Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Ulaanbaatar

For one person, living is cheaper in Ulaanbaatar: $1,192 a month against $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $1,900 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Ubud, Bali outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Ulaanbaatar
🇲🇳 Mongolia
$1,192
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Ulaanbaatar actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,349 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,192 in Ulaanbaatar.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,349
  • Ulaanbaatar $1,192

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,305 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,911 in Ulaanbaatar.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,305
  • Ulaanbaatar $1,911

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,261 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,630 in Ulaanbaatar.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,261
  • Ulaanbaatar $2,630

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 13% more expensive than in Ulaanbaatar, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32 Rp 60.4K
$5.41 MNT 19.5K
-38.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.64 Rp 647.8K
$31.92 MNT 114.7K
11.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.53 Rp 100.6K
$5.61 MNT 20.2K
-1.43%
Cappuccino
$2.72 Rp 49.4K
$2.36 MNT 8,485
15.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 Rp 30.9K
$0.87 MNT 3,143
95.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
$0.58 MNT 2,073
31.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 48.2K
$2.32 MNT 8,321
14.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 Rp 79.6K
$3.40 MNT 12.2K
28.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 Rp 27.1K
$1.42 MNT 5,110
4.93%
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 Rp 41.4K
$0.99 MNT 3,541
130.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
$2.16 MNT 7,760
-44.91%
Eggs
$2.04 Rp 37.0K
$2.07 MNT 7,441
-1.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.70 Rp 321.7K
$12.26 MNT 44.1K
44.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.96 Rp 72.0K
$4.75 MNT 17.1K
-16.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.19 Rp 221.6K
$6.62 MNT 23.8K
84.14%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 Rp 66.4K
$3.03 MNT 10.9K
20.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 27.6K
$2.35 MNT 8,428
-35.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
$3.70 MNT 13.3K
-39.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.9K
$3.01 MNT 10.8K
-34.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 33.6K
$0.70 MNT 2,525
164.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 44.1K
$1.04 MNT 3,723
132.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 18.0K
$1.72 MNT 6,182
-42.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,332
$0.79 MNT 2,836
-35.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 Rp 40.4K
$1.63 MNT 5,867
36.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.24 Rp 404.2K
$10.41 MNT 37.4K
113.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 Rp 41.1K
$1.45 MNT 5,200
55.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 54.0K
$1.75 MNT 6,307
69.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,562
$0.27 MNT 958
-7.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.82 Rp 142.2K
$16.65 MNT 59.8K
-53.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,989
$0.51 MNT 1,844
-13.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,817
$0.55 MNT 1,986
-21.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 Rp 98.3K
$6.48 MNT 23.3K
-16.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 15.0K
$1.16 MNT 4,182
-29.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K Rp 433.3M
$27.0K MNT 97.1M
-11.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 577.0M
$35.0K MNT 125.7M
-9.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$70.8 MNT 254.5K
11.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 117.2K
$7.62 MNT 27.4K
-15.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.58 Rp 337.7K
$13.84 MNT 49.7K
34.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.48 Rp 899.4K
$68.7 MNT 246.9K
-27.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.65 Rp 320.8K
$18.21 MNT 65.4K
-3.08%
Cinema Ticket
$4.27 Rp 77.7K
$4.24 MNT 15.2K
0.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$491 Rp 8.9M
$798 MNT 2.9M
-38.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,674 Rp 103.1M
$8,425 MNT 30.3M
-32.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.64 Rp 811.4K
$83.1 MNT 298.6K
-46.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.95 Rp 635.3K
$44.52 MNT 160.0K
-21.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 Rp 1.5M
$102 MNT 366.6K
-21.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
$186 MNT 668.4K
-57.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 Rp 20.4M
$636 MNT 2.3M
76.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$671 Rp 12.2M
$469 MNT 1.7M
43.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,565 Rp 64.8M
$1,633 MNT 5.9M
118.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,723 Rp 31.3M
$985 MNT 3.5M
74.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,732 Rp 49.6M
$1,751 MNT 6.3M
56.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,284 Rp 41.5M
$1,016 MNT 3.7M
124.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Ulaanbaatar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
$589 MNT 2.1M
-72.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
10.32
33.53%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Last update for Ulaanbaatar: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$672
Ulaanbaatar
$469 30.2% $202
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$288
Ulaanbaatar
$233 19.4% $56
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$108
Ulaanbaatar
$113 4.6% $5
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Ulaanbaatar
$187 74% $80
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$104
Ulaanbaatar
$92 11.3% $12
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$58
Ulaanbaatar
$77 33% $19
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$11
Ulaanbaatar
$21 83.8% $9.6

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,125 in Ubud, Bali and $636 in Ulaanbaatar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ulaanbaatar pays about 3.6 times more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36 in Ubud, Bali vs $32 in Ulaanbaatar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $233 per month, with Ulaanbaatar cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇲🇳 Ulaanbaatar
🕒 Local time
07:04 7:04 AM
07:04 7:04 AM
Same time as Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
1,401,200 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MNT, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18,175 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.5 USD). 1 EUR = 20,233 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Mongolian Tögrög exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 3,594 MNT (10,000 MNT = 2.78 USD). 1 EUR = 4,001 MNT (10,000 MNT = 2.5 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Ulaanbaatar 6,330 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Ulaanbaatar

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 Ulaanbaatar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Ulaanbaatar?
Ulaanbaatar wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Ulaanbaatar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or in Ulaanbaatar?
On paper, salaries run 72% lower in Ubud, Bali. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali compared to Ulaanbaatar?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,125 in Ubud, Bali versus $636 in Ulaanbaatar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Ulaanbaatar?
Childcare runs $491 in Ubud, Bali versus $798 in Ulaanbaatar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Ulaanbaatar?
Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Ulaanbaatar?
Both cities are expensive relative to $1,000. Ulaanbaatar is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ubud, Bali or Ulaanbaatar?
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.

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