😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,000 in Vanderbijlpark.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,590 in Vanderbijlpark.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,180 in Vanderbijlpark.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 41% more expensive than in Vanderbijlpark, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Vanderbijlpark is 25% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Vanderbijlpark
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45Rp 62.1K
$6.60R 109
-47.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34Rp 581.1K
$34.25R 565
-5.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.84Rp 87.1K
$4.83R 79.8
0.21%
Cappuccino
$2.75Rp 49.4K
$1.85R 30.45
48.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38Rp 24.9K
$1.06R 17.51
30.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75Rp 13.5K
$0.88R 14.53
-14.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.99Rp 53.8K
$1.39R 22.92
115.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85Rp 69.2K
$2.86R 47.20
34.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Vanderbijlpark
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74Rp 31.2K
$1.17R 19.39
48.72%
White Bread(500g)
$2.46Rp 44.2K
$1.07R 17.59
129.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17Rp 21.0K
$1.62R 26.74
-27.78%
Eggs
$2.43Rp 43.7K
$2.32R 38.23
4.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.50Rp 260.6K
$6.47R 107
124.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.35Rp 78.2K
$4.51R 74.4
-3.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.98Rp 215.3K
$6.30R 104
90.16%
Apples(1kg)
$3.72Rp 66.8K
$1.67R 27.57
122.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63Rp 29.2K
$1.61R 26.65
1.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.74Rp 49.3K
$1.60R 26.46
71.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24Rp 40.3K
$1.70R 28.09
31.76%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92Rp 34.5K
$1.37R 22.62
40.15%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28Rp 40.9K
$1.16R 19.08
96.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 19.1K
$1.13R 18.73
-6.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72Rp 12.9K
$1.17R 19.26
-38.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29Rp 59.0K
$2.84R 46.85
15.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.19Rp 416.8K
$4.34R 71.6
434.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78Rp 49.9K
$1.51R 24.99
84.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73Rp 49.1K
$1.85R 30.56
47.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Vanderbijlpark
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,786
$5.56R 91.7
-95.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.11Rp 145.7K
$45.13R 745
-82.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,675
$1.43R 23.58
-66.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42Rp 7,545
$0.59R 9.72
-28.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.22Rp 111.8K
$8.85R 146
-29.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.6K
$1.28R 21.16
-36.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KRp 478.2M
$19.0KR 314.3K
39.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2KRp 578.5M
$26.1KR 430.1K
23.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Vanderbijlpark
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.4Rp 1.4M
$125R 2,063
-37.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07Rp 73.1K
$22.09R 365
-81.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33Rp 437.1K
$38.60R 637
-36.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Vanderbijlpark
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.6Rp 1.8M
$29.71R 490
231.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34Rp 113.9K
$16.66R 275
-61.94%
Cinema Ticket
$3.99Rp 71.6K
$6.19R 102
-35.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Vanderbijlpark
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305Rp 5.5M
$154R 2,541
98.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,642Rp 119.4M
$1,108R 18.3K
499.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Vanderbijlpark
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1Rp 972.9K
$47.76R 788
13.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81Rp 679.4K
$32.32R 533
16.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.8Rp 1.6M
$87.2R 1,439
-0.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4Rp 1.4M
$87.9R 1,451
-13.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Vanderbijlpark
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$992Rp 17.8M
$341R 5,627
190.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$673Rp 12.1M
$307R 5,068
119.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,375Rp 60.7M
$561R 9,260
501.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,050Rp 36.8M
$645R 10.6K
217.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,805Rp 50.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,227Rp 40.0M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Vanderbijlpark
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$167Rp 3.0M
$1,993R 32.9K
-91.62%
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: July 11, 2026
Last update for Vanderbijlpark: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Ubud, Bali and $341 in Vanderbijlpark. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Vanderbijlpark pays 1094% 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 $34.00 in Vanderbijlpark. Groceries flip the comparison at $297 vs $177, 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 41% 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 1094% 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: $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $341 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 in Vanderbijlpark?
Childcare runs $305 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 in Vanderbijlpark?
Supermarket bills run roughly 68% 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 in Vanderbijlpark?
At $1,000 in Vanderbijlpark versus $1,408 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 $1,000 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 41% 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