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: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,981 in Watertown, NY.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,207 in Watertown, NY.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,434 in Watertown, NY.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 29% less than in Watertown, NY, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 5% above, Watertown, NY 48% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Watertown, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45 Rp 62.1K
$13.56 $13.56
-74.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 Rp 581.1K
$55.8 $55.8
-42.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.84 Rp 87.1K
$12.11 $12.11
-60.03%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
$5.36 $5.36
-48.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 24.9K
$2.32 $2.32
-40.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
$2.09 $2.09
-64.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 53.8K
$5.60 $5.60
-46.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 69.2K
$6.85 $6.85
-43.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Watertown, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 31.2K
$0.65 $0.65
167.69%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 44.2K
$2.36 $2.36
4.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
$4.97 $4.97
-76.46%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 43.7K
$3.02 $3.02
-19.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 Rp 260.6K
$13.16 $13.16
10.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.35 Rp 78.2K
$8.56 $8.56
-49.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.98 Rp 215.3K
$12.18 $12.18
-1.64%
Apples (1kg)
$3.72 Rp 66.8K
$4.09 $4.09
-9.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
$1.62 $1.62
0.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.74 Rp 49.3K
$5.40 $5.40
-49.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
$4.96 $4.96
-54.84%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 Rp 34.5K
$2.58 $2.58
-25.58%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.9K
$3.46 $3.46
-34.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$2.40 $2.40
-55.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
$2.44 $2.44
-70.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29 Rp 59.0K
$14.15 $14.15
-76.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.19 Rp 416.8K
$9.23 $9.23
151.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$1.70 $1.70
63.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$7.20 $7.20
-62.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Watertown, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,786
$1.52 $1.52
-82.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.11 Rp 145.7K
$44.39 $44.39
-81.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,675
$5.45 $5.45
-91.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,545
$2.28 $2.28
-81.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.22 Rp 111.8K
$45.73 $45.73
-86.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$0.91 $0.91
-10.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 478.2M
$33.3K $33.3K
-20.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K Rp 578.5M
$24.5K $24.5K
31.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Watertown, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$200 $200
-60.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07 Rp 73.1K
$45.86 $45.86
-91.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33 Rp 437.1K
$60.9 $60.9
-60.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Watertown, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
$42.88 $42.88
129.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34 Rp 113.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.99 Rp 71.6K
$10.57 $10.57
-62.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Watertown, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 Rp 5.5M
$890 $890
-65.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,642 Rp 119.4M
$28.6K $28.6K
-76.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Watertown, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 Rp 972.9K
$46.26 $46.26
17.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81 Rp 679.4K
$47.04 $47.04
-19.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
$106 $106
-17.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
$116 $116
-33.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Watertown, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$992 Rp 17.8M
$892 $892
11.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$760 $760
-11.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,375 Rp 60.7M
$1,712 $1,712
97.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
$1,878 $1,878
9.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,805 Rp 50.4M
$1,498 $1,498
87.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,227 Rp 40.0M
$1,501 $1,501
48.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Watertown, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 3.0M
$3,530 $3,530
-95.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
6.53
103.37%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Watertown, NY: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Ubud, Bali and $892 in Watertown, NY. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Watertown, NY pays 2015% 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: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $56.0 in Watertown, NY for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $352 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 – living expenses run 41% 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 in Watertown, NY?
On paper, salaries run 2015% lower in Watertown, NY. 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 Watertown, NY?
Rent for a central apartment: $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $892 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 in Watertown, NY?
Childcare runs $305 in Ubud, Bali versus $890 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 in Watertown, NY?
Supermarket bills run roughly 19% 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 in Watertown, NY?
At $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,981 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 – similar infrastructure at $1,408 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 – expenses run 41% 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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