Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Umm Al Quwain Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Umm Al Quwain

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,417 in Umm Al Quwain.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,348 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,986 in Umm Al Quwain.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,555 in Umm Al Quwain.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 3% less than in Umm Al Quwain, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 0% above, Umm Al Quwain 4% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Umm Al Quwain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44 Rp 60.9K
$5.59 AED 20.52
-38.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.31 Rp 643.0K
$27.16 AED 99.8
33.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.71 Rp 101.0K
$8.05 AED 29.56
-29.07%
Cappuccino
$2.67 Rp 47.3K
$3.72 AED 13.65
-28.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 Rp 31.0K
$0.87 AED 3.20
101.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 Rp 15.4K
$0.36 AED 1.33
141.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 Rp 52.3K
$10.92 AED 40.10
-72.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52 Rp 80.0K
$12.45 AED 45.74
-63.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Umm Al Quwain
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
$1.78 AED 6.55
-8.99%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
$1.28 AED 4.69
82.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 19.6K
$1.48 AED 5.45
-25.00%
Eggs
$2.20 Rp 39.0K
$1.95 AED 7.17
12.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.69 Rp 313.3K
$7.70 AED 28.29
129.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.10 Rp 72.5K
$5.53 AED 20.30
-25.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.18 Rp 215.6K
$8.20 AED 30.12
48.54%
Apples (1kg)
$3.71 Rp 65.6K
$1.89 AED 6.96
96.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.1K
$1.32 AED 4.86
20.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.4K
$1.51 AED 5.53
50.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.95 Rp 34.6K
$0.95 AED 3.48
105.26%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.7K
$1.00 AED 3.67
91.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
$0.93 AED 3.41
150.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 17.8K
$0.88 AED 3.24
14.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 9,773
$0.55 AED 2.04
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 Rp 39.5K
$6.03 AED 22.15
-63.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.07 Rp 408.6K
$10.99 AED 40.35
109.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 Rp 42.8K
$1.61 AED 5.92
50.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 Rp 53.1K
$2.33 AED 8.54
28.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Umm Al Quwain
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,814
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.98 Rp 159.1K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,566
$3.29 AED 12.08
-85.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,679
$0.72 AED 2.65
-40.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.64 Rp 99.9K
$7.96 AED 29.22
-29.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
$0.86 AED 3.16
-6.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K Rp 441.7M
$27.5K AED 100.8K
-9.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 561.5M
$21.9K AED 80.4K
44.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Umm Al Quwain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
$154 AED 564
-46.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49 Rp 115.0K
$49.23 AED 181
-86.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.77 Rp 332.4K
$84.4 AED 310
-77.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Umm Al Quwain
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.9 Rp 1.0M
$44.60 AED 164
27.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.73 Rp 331.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.54 Rp 80.4K
$13.47 AED 49.45
-66.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Umm Al Quwain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$481 Rp 8.5M
$480 AED 1,764
0.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,711 Rp 101.1M
$5,804 AED 21.3K
-1.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Umm Al Quwain
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.52 Rp 806.0K
$58.2 AED 214
-21.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.88 Rp 635.4K
$57.7 AED 212
-37.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
$85.5 AED 314
-5.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
$92.6 AED 340
-15.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Umm Al Quwain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,115 Rp 19.7M
$672 AED 2,468
65.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$698 Rp 12.4M
$539 AED 1,979
29.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,637 Rp 64.4M
$1,023 AED 3,758
255.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,737 Rp 30.8M
$829 AED 3,044
109.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 Rp 49.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,290 Rp 40.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Umm Al Quwain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$168 Rp 3.0M
$3,406 AED 12.5K
-95.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
4.75
190.11%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Umm Al Quwain: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali and $672 in Umm Al Quwain. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Umm Al Quwain pays 1927% 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: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $27.00 in Umm Al Quwain for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $295 vs $198 per month, with Umm Al Quwain 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 Umm Al Quwain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Umm Al Quwain?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Umm Al Quwain. 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 Umm Al Quwain?
On paper, salaries run 1927% lower in Umm Al Quwain. 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 Umm Al Quwain?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $672 in Umm Al Quwain. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Umm Al Quwain?
Shoppers in Umm Al Quwain pay roughly 49% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Umm Al Quwain?
All in, you'll spend $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,417 in Umm Al Quwain – a 4% 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 in Umm Al Quwain?
At $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,417 in Umm Al Quwain, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Umm Al Quwain. 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 Umm Al Quwain?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,368 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 Umm Al Quwain?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Umm Al Quwain 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 4% less than in Umm Al Quwain. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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