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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,087 in Umhlanga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,540 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,661 in Umhlanga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,235 in Umhlanga.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 31% more expensive than Umhlanga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 6% above, Umhlanga is 19% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Umhlanga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
$11.05 R 180
-67.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
$34.95 R 568
-6.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
$4.65 R 75.6
6.45%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
$2.06 R 33.45
31.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
$1.28 R 20.85
4.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
$1.21 R 19.61
-42.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
$2.22 R 36.13
31.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
$2.45 R 39.80
61.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Umhlanga
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
$1.07 R 17.40
69.16%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
$0.77 R 12.54
227.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
$1.59 R 25.81
-27.04%
Eggs
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
$2.11 R 34.32
16.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
$10.35 R 168
42.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
$4.27 R 69.4
1.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
$8.93 R 145
35.95%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
$1.60 R 26.04
140.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
$1.52 R 24.70
2.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
$1.47 R 23.89
92.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
$1.62 R 26.38
43.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
$1.38 R 22.38
38.41%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
$1.19 R 19.30
84.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
$1.04 R 16.88
-2.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
$0.96 R 15.52
-18.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
$2.74 R 44.45
21.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
$6.17 R 100
284.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
$2.04 R 33.12
36.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
$1.66 R 27.01
72.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Umhlanga
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,800
$1.68 R 27.37
-83.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,150
$1.10 R 17.81
-58.18%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,037
$0.88 R 14.38
-48.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
$4.08 R 66.3
49.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$1.45 R 23.56
-45.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
$30.0K R 488.1K
-12.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
$34.1K R 553.9K
-5.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Umhlanga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$132 R 2,153
-39.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
$35.39 R 575
-88.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
$38.66 R 628
-39.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Umhlanga
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
$30.57 R 497
222.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
$6.57 R 107
-36.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Umhlanga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$197 R 3,203
54.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
$4,340 R 70.5K
52.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Umhlanga
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
$60.3 R 981
-7.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
$32.16 R 523
19.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
$110 R 1,790
-19.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$80.7 R 1,311
-3.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Umhlanga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
$369 R 5,990
173.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$675 Rp 12.1M
$332 R 5,391
103.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
$966 R 15.7K
256.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
$699 R 11.4K
191.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
$2,305 R 37.5K
23.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
$1,627 R 26.4K
39.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Umhlanga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$1,604 R 26.1K
-89.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
14.5
-8.41%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Umhlanga: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali and $369 in Umhlanga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Umhlanga pays 870% 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 $35.00 in Umhlanga. Groceries flip the comparison at $302 vs $192, with Umhlanga 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 Umhlanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Umhlanga?
Umhlanga wins on cost – living expenses run 31% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Umhlanga the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or Umhlanga?
On paper, Umhlanga earns 870% less. 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 vs Umhlanga?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $369 in Umhlanga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or Umhlanga?
Supermarket bills run roughly 58% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Umhlanga?
All in, you'll spend $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,087 in Umhlanga – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or Umhlanga?
At $1,087 in Umhlanga versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Umhlanga but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Umhlanga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Umhlanga?
Both work as nomad bases, but Umhlanga delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,087 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Umhlanga hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Umhlanga?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Umhlanga 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 Umhlanga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities