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 $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $375 in Thiruvananthapuram, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $604 in Thiruvananthapuram, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $832 in Thiruvananthapuram, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 275% more than Thiruvananthapuram, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Thiruvananthapuram is 72% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.1K

$2.34 ₹226

47.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 581.1K

$13.93 ₹1,343

132.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 87.1K

$4.32 ₹417

12.04%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.4K

$1.77 ₹171

55.37%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.9K

$0.33 ₹32.07

318.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

$0.21 ₹20.18

257.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.8K

$1.70 ₹164

75.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.2K

$3.37 ₹325

14.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.2K

$0.59 ₹57.0

194.92%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.2K

$0.54 ₹52.4

355.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

$0.62 ₹59.8

88.71%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.7K

$0.92 ₹88.7

164.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 260.6K

$5.67 ₹547

155.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 78.2K

$2.44 ₹235

78.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 215.3K

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.8K

$2.47 ₹238

50.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$0.78 ₹74.7

108.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.3K

$1.27 ₹122

115.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.3K

$0.64 ₹61.5

250.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.5K

$0.51 ₹49.28

276.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.9K

$0.59 ₹57.4

286.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.48 ₹46.28

120.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$0.30 ₹28.95

140.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 59.0K

$3.50 ₹338

-6.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.8K

$5.14 ₹495

351.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$1.46 ₹141

90.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.1K

$2.76 ₹266

-1.09%

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

$4.97 ₹480

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,786

$0.17 ₹16.49

58.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.7K

$6.43 ₹620

26.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,675

$1.00 ₹96.8

-52.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,545

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.8K

$1.70 ₹164

265.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$1.24 ₹120

-34.68%

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

$26.6K Rp 478.2M

$18.3K ₹1.8M

45.59%

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

$32.2K Rp 578.5M

$21.5K ₹2.1M

49.81%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$28.39 ₹2,738

175.98%

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

$4.07 Rp 73.1K

$3.52 ₹340

15.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 437.1K

$7.57 ₹730

221.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$16.42 ₹1,583

500.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.9K

$11.57 ₹1,116

-45.20%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.6K

$2.29 ₹221

74.24%

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

$305 Rp 5.5M

$29.93 ₹2,886

919.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.4M

$1,946 ₹187.7K

241.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 972.9K

$18.10 ₹1,745

199.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 679.4K

$16.14 ₹1,557

134.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

$34.13 ₹3,291

154.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

$22.06 ₹2,127

246.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.8M

$144 ₹13.8K

591.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.1M

$89.3 ₹8,607

653.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.7M

$282 ₹27.2K

1097.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

$176 ₹17.0K

1064.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.4M

$684 ₹65.9K

310.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 40.0M

$418 ₹40.3K

432.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$238 ₹22.9K

-29.80%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Thiruvananthapuram: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 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 42% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $14.00 in Thiruvananthapuram. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 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 275% 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 $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $563 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 $305 per month in Ubud, Bali and $29.93 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 $375, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. 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 $375 versus $1,408 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.