😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,396 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,069 in Vanderbijlpark.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,663 in Vanderbijlpark.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,273 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,258 in Vanderbijlpark.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 31% more expensive than in Vanderbijlpark, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 2% above, Vanderbijlpark is 22% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Vanderbijlpark
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.37Rp 59.7K
$7.31R 117
-53.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.59Rp 682.4K
$39.56R 633
-2.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.52Rp 97.6K
$5.75R 91.9
-4.00%
Cappuccino
$2.64Rp 46.8K
$2.26R 36.16
16.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67Rp 29.6K
$1.08R 17.22
54.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77Rp 13.6K
$0.84R 13.50
-8.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.63Rp 46.6K
$1.83R 29.26
43.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28Rp 75.7K
$2.55R 40.84
67.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Vanderbijlpark
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.55Rp 27.3K
$1.20R 19.17
29.17%
White Bread(500g)
$2.22Rp 39.3K
$1.17R 18.77
89.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.13Rp 19.9K
$1.89R 30.26
-40.21%
Eggs
$2.09Rp 36.9K
$2.49R 39.87
-16.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.39Rp 307.6K
$7.02R 112
147.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.87Rp 68.4K
$4.24R 67.8
-8.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.55Rp 221.9K
$6.10R 97.6
105.74%
Apples(1kg)
$3.62Rp 63.9K
$1.84R 29.38
96.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56Rp 27.6K
$1.66R 26.50
-6.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.35Rp 41.6K
$1.79R 28.59
31.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06Rp 36.4K
$1.63R 26.02
26.38%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90Rp 33.6K
$1.16R 18.63
63.79%
Onion(1kg)
$2.34Rp 41.3K
$1.19R 19.04
96.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03Rp 18.2K
$1.25R 19.91
-17.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 9,809
$1.36R 21.76
-59.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25Rp 39.8K
$3.09R 49.40
-27.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.81Rp 421.0K
$4.41R 70.6
439.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31Rp 40.9K
$1.57R 25.08
47.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80Rp 49.5K
$2.03R 32.44
37.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Vanderbijlpark
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,816
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.66Rp 153.2K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,515
$0.30R 4.72
60.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45Rp 7,887
$0.68R 10.91
-33.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.72Rp 101.1K
$3.77R 60.3
51.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76Rp 13.4K
$1.49R 23.90
-48.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5KRp 433.0M
$36.7KR 587.0K
-33.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1KRp 568.0M
$34.8KR 556.6K
-7.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Vanderbijlpark
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.6Rp 1.5M
$156R 2,500
-46.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.46Rp 114.2K
$24.37R 390
-73.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.99Rp 335.9K
$38.34R 613
-50.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Vanderbijlpark
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.0Rp 989.8K
$32.49R 520
72.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.62Rp 329.2K
$15.44R 247
20.60%
Cinema Ticket
$4.28Rp 75.7K
$6.37R 102
-32.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Vanderbijlpark
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$487Rp 8.6M
$123R 1,960
296.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,856Rp 103.6M
$1,583R 25.3K
269.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Vanderbijlpark
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.56Rp 805.6K
$48.02R 768
-5.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.38Rp 643.3K
$33.56R 537
8.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.0Rp 1.4M
$92.4R 1,477
-11.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.4Rp 1.4M
$77.6R 1,241
3.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Vanderbijlpark
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,117Rp 19.7M
$379R 6,061
194.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$701Rp 12.4M
$370R 5,919
89.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,537Rp 62.5M
$627R 10.0K
464.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,762Rp 31.2M
$751R 12.0K
134.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,826Rp 50.0M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,292Rp 40.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Vanderbijlpark
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$170Rp 3.0M
$2,033R 32.5K
-91.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
11
25.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026
Last update for Vanderbijlpark: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,117 in Ubud, Bali and $379 in Vanderbijlpark. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Vanderbijlpark pays 1097% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $40.00 in Vanderbijlpark. Groceries flip the comparison at $293 vs $184, with Vanderbijlpark 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 Vanderbijlpark: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Vanderbijlpark?
Vanderbijlpark wins on cost – living expenses run 31% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Vanderbijlpark the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or in Vanderbijlpark?
On paper, salaries run 1097% lower in Vanderbijlpark. 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 Vanderbijlpark?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,117 in Ubud, Bali versus $379 in Vanderbijlpark. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Vanderbijlpark?
Supermarket bills run roughly 59% 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 Vanderbijlpark?
All in, you'll spend $1,396 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,069 in Vanderbijlpark – a 31% 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 Vanderbijlpark?
At $1,069 in Vanderbijlpark versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Vanderbijlpark but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Vanderbijlpark the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Vanderbijlpark?
Both work as nomad bases, but Vanderbijlpark delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,069 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Vanderbijlpark hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Vanderbijlpark?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Vanderbijlpark 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 Vanderbijlpark gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% 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