😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $991 in Vanderbijlpark.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,540 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,579 in Vanderbijlpark.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,166 in Vanderbijlpark.
😐Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 43% more expensive than Vanderbijlpark, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 6% above, Vanderbijlpark is 26% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Vanderbijlpark
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56Rp 63.7K
$6.74R 110
-47.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73Rp 584.5K
$33.54R 545
-2.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.95Rp 88.4K
$4.67R 75.8
6.00%
Cappuccino
$2.71Rp 48.4K
$1.84R 29.84
47.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34Rp 24.0K
$1.06R 17.19
26.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70Rp 12.5K
$0.82R 13.29
-14.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92Rp 52.1K
$1.37R 22.30
113.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96Rp 70.7K
$2.73R 44.32
45.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Vanderbijlpark
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81Rp 32.3K
$1.22R 19.85
48.36%
White Bread(500g)
$2.52Rp 45.0K
$1.02R 16.66
147.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.16Rp 20.7K
$1.57R 25.53
-26.11%
Eggs
$2.46Rp 43.9K
$2.29R 37.14
7.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.71Rp 262.7K
$6.57R 107
123.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.32Rp 77.1K
$4.51R 73.3
-4.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.14Rp 216.7K
$6.12R 99.5
98.37%
Apples(1kg)
$3.84Rp 68.6K
$1.63R 26.57
135.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56Rp 27.8K
$1.61R 26.18
-3.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.83Rp 50.6K
$1.60R 26.00
76.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 41.5K
$1.69R 27.44
37.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 34.2K
$1.33R 21.56
43.61%
Onion(1kg)
$2.20Rp 39.3K
$1.21R 19.67
81.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01Rp 18.1K
$1.12R 18.25
-9.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78Rp 13.8K
$1.11R 18.04
-29.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32Rp 59.2K
$2.82R 45.79
17.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.74Rp 423.9K
$4.25R 69.1
458.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79Rp 49.8K
$1.50R 24.41
86.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86Rp 51.1K
$1.78R 28.95
60.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Vanderbijlpark
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,800
$5.54R 90.0
-95.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.03Rp 143.4K
$44.16R 718
-81.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.46Rp 8,150
$1.36R 22.13
-66.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45Rp 8,037
$0.55R 8.88
-18.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.10Rp 108.9K
$8.48R 138
-28.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79Rp 14.2K
$1.28R 20.86
-38.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1KRp 467.0M
$19.5KR 316.6K
34.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1KRp 573.6M
$26.2KR 425.6K
22.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Vanderbijlpark
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.9Rp 1.4M
$124R 2,016
-35.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06Rp 72.6K
$22.78R 370
-82.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52Rp 420.0K
$37.82R 615
-37.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Vanderbijlpark
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.7Rp 1.8M
$30.04R 488
228.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63Rp 118.4K
$17.03R 277
-61.07%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15Rp 74.1K
$6.32R 103
-34.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Vanderbijlpark
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304Rp 5.4M
$154R 2,506
97.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,613Rp 118.1M
$1,102R 17.9K
499.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Vanderbijlpark
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5Rp 991.8K
$47.76R 776
16.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31Rp 684.1K
$32.16R 523
19.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.6Rp 1.6M
$86.9R 1,412
1.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9Rp 1.4M
$89.0R 1,446
-12.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Vanderbijlpark
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,006Rp 18.0M
$333R 5,414
202.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$675Rp 12.1M
$303R 4,922
122.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,442Rp 61.5M
$550R 8,932
526.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039Rp 36.4M
$664R 10.8K
207.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,841Rp 50.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,264Rp 40.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Vanderbijlpark
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$165Rp 3.0M
$1,826R 29.7K
-90.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
11
20.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Last update for Vanderbijlpark: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali and $333 in Vanderbijlpark. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Vanderbijlpark pays 1005% 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 $34.00 in Vanderbijlpark. Groceries flip the comparison at $302 vs $175, 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 43% 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 Vanderbijlpark?
On paper, Vanderbijlpark earns 1005% 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 Vanderbijlpark?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $333 in Vanderbijlpark. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and Vanderbijlpark?
Childcare runs $304 in Ubud, Bali versus $154 in Vanderbijlpark. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or Vanderbijlpark?
Supermarket bills run roughly 73% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or Vanderbijlpark?
At $991 in Vanderbijlpark versus $1,419 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 $991 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 43% 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