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: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,582 in Umm Al Quwain.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,280 in Umm Al Quwain.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,694 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,978 in Umm Al Quwain.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 11% less than in Umm Al Quwain, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 4% above, Umm Al Quwain 18% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Umm Al Quwain
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
$6.15 AED 22.59
-41.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
$27.51 AED 101
18.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
$8.30 AED 30.49
-41.45%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
$3.80 AED 13.95
-27.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
$0.89 AED 3.26
48.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
$0.41 AED 1.50
70.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
$10.91 AED 40.06
-73.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
$10.98 AED 40.35
-65.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Umm Al Quwain
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
$1.90 AED 6.98
-10.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
$1.21 AED 4.45
104.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
$1.44 AED 5.30
-16.67%
Eggs
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
$1.80 AED 6.61
35.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
$8.85 AED 32.51
62.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
$6.41 AED 23.54
-32.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
$7.24 AED 26.59
68.65%
Apples (1kg)
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
$1.65 AED 6.07
123.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
$1.24 AED 4.55
25.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
$1.40 AED 5.16
99.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
$1.10 AED 4.03
111.82%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
$0.99 AED 3.63
98.99%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
$0.97 AED 3.58
138.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$0.74 AED 2.73
43.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
$0.60 AED 2.22
21.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
$6.43 AED 23.60
-48.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
$11.04 AED 40.55
106.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
$1.61 AED 5.92
74.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$2.74 AED 10.08
1.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Umm Al Quwain
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,217
$1.59 AED 5.85
-81.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
$53.2 AED 195
-84.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,047
$3.23 AED 11.85
-86.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,094
$0.81 AED 2.96
-44.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
$8.14 AED 29.90
-23.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
$0.80 AED 2.92
6.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
$33.0K AED 121.1K
-21.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
$22.6K AED 83.1K
39.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Umm Al Quwain
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
$138 AED 505
-41.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
$62.5 AED 229
-93.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
$102 AED 374
-76.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Umm Al Quwain
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
$122 AED 449
-20.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
$40.11 AED 147
-83.92%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
$13.60 AED 49.93
-70.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Umm Al Quwain
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$591 AED 2,172
-48.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
$5,699 AED 20.9K
16.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Umm Al Quwain
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
$58.9 AED 216
-7.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
$62.0 AED 228
-37.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
$84.4 AED 310
2.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
$92.3 AED 339
-16.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Umm Al Quwain
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$986 Rp 17.7M
$670 AED 2,459
47.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$658 Rp 11.8M
$537 AED 1,971
22.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
$1,016 AED 3,733
231.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
$817 AED 3,002
152.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Umm Al Quwain
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$163 Rp 2.9M
$3,306 AED 12.1K
-95.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
4.53
193.16%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Last update for Umm Al Quwain: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $986 in Ubud, Bali and $670 in Umm Al Quwain. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Umm Al Quwain pays 1923% 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: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $28.00 in Umm Al Quwain for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $202 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 13% 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 Umm Al Quwain?
On paper, Umm Al Quwain earns 1923% 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 Umm Al Quwain?
Rent for a central apartment: $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $670 in Umm Al Quwain. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and Umm Al Quwain?
Childcare runs $304 in Ubud, Bali versus $591 in Umm Al Quwain. 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 Umm Al Quwain?
Shoppers in Umm Al Quwain pay roughly 47% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or Umm Al Quwain?
At $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,582 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 $1,404 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 13% 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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