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 $1,379 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,826 in Thompson, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,363 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,751 in Thompson, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,347 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,676 in Thompson, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 24% cheaper than Thompson, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Thompson sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 1%, Thompson by 33%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Thompson
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.31 Rp 58.9K
$19.34 CA$26.65
-82.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.08 Rp 694.5K
$59.7 CA$82.3
-34.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.62 Rp 99.8K
$10.07 CA$13.88
-44.19%
Cappuccino
$2.64 Rp 46.9K
$3.52 CA$4.84
-25.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 Rp 28.2K
$1.98 CA$2.73
-20.20%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 Rp 12.6K
$1.88 CA$2.59
-62.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.73 Rp 48.5K
$4.42 CA$6.09
-38.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32 Rp 76.8K
$6.35 CA$8.74
-31.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Thompson
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.54 Rp 27.4K
$2.04 CA$2.81
-24.51%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 Rp 40.8K
$2.46 CA$3.40
-6.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.03 Rp 18.3K
$3.34 CA$4.60
-69.16%
Eggs
$2.12 Rp 37.7K
$3.45 CA$4.76
-38.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.30 Rp 307.5K
$10.09 CA$13.91
71.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.03 Rp 71.6K
$11.72 CA$16.15
-65.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.42 Rp 220.8K
$14.58 CA$20.09
-14.81%
Apples (1kg)
$3.70 Rp 65.7K
$3.91 CA$5.39
-5.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
$1.30 CA$1.79
24.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 Rp 40.3K
$3.64 CA$5.01
-37.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 Rp 35.4K
$4.03 CA$5.55
-50.62%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 Rp 32.5K
$2.57 CA$3.53
-28.79%
Onion (1kg)
$2.25 Rp 40.1K
$2.21 CA$3.04
1.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 Rp 18.6K
$2.52 CA$3.47
-58.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 Rp 10.0K
$1.62 CA$2.23
-65.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 Rp 39.5K
$14.31 CA$19.72
-84.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.22 Rp 412.7K
$13.17 CA$18.14
76.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39 Rp 42.5K
$2.73 CA$3.76
-12.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 Rp 51.1K
$3.30 CA$4.55
-13.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Thompson
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,416
$2.48 CA$3.42
-89.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.17 Rp 127.4K
$64.4 CA$88.7
-88.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,163
$2.98 CA$4.11
-84.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,235
$1.30 CA$1.79
-64.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.70 Rp 101.2K
$23.12 CA$31.86
-75.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 Rp 13.6K
$1.13 CA$1.55
-32.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K Rp 436.7M
$28.8K CA$39.6K
-14.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.0K Rp 551.5M
$19.7K CA$27.1K
57.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Thompson
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.2 Rp 1.5M
$140 CA$193
-41.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.33 Rp 112.5K
$38.89 CA$53.6
-83.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.54 Rp 329.6K
$56.7 CA$78.1
-67.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Thompson
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.1 Rp 996.2K
$41.97 CA$57.8
33.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.41 Rp 327.2K
$16.78 CA$23.12
9.71%
Cinema Ticket
$4.26 Rp 75.8K
$11.34 CA$15.62
-62.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Thompson
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$489 Rp 8.7M
$624 CA$860
-21.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,793 Rp 103.0M
$14.1K CA$19.5K
-58.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Thompson
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.98 Rp 817.3K
$54.6 CA$75.2
-15.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.86 Rp 637.4K
$39.27 CA$54.1
-8.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.5 Rp 1.4M
$88.3 CA$122
-9.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.9 Rp 1.4M
$101 CA$140
-20.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Thompson
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,144 Rp 20.3M
$688 CA$947
66.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$692 Rp 12.3M
$695 CA$958
-0.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,532 Rp 62.8M
$1,137 CA$1,567
210.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,709 Rp 30.4M
$1,114 CA$1,535
53.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,785 Rp 49.5M
$4,869 CA$6,709
-42.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,261 Rp 40.2M
$3,225 CA$4,443
-29.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Thompson
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$169 Rp 3.0M
$1,579 CA$2,176
-89.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
4.68
194.44%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 15, 2026

Last update for Thompson: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,144 in Ubud, Bali versus $688 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 833% 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 $39.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $60.0 in Thompson. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $355 – 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 32% 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 and in Thompson?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,069 per month in Ubud, Bali and $2,740 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 and in Thompson?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali and $60.0 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 $1,379 in Ubud, Bali and $1,826 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 in Thompson?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,379, than in Thompson at $1,826. 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 $1,379 versus $1,826 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 to 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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