Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Watertown, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Watertown, NY

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,395 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,920 in Watertown, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,559 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,120 in Watertown, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,724 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,321 in Watertown, NY.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 27% less than in Watertown, NY, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 4% above, Watertown, NY 43% above.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Watertown, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.48 Rpย 59.7K
$13.86 $13.86
-74.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.88 Rpย 564.0K
$56.8 $56.8
-42.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.09 Rpย 87.3K
$11.79 $11.79
-56.83%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rpย 47.1K
$5.46 $5.46
-49.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rpย 23.7K
$2.35 $2.35
-41.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 Rpย 12.2K
$2.17 $2.17
-67.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.88 Rpย 49.4K
$5.46 $5.46
-47.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.87 Rpย 66.4K
$6.93 $6.93
-44.16%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Watertown, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 Rpย 30.7K
$0.64 $0.64
179.69%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 Rpย 42.0K
$2.36 $2.36
3.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 Rpย 20.7K
$4.96 $4.96
-75.60%
Eggs
$2.39 Rpย 40.9K
$3.12 $3.12
-23.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.70 Rpย 252.1K
$13.21 $13.21
11.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.24 Rpย 72.7K
$8.26 $8.26
-48.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.08 Rpย 207.1K
$12.18 $12.18
-0.82%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 Rpย 62.9K
$4.01 $4.01
-8.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rpย 27.6K
$1.58 $1.58
1.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.72 Rpย 46.6K
$5.39 $5.39
-49.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 Rpย 39.0K
$5.10 $5.10
-55.49%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 Rpย 32.6K
$2.49 $2.49
-23.69%
Onion (1kg)
$2.30 Rpย 39.4K
$3.61 $3.61
-36.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 Rpย 17.4K
$2.41 $2.41
-57.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rpย 13.4K
$2.44 $2.44
-68.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.24 Rpย 55.7K
$14.09 $14.09
-77.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.06 Rpย 412.7K
$8.97 $8.97
168.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.84 Rpย 48.7K
$1.76 $1.76
61.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rpย 47.8K
$7.43 $7.43
-62.45%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Watertown, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rpย 4,610
$1.48 $1.48
-81.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.24 Rpย 141.4K
$44.70 $44.70
-81.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rpย 7,708
$5.24 $5.24
-91.41%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rpย 7,305
$2.21 $2.21
-80.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.02 Rpย 103.3K
$44.20 $44.20
-86.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 Rpย 14.7K
$0.91 $0.91
-5.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rpย 447.1M
$32.4K $32.4K
-19.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rpย 543.7M
$24.4K $24.4K
29.74%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Watertown, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.3 Rpย 1.3M
$197 $197
-60.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.00 Rpย 68.5K
$46.59 $46.59
-91.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.35 Rpย 417.7K
$60.6 $60.6
-59.80%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Watertown, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$95.8 Rpย 1.6M
$43.07 $43.07
122.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.46 Rpย 110.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.01 Rpย 68.7K
$10.43 $10.43
-61.55%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Watertown, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$302 Rpย 5.2M
$912 $912
-66.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,545 Rpย 112.3M
$28.9K $28.9K
-77.34%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Watertown, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 Rpย 916.3K
$45.51 $45.51
17.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.55 Rpย 661.2K
$45.58 $45.58
-15.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.1 Rpย 1.5M
$103 $103
-13.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rpย 1.4M
$113 $113
-29.92%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Watertown, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,016 Rpย 17.4M
$894 $894
13.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$672 Rpย 11.5M
$753 $753
-10.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,368 Rpย 57.8M
$1,687 $1,687
99.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,108 Rpย 36.2M
$1,817 $1,817
16.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,001 Rpย 51.5M
$1,535 $1,535
95.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,337 Rpย 40.1M
$1,523 $1,523
53.39%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Watertown, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$178 Rpย 3.0M
$3,516 $3,516
-94.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
6.53
103.37%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 12, 2026

Last update for Watertown, NY: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,016 in Ubud, Bali and $894 in Watertown, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Watertown, NY pays 1881% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33 in Ubud, Bali vs $57 in Watertown, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $300 vs $351 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 Watertown, NY: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Watertown, NY?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost โ€“ living expenses run 38% lower than in Watertown, NY. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or Watertown, NY?
On paper, Watertown, NY earns 1881% 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 Watertown, NY?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,016 in Ubud, Bali versus $894 in Watertown, NY. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and Watertown, NY?
Childcare runs $302 in Ubud, Bali versus $912 in Watertown, NY. 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 Watertown, NY?
Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Watertown, NY. 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 Watertown, NY?
At $1,395 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,920 in Watertown, NY, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Watertown, NY. 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 Watertown, NY?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value โ€“ similar infrastructure at $1,395 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 Watertown, NY?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Watertown, NY 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 โ€“ expenses run 38% less than in Watertown, NY. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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