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