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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,129 in Tembisa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,348 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,772 in Tembisa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,415 in Tembisa.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 21% more expensive than in Tembisa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Tembisa is 18% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Tembisa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44 Rp 61.0K
$10.72 R 174
-67.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.31 Rp 644.5K
$41.79 R 679
-13.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.71 Rp 101.3K
$5.90 R 95.9
-3.22%
Cappuccino
$2.67 Rp 47.4K
$2.29 R 37.29
16.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 Rp 31.1K
$1.12 R 18.28
56.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 Rp 15.5K
$0.92 R 14.97
-5.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 Rp 52.4K
$2.35 R 38.18
25.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52 Rp 80.2K
$2.83 R 46.01
59.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Tembisa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
$1.21 R 19.61
33.88%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 Rp 41.4K
$1.17 R 19.01
99.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 19.7K
$1.83 R 29.79
-39.34%
Eggs
$2.20 Rp 39.1K
$2.64 R 42.85
-16.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.69 Rp 314.0K
$8.65 R 141
104.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.10 Rp 72.7K
$5.33 R 86.7
-23.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.18 Rp 216.1K
$7.38 R 120
65.04%
Apples (1kg)
$3.71 Rp 65.8K
$1.88 R 30.49
97.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.2K
$1.74 R 28.36
-8.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.5K
$1.85 R 30.04
23.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.95 Rp 34.7K
$1.66 R 27.00
17.47%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.8K
$1.55 R 25.27
23.23%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.4K
$1.49 R 24.18
56.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 17.9K
$1.21 R 19.62
-16.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 9,795
$1.24 R 20.16
-55.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 Rp 39.6K
$3.39 R 55.2
-34.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.07 Rp 409.5K
$5.29 R 86.0
336.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 Rp 42.9K
$1.44 R 23.47
68.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 Rp 53.2K
$2.05 R 33.34
46.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Tembisa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,825
$1.59 R 25.83
-83.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.98 Rp 159.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,586
$0.61 R 9.88
-21.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,697
$0.97 R 15.69
-55.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.64 Rp 100.1K
$9.17 R 149
-38.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 14.3K
$1.46 R 23.67
-45.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K Rp 442.7M
$37.2K R 604.2K
-32.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 562.8M
$33.4K R 543.7K
-5.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Tembisa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
$146 R 2,378
-44.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49 Rp 115.2K
$35.21 R 572
-81.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.77 Rp 333.1K
$39.10 R 636
-51.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Tembisa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.9 Rp 1.0M
$33.64 R 547
69.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.73 Rp 332.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.54 Rp 80.5K
$7.64 R 124
-40.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Tembisa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$481 Rp 8.5M
$248 R 4,035
93.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,711 Rp 101.4M
$5,610 R 91.2K
1.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Tembisa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.52 Rp 807.9K
$55.1 R 896
-17.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.88 Rp 636.9K
$33.60 R 546
6.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
$106 R 1,731
-24.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
$92.2 R 1,499
-14.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Tembisa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,115 Rp 19.8M
$428 R 6,965
160.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$698 Rp 12.4M
$372 R 6,050
87.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,637 Rp 64.5M
$792 R 12.9K
359.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,737 Rp 30.8M
$784 R 12.7K
121.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 Rp 49.4M
$887 R 14.4K
213.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,290 Rp 40.6M
$680 R 11.0K
236.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Tembisa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$168 Rp 3.0M
$586 R 9,532
-71.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
11
25.27%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Tembisa: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali and $428 in Tembisa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tembisa pays 249% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $42.00 in Tembisa. Groceries flip the comparison at $295 vs $201, with Tembisa 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 Tembisa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tembisa cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Tembisa is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ubud, Bali or Tembisa?
On paper, salaries run 249% lower in Tembisa. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Tembisa?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $428 in Tembisa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $481 in Ubud, Bali versus $248 in Tembisa. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or in Tembisa?
Dining out is cheaper in Tembisa – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $36.00 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 Tembisa?
At $1,129 in Tembisa versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tembisa but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Tembisa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Tembisa more family-friendly?
For families, Tembisa 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 Tembisa?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Tembisa 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 Tembisa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% 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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