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