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 $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $390 in Thiruvananthapuram, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $613 in Thiruvananthapuram, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $836 in Thiruvananthapuram, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 251% more than Thiruvananthapuram, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Thiruvananthapuram is 71% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 Rp 60.9K

$2.68 ₹257

28.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.31 Rp 643.0K

$10.40 ₹998

249.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 Rp 101.0K

$3.48 ₹334

64.08%

Cappuccino

$2.67 Rp 47.3K

$1.84 ₹177

45.11%

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

$1.75 Rp 31.0K

$0.43 ₹41.27

306.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 Rp 15.4K

$0.16 ₹15.43

443.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.3K

$2.12 ₹204

39.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 Rp 80.0K

$2.55 ₹244

77.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$0.52 ₹50.1

211.54%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$0.54 ₹52.3

331.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 Rp 19.6K

$0.61 ₹58.8

81.97%

Eggs

$2.20 Rp 39.0K

$0.84 ₹80.3

161.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.69 Rp 313.3K

$5.34 ₹513

231.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 Rp 72.5K

$2.73 ₹262

50.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 215.6K

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 Rp 65.6K

$2.31 ₹221

60.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.1K

$0.74 ₹71.0

114.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.4K

$1.21 ₹116

88.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 Rp 34.6K

$0.44 ₹41.93

343.18%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.7K

$0.44 ₹41.94

334.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$0.46 ₹43.79

406.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 17.8K

$0.55 ₹52.8

83.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,773

$0.30 ₹29.00

83.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 Rp 39.5K

$4.35 ₹418

-48.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.07 Rp 408.6K

$5.10 ₹489

352.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 Rp 42.8K

$1.82 ₹175

32.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.1K

$3.08 ₹295

-2.60%

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

$4.94 ₹474

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,814

$0.20 ₹19.18

35.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.98 Rp 159.1K

$2.85 ₹273

215.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,566

$1.72 ₹165

-72.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,679

$0.27 ₹26.04

59.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.64 Rp 99.9K

$2.55 ₹244

121.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

$1.09 ₹105

-26.61%

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

$24.9K Rp 441.7M

$13.7K ₹1.3M

81.52%

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

$31.7K Rp 561.5M

$29.7K ₹2.8M

6.81%

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

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

$34.84 ₹3,342

133.81%

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

$6.49 Rp 115.0K

$3.34 ₹320

94.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.77 Rp 332.4K

$7.63 ₹732

146.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

$13.92 ₹1,336

308.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 Rp 331.7K

$7.42 ₹712

152.43%

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 Rp 80.4K

$2.14 ₹206

112.15%

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

$481 Rp 8.5M

$37.72 ₹3,618

1174.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,711 Rp 101.1M

$2,089 ₹200.5K

173.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.52 Rp 806.0K

$21.63 ₹2,076

110.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 Rp 635.4K

$17.83 ₹1,711

101.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$36.22 ₹3,475

121.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

$26.81 ₹2,572

193.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 Rp 19.7M

$180 ₹17.3K

519.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$698 Rp 12.4M

$98.6 ₹9,456

607.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,637 Rp 64.4M

$365 ₹35.0K

895.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

$210 ₹20.1K

729.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.3M

$862 ₹82.7K

223.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.5M

$453 ₹43.5K

405.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 Rp 3.0M

$245 ₹23.5K

-31.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

10.31

33.66%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Thiruvananthapuram: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $180 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $10.00 in Thiruvananthapuram. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $103 – 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 251% 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 $2,052 per month in Ubud, Bali and $585 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 $481 per month in Ubud, Bali and $37.72 in Thiruvananthapuram. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 187% 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 $390, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. 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 $390 versus $1,368 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.