Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Varkaus Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Varkaus

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,685 in Varkaus.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,608 in Varkaus.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,732 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,530 in Varkaus.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 15% less than in Varkaus, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 7% above, Varkaus 26% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Varkaus
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 61.9K
$11.76 €10.07
-69.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58 Rp 564.7K
$79.5 €68.1
-59.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 Rp 87.8K
$9.08 €7.77
-44.16%
Cappuccino
$2.83 Rp 49.0K
$4.45 €3.81
-36.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 23.2K
$3.19 €2.73
-57.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
$1.64 €1.40
-57.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 51.8K
$6.97 €5.96
-57.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 66.7K
$7.50 €6.42
-48.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Varkaus
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 30.2K
$1.11 €0.95
56.76%
White Bread (500g)
$2.54 Rp 44.0K
$1.99 €1.70
27.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
$2.17 €1.86
-45.16%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 42.0K
$2.50 €2.14
-2.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.66 Rp 254.1K
$7.49 €6.41
95.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.18 Rp 72.4K
$11.88 €10.17
-64.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 Rp 206.9K
$17.33 €14.84
-31.10%
Apples (1kg)
$3.69 Rp 63.9K
$2.24 €1.92
64.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.8K
$1.94 €1.66
-17.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 Rp 46.5K
$3.07 €2.63
-12.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 40.4K
$3.76 €3.22
-38.03%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.0K
$0.92 €0.78
107.61%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 37.9K
$1.55 €1.33
41.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
$1.99 €1.70
-46.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
$1.56 €1.34
-53.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 Rp 54.3K
$9.27 €7.94
-66.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 407.1K
$14.16 €12.12
65.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 Rp 47.5K
$2.23 €1.91
22.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 Rp 49.9K
$3.73 €3.19
-22.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Varkaus
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,029
$3.49 €2.98
-91.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 141.6K
$67.5 €57.8
-87.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 7,863
$6.69 €5.72
-93.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,305
$1.59 €1.36
-73.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.16 Rp 106.7K
$46.23 €39.57
-86.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 14.6K
$2.07 €1.77
-59.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K Rp 454.9M
$29.0K €24.8K
-9.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 562.9M
$28.6K €24.5K
13.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Varkaus
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$86.6 €74.1
-9.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95 Rp 68.5K
$30.17 €25.83
-86.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40 Rp 423.0K
$18.48 €15.82
32.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Varkaus
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
$44.59 €38.17
116.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 110.0K
$24.69 €21.13
-74.28%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 70.0K
$11.49 €9.84
-64.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Varkaus
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 Rp 5.2M
$340 €291
-10.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,523 Rp 113.1M
$4,594 €3,933
41.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Varkaus
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 Rp 933.1K
$99.3 €85.0
-45.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98 Rp 658.3K
$30.65 €26.24
23.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
$84.1 €72.0
3.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
$122 €105
-35.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Varkaus
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
$772 €661
31.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 Rp 11.7M
$637 €545
5.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,390 Rp 58.8M
$1,312 €1,123
158.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,098 Rp 36.4M
$1,047 €896
100.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,985 Rp 51.7M
$4,069 €3,483
-26.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,339 Rp 40.5M
$2,175 €1,862
7.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Varkaus
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$173 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
1.9
598.95%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Last update for Varkaus: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali and $772 in Varkaus. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $80.0 in Varkaus for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $317 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

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 Varkaus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Varkaus?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Varkaus. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali vs Varkaus?
You'd need roughly $2,158 in Ubud, Bali and $2,528 in Varkaus to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali vs Varkaus?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $772 in Varkaus. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and Varkaus?
Childcare runs $303 in Ubud, Bali versus $340 in Varkaus. 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 Varkaus?
Supermarket bills run roughly 6% higher in Varkaus. 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 Varkaus?
At $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,685 in Varkaus, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Varkaus. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Varkaus?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,438 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Varkaus?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Varkaus 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 Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Varkaus. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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