Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Union, SC Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Union, SC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,392 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,317 in Union, SC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,557 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,422 in Union, SC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,723 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,526 in Union, SC.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 40% less than in Union, SC, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 5% above, Union, SC 74% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.5K

$9.18 $9.18

-61.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.32 Rp 583.4K

$102 $102

-68.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.01 Rp 90.4K

$8.71 $8.71

-42.48%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 51.0K

$5.73 $5.73

-50.79%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

$2.25 $2.25

-40.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

$1.93 $1.93

-62.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 Rp 53.0K

$2.76 $2.76

6.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 Rp 71.1K

$3.44 $3.44

14.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 Rp 32.1K

$1.04 $1.04

71.15%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 Rp 44.2K

$2.45 $2.45

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

$2.44 $2.44

-52.87%

Eggs

$2.41 Rp 43.6K

$3.07 $3.07

-21.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 Rp 258.7K

$8.71 $8.71

64.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.19 Rp 75.6K

$8.76 $8.76

-52.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.06 Rp 217.7K

$10.04 $10.04

20.12%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 Rp 65.7K

$2.83 $2.83

28.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.3K

$1.29 $1.29

21.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 50.3K

$3.30 $3.30

-15.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.5K

$4.28 $4.28

-47.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 Rp 35.7K

$2.61 $2.61

-24.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 41.1K

$2.09 $2.09

9.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 19.0K

$1.76 $1.76

-40.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$1.24 $1.24

-36.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 Rp 57.6K

$7.38 $7.38

-56.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 424.1K

$8.58 $8.58

173.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 52.3K

$1.80 $1.80

61.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 Rp 49.7K

$4.87 $4.87

-43.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,813

$1.96 $1.96

-86.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 151.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,167

$4.47 $4.47

-89.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,298

$2.38 $2.38

-80.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 Rp 109.6K

$42.78 $42.78

-85.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

$0.82 $0.82

4.88%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.6K Rp 480.0M

$33.3K $33.3K

-20.11%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.5K Rp 587.6M

$24.4K $24.4K

33.37%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

$173 $173

-54.45%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.09 Rp 73.9K

$65.5 $65.5

-93.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.85 Rp 430.5K

$44.96 $44.96

-46.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

$42.33 $42.33

133.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 114.7K

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 Rp 72.3K

$12.97 $12.97

-69.08%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$297 Rp 5.4M

$2,607 $2,607

-88.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,602 Rp 119.2M

$26.2K $26.2K

-74.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 Rp 964.5K

$47.71 $47.71

11.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.11 Rp 688.1K

$20.59 $20.59

85.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

$86.2 $86.2

2.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

$101 $101

-23.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 Rp 18.4M

$1,628 $1,628

-37.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 Rp 12.3M

$1,334 $1,334

-49.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,469 Rp 62.6M

$2,675 $2,675

29.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 Rp 37.7M

$2,225 $2,225

-6.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,729 Rp 49.3M

$2,577 $2,577

5.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,295 Rp 41.4M

$2,184 $2,184

5.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 Rp 3.0M

$2,423 $2,423

-93.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

232.00%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Last update for Union, SC: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali and $1,628 in Union, SC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Union, SC pays 1380% 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: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $102 in Union, SC. Groceries flip the comparison at $298 vs $283, with Union, SC 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 Union, SC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 66% lower than in Union, SC. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 1380% lower in Union, SC. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,628 in Union, SC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Union, SC pay roughly 5% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $2,317 in Union, SC – a 66% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,392 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,317 in Union, SC, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Union, SC. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,392 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Union, SC are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in Union, SC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.