33.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,037
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$1.24 NAD 20.17
-36.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
$13.7K NAD 223.4K
90.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
$16.9K NAD 273.9K
90.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Swakopmund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$50.4 NAD 818
58.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
$66.3 NAD 1,077
-64.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Swakopmund
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
$33.95 NAD 552
190.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
$11.26 NAD 183
-41.12%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
$6.02 NAD 97.8
-31.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Swakopmund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Swakopmund
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$67.6 NAD 1,098
15.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Swakopmund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
$464 NAD 7,546
116.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$675 Rp 12.1M
$355 NAD 5,776
90.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
$981 NAD 15.9K
250.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
$662 NAD 10.8K
207.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
$620 NAD 10.1K
358.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
$372 NAD 6,053
507.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Swakopmund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
0
-

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Swakopmund: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali and $464 in Swakopmund. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $34.00 in Swakopmund. Groceries flip the comparison at $302 vs $95.0, with Swakopmund cheaper for home cooking.

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 Swakopmund: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Swakopmund cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Swakopmund is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Eating Out, Getting Around. The 91% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,129 in Ubud, Bali and $1,114 in Swakopmund to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Swakopmund?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $464 in Swakopmund. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and Swakopmund?
Supermarket bills run roughly 219% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or Swakopmund?
Dining out is cheaper in Swakopmund – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Swakopmund?
At $743 in Swakopmund versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Swakopmund but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Swakopmund the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Swakopmund more family-friendly?
For families, Swakopmund is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Swakopmund?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Swakopmund are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Swakopmund gentler on the wallet – expenses run 91% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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