😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,392 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,301 in Upala.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,557 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,959 in Upala.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,723 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,616 in Upala.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 7% more expensive than in Upala, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Upala is 2% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Upala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57Rp 64.5K
$10.83₡4,855
-67.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.32Rp 583.4K
$49.12₡22.0K
-34.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.01Rp 90.4K
$9.68₡4,340
-48.24%
Cappuccino
$2.82Rp 51.0K
$3.29₡1,474
-14.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35Rp 24.4K
$1.62₡725
-16.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73Rp 13.2K
$1.56₡698
-53.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.93Rp 53.0K
$3.01₡1,349
-2.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94Rp 71.1K
$4.74₡2,126
-16.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Upala
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78Rp 32.1K
$1.95₡876
-8.72%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45Rp 44.2K
$1.52₡682
61.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.15Rp 20.7K
$2.18₡977
-47.25%
Eggs
$2.41Rp 43.6K
$2.38₡1,066
1.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.33Rp 258.7K
$3.00₡1,347
377.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.19Rp 75.6K
$5.89₡2,639
-28.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.06Rp 217.7K
$7.84₡3,517
53.83%
Apples(1kg)
$3.64Rp 65.7K
$1.57₡705
131.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57Rp 28.3K
$0.62₡278
153.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.79Rp 50.3K
$2.62₡1,174
6.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24Rp 40.5K
$2.41₡1,081
-7.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98Rp 35.7K
$3.34₡1,500
-40.72%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28Rp 41.1K
$2.46₡1,101
-7.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05Rp 19.0K
$1.01₡452
3.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79Rp 14.2K
$2.34₡1,049
-66.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.19Rp 57.6K
$5.31₡2,379
-39.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.49Rp 424.1K
$8.86₡3,974
165.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90Rp 52.3K
$2.43₡1,091
19.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76Rp 49.7K
$2.81₡1,259
-1.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Upala
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,813
$0.95₡425
-71.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.37Rp 151.1K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 8,167
$1.81₡809
-75.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.46Rp 8,298
$1.84₡823
-75.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.07Rp 109.6K
$6.01₡2,696
1.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.86Rp 15.6K
$1.26₡563
-31.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KRp 480.0M
$37.4K₡16.8M
-28.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5KRp 587.6M
$32.0K₡14.4M
1.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Upala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.0Rp 1.4M
$49.91₡22.4K
58.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09Rp 73.9K
$25.62₡11.5K
-84.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.85Rp 430.5K
$19.71₡8,837
21.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Upala
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.8Rp 1.8M
$56.4₡25.3K
75.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35Rp 114.7K
$23.90₡10.7K
-73.43%
Cinema Ticket
$4.01Rp 72.3K
$9.80₡4,394
-59.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Upala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$297Rp 5.4M
$571₡256.1K
-47.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,602Rp 119.2M
$12.6K₡5.7M
-47.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Upala
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4Rp 964.5K
$29.49₡13.2K
81.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.11Rp 688.1K
$19.99₡8,964
90.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.7Rp 1.6M
$126₡56.5K
-29.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.6Rp 1.4M
$30.27₡13.6K
153.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Upala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,020Rp 18.4M
$765₡342.9K
33.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$680Rp 12.3M
$603₡270.5K
12.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,469Rp 62.6M
$1,515₡679.2K
129.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,090Rp 37.7M
$979₡439.1K
113.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,729Rp 49.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,295Rp 41.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Upala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$164Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
10.17
30.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026
Last update for Upala: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali and $765 in Upala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $49.00 in Upala. Groceries flip the comparison at $298 vs $232, with Upala 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 Upala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Upala?
Upala wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Upala the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali and in Upala?
You'd need roughly $2,088 in Ubud, Bali and $1,951 in Upala to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali compared to Upala?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $765 in Upala. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Upala?
Supermarket bills run roughly 29% 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 Upala?
All in, you'll spend $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,301 in Upala – a 7% 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 Upala?
At $1,301 in Upala versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Upala but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Upala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Upala?
Both work as nomad bases, but Upala delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,301 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Upala hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Upala?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Upala 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 Upala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% 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