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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $674 in Timbo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,110 in Timbo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,732 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,546 in Timbo.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 113% more expensive than Timbo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 7% above, Timbo is 50% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Timbo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 61.9K
$4.62 R$23.06
-22.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58 Rp 564.7K
$32.62 R$163
-0.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 Rp 87.8K
$3.67 R$18.31
38.15%
Cappuccino
$2.83 Rp 49.0K
$1.82 R$9.09
55.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 23.2K
$1.03 R$5.14
30.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
$0.61 R$3.03
13.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 51.8K
$1.73 R$8.64
72.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 66.7K
$2.13 R$10.60
80.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Timbo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 30.2K
$0.83 R$4.12
109.64%
White Bread (500g)
$2.54 Rp 44.0K
$1.31 R$6.55
93.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
$0.77 R$3.85
54.55%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 42.0K
$1.63 R$8.16
49.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.66 Rp 254.1K
$7.22 R$36.04
103.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.18 Rp 72.4K
$3.19 R$15.93
31.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 Rp 206.9K
$6.60 R$32.95
80.91%
Apples (1kg)
$3.69 Rp 63.9K
$1.66 R$8.30
122.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.8K
$0.65 R$3.22
147.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 Rp 46.5K
$0.69 R$3.43
289.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 40.4K
$1.22 R$6.09
90.98%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.0K
$0.88 R$4.38
117.05%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 37.9K
$0.88 R$4.39
148.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
$0.57 R$2.83
85.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
$0.71 R$3.54
1.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 Rp 54.3K
$1.46 R$7.27
114.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 407.1K
$4.95 R$24.71
374.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 Rp 47.5K
$0.95 R$4.76
188.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 Rp 49.9K
$1.85 R$9.22
55.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Timbo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,029
$0.88 R$4.40
-67.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 141.6K
$38.11 R$190
-78.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 7,863
$1.10 R$5.48
-59.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,305
$0.71 R$3.53
-40.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.16 Rp 106.7K
$6.19 R$30.89
-0.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 14.6K
$0.93 R$4.65
-9.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K Rp 454.9M
$18.7K R$93.2K
40.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 562.9M
$24.7K R$123.5K
31.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Timbo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$51.1 R$255
53.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95 Rp 68.5K
$11.67 R$58.2
-66.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40 Rp 423.0K
$20.57 R$103
18.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Timbo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
$22.57 R$113
327.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 110.0K
$21.96 R$110
-71.08%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 70.0K
$5.24 R$26.15
-22.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Timbo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 Rp 5.2M
$215 R$1,073
40.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,523 Rp 113.1M
$2,608 R$13.0K
150.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Timbo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 Rp 933.1K
$28.24 R$141
90.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98 Rp 658.3K
$36.17 R$180
5.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
$53.0 R$264
63.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
$45.92 R$229
71.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Timbo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
$314 R$1,567
222.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 Rp 11.7M
$216 R$1,076
212.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,390 Rp 58.8M
$580 R$2,892
484.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,098 Rp 36.4M
$434 R$2,167
383.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,985 Rp 51.7M
$1,683 R$8,396
77.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,339 Rp 40.5M
$1,184 R$5,906
97.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Timbo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$173 Rp 3.0M
$693 R$3,456
-75.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
11
20.73%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Last update for Timbo: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali and $314 in Timbo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Timbo pays 300% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $33.00 in Timbo. Groceries flip the comparison at $298 vs $143, with Timbo cheaper for home cooking.

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 Timbo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and Timbo?
Ubud, Bali and Timbo differ by about 113% in total monthly costs ($1,438 vs $674 including rent). Timbo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Timbo earns 300% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and Timbo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $314 in Timbo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ubud, Bali and Timbo?
Childcare runs $303 in Ubud, Bali versus $215 in Timbo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 108% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $674 in Timbo versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Timbo but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Timbo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Timbo?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ubud, Bali or Timbo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Timbo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ubud, Bali or Timbo?
Expats usually find Timbo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 113% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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