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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,396 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,257 in Ulm.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,446 in Ulm.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,273 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,634 in Ulm.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 38% less than in Ulm, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 2% above, Ulm 64% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Ulm
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.37 Rp 59.7K
$17.13 €14.72
-80.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.59 Rp 682.4K
$69.5 €59.8
-44.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.52 Rp 97.6K
$14.21 €12.21
-61.15%
Cappuccino
$2.64 Rp 46.8K
$4.15 €3.57
-36.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 Rp 29.6K
$4.86 €4.18
-65.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 Rp 13.6K
$2.00 €1.72
-61.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.63 Rp 46.6K
$4.81 €4.14
-45.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28 Rp 75.7K
$4.71 €4.05
-9.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Ulm
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 Rp 27.3K
$1.50 €1.29
3.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 Rp 39.3K
$2.12 €1.82
4.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 Rp 19.9K
$4.10 €3.53
-72.44%
Eggs
$2.09 Rp 36.9K
$3.75 €3.23
-44.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.39 Rp 307.6K
$14.78 €12.71
17.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.87 Rp 68.4K
$10.54 €9.06
-63.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.55 Rp 221.9K
$26.62 €22.88
-52.85%
Apples (1kg)
$3.62 Rp 63.9K
$3.59 €3.08
0.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.6K
$2.41 €2.07
-35.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.35 Rp 41.6K
$2.06 €1.77
14.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 Rp 36.4K
$4.04 €3.48
-49.01%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 33.6K
$1.08 €0.93
75.93%
Onion (1kg)
$2.34 Rp 41.3K
$1.12 €0.96
108.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 Rp 18.2K
$1.70 €1.46
-39.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 9,809
$1.25 €1.07
-56.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25 Rp 39.8K
$10.26 €8.82
-78.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.81 Rp 421.0K
$5.91 €5.08
302.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31 Rp 40.9K
$1.13 €0.97
104.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 Rp 49.5K
$1.53 €1.31
83.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Ulm
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,816
$3.29 €2.83
-91.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.66 Rp 153.2K
$67.9 €58.4
-87.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,515
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 7,887
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.72 Rp 101.1K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 Rp 13.4K
$2.05 €1.76
-62.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5K Rp 433.0M
$33.7K €28.9K
-27.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 568.0M
$40.3K €34.7K
-20.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Ulm
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.6 Rp 1.5M
$394 €339
-78.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.46 Rp 114.2K
$34.80 €29.92
-81.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.99 Rp 335.9K
$54.9 €47.21
-65.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Ulm
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.0 Rp 989.8K
$35.97 €30.93
55.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.62 Rp 329.2K
$23.39 €20.11
-20.39%
Cinema Ticket
$4.28 Rp 75.7K
$13.99 €12.03
-69.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Ulm
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$487 Rp 8.6M
$459 €395
6.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,856 Rp 103.6M
$13.3K €11.5K
-56.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Ulm
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.56 Rp 805.6K
$93.8 €80.7
-51.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.38 Rp 643.3K
$58.8 €50.6
-38.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.0 Rp 1.4M
$96.1 €82.6
-14.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
$157 €135
-48.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Ulm
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,117 Rp 19.7M
$976 €839
14.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$701 Rp 12.4M
$774 €666
-9.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,537 Rp 62.5M
$1,956 €1,681
80.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,762 Rp 31.2M
$1,569 €1,349
12.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,826 Rp 50.0M
$6,053 €5,204
-53.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,292 Rp 40.5M
$4,122 €3,544
-44.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Ulm
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$170 Rp 3.0M
$3,878 €3,334
-95.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
3.97
247.10%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ulm: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,117 in Ubud, Bali and $976 in Ulm. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ulm pays 2184% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $39.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $70.0 in Ulm for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $353 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

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 Ulm: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Ulm?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 62% lower than in Ulm. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or in Ulm?
On paper, salaries run 2184% lower in Ulm. 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 Ulm?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,117 in Ubud, Bali versus $976 in Ulm. 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 Ulm?
Childcare runs $487 in Ubud, Bali versus $459 in Ulm. 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 Ulm?
Supermarket bills run roughly 21% higher in Ulm. 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 Ulm?
At $1,396 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,257 in Ulm, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Ulm. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Ulm?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,396 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Ulm?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Ulm are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Ulm. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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