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: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $735 in Swakopmund.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,118 in Swakopmund.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,500 in Swakopmund.

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

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Swakopmund is 45% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Swakopmund
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45 Rp 62.0K
$5.55 NAD 91.4
-37.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 Rp 580.1K
$33.80 NAD 557
-4.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.84 Rp 86.9K
$3.24 NAD 53.4
49.38%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.3K
$1.68 NAD 27.72
63.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 24.8K
$0.69 NAD 11.39
100.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
$0.51 NAD 8.37
47.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 53.7K
$1.28 NAD 21.04
133.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 69.1K
$1.70 NAD 28.09
126.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Swakopmund
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 31.1K
$1.20 NAD 19.81
45.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 44.1K
$0.87 NAD 14.40
182.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
-
-
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 43.6K
$2.06 NAD 34.03
17.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 Rp 260.2K
$7.45 NAD 123
94.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.35 Rp 78.0K
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.98 Rp 214.9K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.72 Rp 66.7K
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
$1.48 NAD 24.35
10.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.74 Rp 49.2K
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
$1.91 NAD 31.41
17.28%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 Rp 34.4K
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.8K
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$2.26 NAD 37.33
-53.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29 Rp 58.9K
$3.15 NAD 51.9
4.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.19 Rp 416.1K
$6.67 NAD 110
247.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.8K
$0.58 NAD 9.52
379.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 Rp 49.0K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Swakopmund
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,778
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.11 Rp 145.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,659
$0.71 NAD 11.64
-32.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,532
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.22 Rp 111.6K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$1.30 NAD 21.34
-37.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 477.4M
$13.7K NAD 226.1K
93.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K Rp 577.4M
$17.0K NAD 280.2K
89.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Swakopmund
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$51.0 NAD 841
53.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07 Rp 73.0K
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33 Rp 436.4K
$66.1 NAD 1,089
-63.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Swakopmund
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
$33.03 NAD 544
198.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34 Rp 113.7K
$11.34 NAD 187
-44.09%
Cinema Ticket
$3.99 Rp 71.5K
$6.04 NAD 99.6
-33.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Swakopmund
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 Rp 5.5M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,642 Rp 119.2M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Swakopmund
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 Rp 971.2K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81 Rp 678.2K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
$65.5 NAD 1,080
16.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Swakopmund
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$992 Rp 17.8M
$470 NAD 7,745
111.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$351 NAD 5,781
91.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,375 Rp 60.5M
$963 NAD 15.9K
250.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
$674 NAD 11.1K
203.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,805 Rp 50.3M
$619 NAD 10.2K
352.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,227 Rp 39.9M
$364 NAD 5,991
512.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Swakopmund
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Swakopmund: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Ubud, Bali and $470 in Swakopmund. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $34.00 in Swakopmund. Groceries flip the comparison at $297 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 $2,112 in Ubud, Bali and $1,103 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: $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $470 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 in Swakopmund?
Supermarket bills run roughly 213% 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 in Swakopmund?
Dining out is cheaper in Swakopmund – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Swakopmund?
At $735 in Swakopmund versus $1,408 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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