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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,396 in Ubud, Bali versus $773 in Tema.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,223 in Tema.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,273 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,673 in Tema.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 81% more expensive than in Tema, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 2% above, Tema is 44% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Tema
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.37 Rp 59.7K
$7.17 GHS 81.0
-53.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.59 Rp 682.4K
$28.28 GHS 320
36.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.52 Rp 97.6K
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.64 Rp 46.8K
$5.21 GHS 58.9
-49.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 Rp 29.6K
$0.92 GHS 10.34
81.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 Rp 13.6K
$0.31 GHS 3.52
148.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.63 Rp 46.6K
$3.42 GHS 38.62
-23.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28 Rp 75.7K
$2.72 GHS 30.68
57.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Tema
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 Rp 27.3K
$3.40 GHS 38.44
-54.41%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 Rp 39.3K
$1.65 GHS 18.69
34.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 Rp 19.9K
$2.12 GHS 23.99
-46.70%
Eggs
$2.09 Rp 36.9K
$2.44 GHS 27.57
-14.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.39 Rp 307.6K
$4.52 GHS 51.1
284.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.87 Rp 68.4K
$3.31 GHS 37.35
16.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.55 Rp 221.9K
$3.49 GHS 39.39
259.60%
Apples (1kg)
$3.62 Rp 63.9K
$2.60 GHS 29.38
39.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.6K
$2.25 GHS 25.42
-30.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.35 Rp 41.6K
$2.24 GHS 25.26
4.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 Rp 36.4K
$3.59 GHS 40.57
-42.62%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 33.6K
$3.62 GHS 40.93
-47.51%
Onion (1kg)
$2.34 Rp 41.3K
$2.93 GHS 33.05
-20.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 Rp 18.2K
$0.42 GHS 4.79
145.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 9,809
$0.74 GHS 8.37
-25.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25 Rp 39.8K
$1.31 GHS 14.76
71.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.81 Rp 421.0K
$8.77 GHS 99.1
171.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31 Rp 40.9K
$2.28 GHS 25.78
1.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 Rp 49.5K
$3.19 GHS 36.01
-12.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Tema
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,816
$1.75 GHS 19.79
-84.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.66 Rp 153.2K
$43.36 GHS 490
-80.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,515
$2.26 GHS 25.57
-78.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 7,887
$0.42 GHS 4.78
7.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.72 Rp 101.1K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 Rp 13.4K
$1.17 GHS 13.16
-35.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5K Rp 433.0M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 568.0M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Tema
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.6 Rp 1.5M
$80.8 GHS 913
3.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.46 Rp 114.2K
$15.84 GHS 179
-59.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.99 Rp 335.9K
$85.2 GHS 963
-77.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Tema
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.0 Rp 989.8K
$24.86 GHS 281
125.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.62 Rp 329.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.28 Rp 75.7K
$8.86 GHS 100
-51.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Tema
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$487 Rp 8.6M
$177 GHS 2,005
174.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,856 Rp 103.6M
$2,686 GHS 30.4K
118.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Tema
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.56 Rp 805.6K
$13.47 GHS 152
238.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.38 Rp 643.3K
$16.06 GHS 181
126.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.0 Rp 1.4M
$44.07 GHS 498
85.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
$32.93 GHS 372
144.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Tema
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,117 Rp 19.7M
$135 GHS 1,531
724.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$701 Rp 12.4M
$73.4 GHS 829
855.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,537 Rp 62.5M
$441 GHS 4,988
701.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,762 Rp 31.2M
$219 GHS 2,471
706.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,826 Rp 50.0M
$9,991 GHS 112.9K
-71.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,292 Rp 40.5M
$6,102 GHS 69.0K
-62.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Tema
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$170 Rp 3.0M
$429 GHS 4,847
-60.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
35
-60.63%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Last update for Tema: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,117 in Ubud, Bali and $135 in Tema. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tema pays 153% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $39.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $28.00 in Tema for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $225 per month, with Tema cheaper across the board.

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 Tema: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Tema?
Tema wins on cost – living expenses run 81% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Tema the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or in Tema?
On paper, salaries run 153% lower in Tema. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali compared to Tema?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,117 in Ubud, Bali versus $135 in Tema. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Tema?
Dining out is cheaper in Tema – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Tema?
All in, you'll spend $1,396 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $773 in Tema – a 81% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Tema?
At $773 in Tema versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Tema but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Tema the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Tema?
Both work as nomad bases, but Tema delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $773 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Tema hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Tema?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Tema 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Tema gentler on the wallet – expenses run 81% 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

Similar cities