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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $382 in Thiruvananthapuram, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $604 in Thiruvananthapuram, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $827 in Thiruvananthapuram, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 272% more than Thiruvananthapuram, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Thiruvananthapuram is 72% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 64.3K

$2.27 ₹218

56.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 590.3K

$13.73 ₹1,315

138.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 89.2K

$4.31 ₹413

14.85%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.9K

$1.80 ₹172

50.56%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 Rp 24.2K

$0.33 ₹32.00

306.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.23 ₹22.04

204.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.7K

$1.71 ₹164

70.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 71.4K

$3.47 ₹332

14.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.6K

$0.60 ₹57.2

201.67%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.4K

$0.54 ₹51.6

366.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.9K

$0.63 ₹60.7

84.13%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 44.4K

$0.99 ₹95.1

148.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 265.3K

$5.93 ₹568

148.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.9K

$2.40 ₹230

80.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 218.9K

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 69.3K

$2.42 ₹231

58.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 28.1K

$0.71 ₹68.3

119.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 51.1K

$1.27 ₹122

122.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.9K

$0.58 ₹55.6

301.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.5K

$0.52 ₹49.75

267.31%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.7K

$0.61 ₹58.4

260.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.3K

$0.51 ₹48.81

98.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 14.0K

$0.30 ₹29.08

160.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.8K

$3.59 ₹344

-7.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 428.0K

$6.70 ₹641

254.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 50.3K

$1.48 ₹142

88.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.6K

$2.81 ₹269

1.78%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$4.82 ₹462

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,848

$0.17 ₹15.89

58.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 144.8K

$6.36 ₹609

26.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,230

$0.96 ₹91.5

-52.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,116

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 109.9K

$1.79 ₹171

240.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.3K

$1.24 ₹119

-36.29%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.1K Rp 471.6M

$18.9K ₹1.8M

38.21%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.1K Rp 579.2M

$21.5K ₹2.1M

49.53%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$28.02 ₹2,684

185.30%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.06 Rp 73.3K

$3.39 ₹324

19.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 424.1K

$7.98 ₹764

194.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$16.57 ₹1,587

495.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 119.6K

$11.88 ₹1,137

-44.19%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.8K

$2.35 ₹225

76.60%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$304 Rp 5.5M

$30.59 ₹2,929

893.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 119.3M

$1,959 ₹187.6K

237.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 1.0M

$18.05 ₹1,729

207.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 690.9K

$15.97 ₹1,530

139.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$33.82 ₹3,239

161.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$22.06 ₹2,113

252.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.1M

$144 ₹13.8K

599.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.2M

$89.9 ₹8,609

651.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 62.1M

$281 ₹26.9K

1125.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.8M

$173 ₹16.6K

1077.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 51.2M

$678 ₹64.9K

319.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.8M

$428 ₹41.0K

429.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$241 ₹23.1K

-31.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

10.67%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Thiruvananthapuram: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $144 in Thiruvananthapuram. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 46% higher in Thiruvananthapuram, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $14.00 in Thiruvananthapuram. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $107 – making Thiruvananthapuram the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Thiruvananthapuram: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 272% more than Thiruvananthapuram, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $573 in Thiruvananthapuram. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Thiruvananthapuram, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $30.59 in Thiruvananthapuram. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 183% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Thiruvananthapuram, where all-in costs run around $382, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Thiruvananthapuram it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Thiruvananthapuram costs $382 versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Thiruvananthapuram. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.