Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Tijuana

For one person, living costs are similar in Ubud, Bali and in Tijuana: $1,353 and $1,292 a month, rent and utilities included.

Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,353
/mo nomad
Tijuana
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,292
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Tijuana

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Tijuana actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,353 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,292 in Tijuana, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,353
  • Tijuana $1,292

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,025 in Tijuana, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,297
  • Tijuana $2,025

A family of three spends $3,241 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,758 in Tijuana, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,241
  • Tijuana $2,758

Ubud, Bali costs about 5% more than Tijuana, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Tijuana is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Tijuana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.23 Rp 58.1K
$12.27 MX$227
-73.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.88 Rp 627.8K
$34.46 MX$637
1.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.70 Rp 102.5K
$9.99 MX$185
-42.94%
Cappuccino
$2.62 Rp 47.1K
$4.19 MX$77.4
-37.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 Rp 31.0K
$1.36 MX$25.22
26.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$1.24 MX$22.98
-34.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 47.7K
$3.29 MX$60.9
-19.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37 Rp 78.6K
$6.64 MX$123
-34.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Tijuana
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$1.82 MX$33.56
-13.74%
White Bread (500g)
$2.19 Rp 39.5K
$2.89 MX$53.3
-24.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
$1.78 MX$32.91
-33.71%
Eggs
$2.16 Rp 38.8K
$3.13 MX$57.8
-30.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.65 Rp 317.7K
$8.31 MX$154
112.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.78 Rp 68.0K
$7.20 MX$133
-47.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.95 Rp 215.1K
$11.92 MX$220
0.25%
Apples (1kg)
$3.60 Rp 64.8K
$2.82 MX$52.2
27.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.6K
$1.64 MX$30.22
-3.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.6K
$1.90 MX$35.04
21.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
$1.62 MX$29.90
17.90%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
$1.48 MX$27.28
20.27%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.9K
$1.88 MX$34.82
23.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 Rp 18.0K
$1.52 MX$28.12
-34.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 Rp 9,509
$1.01 MX$18.65
-47.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.29 Rp 41.1K
$4.30 MX$79.5
-46.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.07 Rp 397.3K
$8.30 MX$153
165.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 Rp 42.2K
$2.17 MX$40.06
8.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 Rp 53.6K
$3.87 MX$71.6
-23.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Tijuana
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 Rp 4,112
$1.07 MX$19.70
-78.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.90 Rp 160.2K
$30.80 MX$569
-71.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.47 Rp 8,466
$2.78 MX$51.4
-83.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,737
$2.21 MX$40.80
-80.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.47 Rp 98.4K
$19.08 MX$353
-71.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
$1.50 MX$27.66
-44.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9K Rp 429.8M
$24.8K MX$458.5K
-3.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8K Rp 590.1M
$23.1K MX$427.0K
41.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Tijuana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.0 Rp 1.4M
$47.10 MX$870
69.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.56 Rp 118.1K
$33.77 MX$624
-80.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.60 Rp 334.8K
$29.17 MX$539
-36.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Tijuana
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.1 Rp 974.1K
$40.29 MX$745
34.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.28 Rp 329.0K
$8.06 MX$149
126.80%
Cinema Ticket
$4.25 Rp 76.5K
$6.66 MX$123
-36.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Tijuana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$493 Rp 8.9M
$202 MX$3,725
144.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,597 Rp 100.7M
$4,491 MX$83.0K
24.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Tijuana
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.58 Rp 820.4K
$53.1 MX$982
-14.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.96 Rp 629.4K
$45.34 MX$838
-22.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 Rp 1.4M
$101 MX$1,868
-23.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.5 Rp 1.4M
$68.0 MX$1,256
15.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Tijuana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,131 Rp 20.4M
$869 MX$16.1K
30.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$476 MX$8,797
41.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,613 Rp 65.0M
$1,482 MX$27.4K
143.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,702 Rp 30.6M
$909 MX$16.8K
87.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,717 Rp 48.9M
$3,077 MX$56.9K
-11.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
$2,752 MX$50.9K
-18.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Tijuana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
$927 MX$17.1K
-82.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
12.07
14.17%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 19, 2026

Last update for Tijuana: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$673
Tijuana
$476 29.3% $197
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$287
Tijuana
$265 7.9% $23
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$107
Tijuana
$120 13% $14
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$106
Tijuana
$219 105% $112
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$105
Tijuana
$110 4.6% $4.9
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$63
Tijuana
$54 14.4% $9
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$12
Tijuana
$49 293% $36

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,131 in Ubud, Bali versus $869 in Tijuana. 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 457% higher in Tijuana, 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 $35.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $34.00 in Tijuana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $287 vs $265 – making Tijuana the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇲🇽 Tijuana
🕒 Local time
06:08 6:08 AM
15:08 3:08 PM
15 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
1,810,645
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Tijuana 14,030 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Tijuana

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Tijuana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Tijuana?
Ubud, Bali costs about 5% more than Tijuana, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from 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 Tijuana?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,030 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,938 in Tijuana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ubud, Bali or Tijuana?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tijuana, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Ubud, Bali compared to Tijuana?
Public transport costs about 246% less in Tijuana. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Tijuana?
Kindergarten costs $493 per month in Ubud, Bali and $202 in Tijuana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Tijuana?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Tijuana, where all-in costs run around $1,292, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,353. In Tijuana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Tijuana?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Tijuana costs $1,292 versus $1,353 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Tijuana?
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 Tijuana?
If budget matters most, go with Tijuana. 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.

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