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: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $724 in Vacoas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,107 in Vacoas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,490 in Vacoas.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 94% more expensive than in Vacoas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Vacoas is 46% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Vacoas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45 Rp 62.1K
$6.58 MUR 309
-47.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 Rp 581.1K
$32.98 MUR 1,549
-1.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.84 Rp 87.1K
$4.98 MUR 234
-2.81%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
$2.58 MUR 121
6.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 24.9K
$0.97 MUR 45.61
42.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
$0.60 MUR 28.01
25.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 53.8K
$2.26 MUR 106
32.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 69.2K
$1.99 MUR 93.5
93.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Vacoas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 31.2K
$1.34 MUR 62.8
29.85%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 44.2K
$0.66 MUR 30.79
272.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
$1.26 MUR 59.3
-7.14%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 43.7K
$2.10 MUR 98.6
15.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 Rp 260.6K
$2.83 MUR 133
412.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.35 Rp 78.2K
$2.92 MUR 137
48.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.98 Rp 215.3K
$5.44 MUR 255
120.22%
Apples (1kg)
$3.72 Rp 66.8K
$1.99 MUR 93.5
86.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
$2.01 MUR 94.4
-18.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.74 Rp 49.3K
$1.45 MUR 68.2
88.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
$2.72 MUR 128
-17.65%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 Rp 34.5K
$0.98 MUR 46.23
95.92%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.9K
$1.01 MUR 47.21
125.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$0.80 MUR 37.62
32.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
$0.75 MUR 35.28
-4.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29 Rp 59.0K
$5.80 MUR 272
-43.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.19 Rp 416.8K
$6.48 MUR 304
257.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$1.46 MUR 68.7
90.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$2.22 MUR 104
22.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Vacoas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,786
$0.94 MUR 44.34
-71.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.11 Rp 145.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,675
$4.30 MUR 202
-88.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,545
$2.66 MUR 125
-84.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.22 Rp 111.8K
$4.53 MUR 213
37.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$1.40 MUR 65.8
-42.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 478.2M
$26.9K MUR 1.3M
-1.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K Rp 578.5M
$28.3K MUR 1.3M
13.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Vacoas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$49.42 MUR 2,321
58.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07 Rp 73.1K
$11.04 MUR 519
-63.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33 Rp 437.1K
$25.44 MUR 1,195
-4.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Vacoas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
$26.11 MUR 1,226
277.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34 Rp 113.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.99 Rp 71.6K
$5.46 MUR 256
-26.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Vacoas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 Rp 5.5M
$157 MUR 7,377
94.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,642 Rp 119.4M
$4,037 MUR 189.6K
64.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Vacoas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 Rp 972.9K
$29.83 MUR 1,401
81.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81 Rp 679.4K
$28.57 MUR 1,342
32.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
$66.6 MUR 3,130
30.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
$59.5 MUR 2,793
28.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Vacoas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$992 Rp 17.8M
$262 MUR 12.3K
279.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$235 MUR 11.0K
186.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,375 Rp 60.7M
$520 MUR 24.4K
549.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
$326 MUR 15.3K
529.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,805 Rp 50.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,227 Rp 40.0M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Vacoas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 3.0M
$697 MUR 32.7K
-76.05%
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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Vacoas: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Ubud, Bali and $262 in Vacoas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vacoas pays 317% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $33.00 in Vacoas. Groceries flip the comparison at $297 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 94% 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 in Vacoas?
On paper, salaries run 317% lower in Vacoas. 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 Vacoas?
Rent for a central apartment: $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $262 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 in Vacoas?
Supermarket bills run roughly 90% 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 $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $724 in Vacoas – a 94% 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 Vacoas?
At $724 in Vacoas versus $1,408 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 $724 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 94% 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

Similar cities