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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $737 in Vacoas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,540 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,124 in Vacoas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,511 in Vacoas.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 92% more expensive than Vacoas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 6% above, Vacoas is 45% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Vacoas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56 Rp 63.9K
$6.45 MUR 305
-44.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73 Rp 586.8K
$32.98 MUR 1,560
-0.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 Rp 88.7K
$4.94 MUR 234
0.20%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 48.6K
$2.57 MUR 122
5.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 24.1K
$0.96 MUR 45.29
39.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
$0.56 MUR 26.64
25.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 Rp 52.3K
$2.17 MUR 103
34.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 Rp 70.9K
$2.00 MUR 94.9
98.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Vacoas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 Rp 32.4K
$1.28 MUR 60.4
41.41%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 45.1K
$0.71 MUR 33.75
254.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 Rp 20.8K
$1.29 MUR 60.9
-10.08%
Eggs
$2.46 Rp 44.1K
$2.18 MUR 103
12.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.71 Rp 263.7K
$2.67 MUR 126
450.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 Rp 77.4K
$3.01 MUR 142
43.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.14 Rp 217.5K
$5.52 MUR 261
119.93%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 Rp 68.8K
$1.99 MUR 94.0
92.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.9K
$2.03 MUR 96.3
-23.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 50.8K
$1.44 MUR 68.0
96.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.7K
$2.74 MUR 130
-14.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
$1.03 MUR 48.50
85.44%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 Rp 39.5K
$1.01 MUR 48.01
117.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 18.2K
$0.79 MUR 37.31
27.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 13.9K
$0.71 MUR 33.55
9.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 Rp 59.4K
$5.67 MUR 268
-41.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.74 Rp 425.5K
$6.31 MUR 299
276.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 50.0K
$1.44 MUR 68.0
93.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 51.3K
$2.18 MUR 103
31.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Vacoas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,819
$1.01 MUR 47.96
-73.27%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.03 Rp 143.9K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,181
$4.47 MUR 212
-89.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,068
$2.63 MUR 124
-82.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 Rp 109.3K
$4.32 MUR 204
41.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$1.41 MUR 66.9
-43.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 468.8M
$26.7K MUR 1.3M
-1.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 575.8M
$29.2K MUR 1.4M
9.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Vacoas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$49.62 MUR 2,348
61.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.9K
$10.89 MUR 515
-62.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 Rp 421.6K
$25.99 MUR 1,230
-9.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Vacoas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
$26.80 MUR 1,268
268.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 Rp 118.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.15 Rp 74.3K
$5.49 MUR 260
-24.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Vacoas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$155 MUR 7,353
95.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,613 Rp 118.5M
$3,977 MUR 188.2K
66.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Vacoas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 Rp 995.6K
$29.28 MUR 1,386
89.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31 Rp 686.7K
$29.55 MUR 1,399
29.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
$65.7 MUR 3,108
34.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$59.8 MUR 2,830
30.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Vacoas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
$266 MUR 12.6K
278.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$675 Rp 12.1M
$238 MUR 11.2K
184.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,442 Rp 61.7M
$506 MUR 23.9K
580.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 Rp 36.6M
$320 MUR 15.2K
536.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,841 Rp 50.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,264 Rp 40.6M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Vacoas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$700 MUR 33.1K
-76.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
4.25
212.47%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Vacoas: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali and $266 in Vacoas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vacoas pays 324% 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 $33.00 in Vacoas. Groceries flip the comparison at $302 vs $156, with Vacoas 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 Vacoas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Vacoas?
Vacoas wins on cost – living expenses run 92% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Vacoas the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or Vacoas?
On paper, Vacoas earns 324% 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 Vacoas?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $266 in Vacoas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or Vacoas?
Supermarket bills run roughly 94% 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 Vacoas?
All in, you'll spend $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $737 in Vacoas – a 92% 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 Vacoas?
At $737 in Vacoas versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Vacoas but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Vacoas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Vacoas?
Both work as nomad bases, but Vacoas delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $737 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Vacoas hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Vacoas?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Vacoas 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 Vacoas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 92% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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