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