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