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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,864 in Thompson, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,795 in Thompson, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,725 in Thompson, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 25% cheaper than Thompson, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Thompson sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 4%, Thompson by 39%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Thompson
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
$16.89 CA$23.59
-78.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
$70.6 CA$98.6
-53.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
$11.22 CA$15.67
-56.68%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
$3.71 CA$5.18
-25.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
$1.98 CA$2.77
-33.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
$1.63 CA$2.28
-57.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
$5.50 CA$7.68
-47.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
$5.88 CA$8.21
-35.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Thompson
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
$2.13 CA$2.98
-19.72%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
$2.60 CA$3.63
-5.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
$3.53 CA$4.93
-66.01%
Eggs
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
$3.40 CA$4.75
-28.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
$11.37 CA$15.88
26.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
$11.53 CA$16.10
-62.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
$14.63 CA$20.44
-16.54%
Apples (1kg)
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
$4.13 CA$5.76
-10.90%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
$1.37 CA$1.91
13.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
$3.62 CA$5.06
-22.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
$3.65 CA$5.10
-36.16%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
$2.42 CA$3.38
-18.60%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
$2.45 CA$3.42
-5.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$2.52 CA$3.52
-57.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
$1.72 CA$2.41
-57.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
$14.00 CA$19.55
-76.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
$12.36 CA$17.27
84.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
$2.92 CA$4.08
-3.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$3.05 CA$4.26
-8.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Thompson
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,217
$2.39 CA$3.33
-87.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
$63.0 CA$88.0
-87.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,047
$3.19 CA$4.45
-85.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,094
$1.44 CA$2.01
-68.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
$25.94 CA$36.23
-75.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
$1.17 CA$1.64
-27.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
$25.4K CA$35.5K
2.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
$21.0K CA$29.4K
50.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Thompson
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
$145 CA$202
-44.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
$44.24 CA$61.8
-90.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
$61.9 CA$86.5
-60.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Thompson
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
$41.95 CA$58.6
132.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
$11.63 CA$16.24
-65.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Thompson
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$741 CA$1,035
-58.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
$11.7K CA$16.3K
-43.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Thompson
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
$54.3 CA$75.8
-0.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
$39.75 CA$55.5
-2.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
$85.0 CA$119
1.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
$108 CA$150
-28.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Thompson
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$986 Rp 17.7M
$699 CA$977
40.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$658 Rp 11.8M
$694 CA$970
-5.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
$1,154 CA$1,612
191.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
$1,144 CA$1,598
80.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
$4,971 CA$6,942
-44.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
$3,897 CA$5,443
-42.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Thompson
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$163 Rp 2.9M
$1,556 CA$2,173
-89.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
6.46
105.57%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Last update for Thompson: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $699 in Thompson. 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 852% higher in Thompson, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $71.0 in Thompson. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $361 – making Ubud, Bali 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 Thompson: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Thompson?
Thompson costs about 33% more than Ubud, Bali, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali vs Thompson?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $2,795 in Thompson. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ubud, Bali or Thompson?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Ubud, Bali vs Thompson?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $71.0 in Thompson. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Thompson?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,404 in Ubud, Bali and $1,864 in Thompson. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or Thompson?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,404, than in Thompson at $1,864. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Thompson it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Thompson?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,404 versus $1,864 in Thompson. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Thompson?
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.
Should I move to Ubud, Bali or Thompson?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Thompson makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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