Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and West Caldwell, NJ Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and West Caldwell, NJ

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,396 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,657 in West Caldwell, NJ.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,334 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,954 in West Caldwell, NJ.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,273 in Ubud, Bali versus $5,252 in West Caldwell, NJ.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 47% less than in West Caldwell, NJ, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 2% above, West Caldwell, NJ 93% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
West Caldwell, NJ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.37 Rp 59.5K
$21.57 $21.57
-84.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.59 Rp 680.4K
$80.8 $80.8
-52.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.52 Rp 97.3K
$12.52 $12.52
-55.91%
Cappuccino
$2.64 Rp 46.6K
$5.28 $5.28
-50.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 Rp 29.5K
$2.96 $2.96
-43.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 Rp 13.6K
$2.30 $2.30
-66.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.63 Rp 46.4K
$6.02 $6.02
-56.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28 Rp 75.5K
$8.20 $8.20
-47.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
West Caldwell, NJ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 Rp 27.3K
$1.48 $1.48
4.73%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 Rp 39.2K
$4.41 $4.41
-49.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 Rp 19.8K
$8.26 $8.26
-86.32%
Eggs
$2.09 Rp 36.8K
$5.15 $5.15
-59.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.39 Rp 306.7K
$12.23 $12.23
42.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.87 Rp 68.2K
$13.27 $13.27
-70.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.55 Rp 221.3K
$17.97 $17.97
-30.16%
Apples (1kg)
$3.62 Rp 63.8K
$5.82 $5.82
-37.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.5K
$1.63 $1.63
-4.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.35 Rp 41.5K
$5.19 $5.19
-54.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 Rp 36.2K
$5.31 $5.31
-61.21%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 33.5K
$2.86 $2.86
-33.57%
Onion (1kg)
$2.34 Rp 41.2K
$3.15 $3.15
-25.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 Rp 18.2K
$2.40 $2.40
-57.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 9,781
$2.39 $2.39
-76.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25 Rp 39.7K
$12.92 $12.92
-82.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.81 Rp 419.8K
$15.25 $15.25
56.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31 Rp 40.8K
$2.32 $2.32
-0.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 Rp 49.4K
$4.41 $4.41
-36.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
West Caldwell, NJ
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,803
$1.84 $1.84
-85.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.66 Rp 152.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,490
$2.73 $2.73
-82.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 7,865
$1.58 $1.58
-71.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.72 Rp 100.8K
$24.09 $24.09
-76.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 Rp 13.4K
$1.07 $1.07
-28.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5K Rp 431.7M
$37.2K $37.2K
-34.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 566.4M
$25.5K $25.5K
25.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
West Caldwell, NJ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.6 Rp 1.5M
$220 $220
-62.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.46 Rp 113.8K
$64.4 $64.4
-89.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.99 Rp 334.9K
$69.0 $69.0
-72.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
West Caldwell, NJ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.0 Rp 987.0K
$39.55 $39.55
41.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.62 Rp 328.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.28 Rp 75.5K
$14.80 $14.80
-71.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
West Caldwell, NJ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$487 Rp 8.6M
$2,238 $2,238
-78.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,856 Rp 103.3M
$41.9K $41.9K
-86.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
West Caldwell, NJ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.56 Rp 803.3K
$49.39 $49.39
-7.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.38 Rp 641.5K
$46.47 $46.47
-21.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.0 Rp 1.4M
$99.4 $99.4
-17.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
$138 $138
-41.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
West Caldwell, NJ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,117 Rp 19.7M
$1,568 $1,568
-28.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$701 Rp 12.4M
$1,372 $1,372
-48.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,537 Rp 62.4M
$2,316 $2,316
52.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,762 Rp 31.1M
$2,131 $2,131
-17.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,826 Rp 49.8M
$2,734 $2,734
3.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,292 Rp 40.4M
$2,200 $2,200
4.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
West Caldwell, NJ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$170 Rp 3.0M
$3,039 $3,039
-94.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
6.16
123.70%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Last update for West Caldwell, NJ: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,117 in Ubud, Bali and $1,568 in West Caldwell, NJ. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

West Caldwell, NJ pays 1690% 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: $39.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $81.0 in West Caldwell, NJ for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $460 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 West Caldwell, NJ: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or West Caldwell, NJ?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 90% lower than in West Caldwell, NJ. 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 West Caldwell, NJ?
On paper, salaries run 1690% lower in West Caldwell, NJ. 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 West Caldwell, NJ?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,117 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,568 in West Caldwell, NJ. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in West Caldwell, NJ?
Supermarket bills run roughly 57% higher in West Caldwell, NJ. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to West Caldwell, NJ?
All in, you'll spend $1,396 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $2,657 in West Caldwell, NJ – a 90% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in West Caldwell, NJ?
At $1,396 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,657 in West Caldwell, NJ, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in West Caldwell, NJ. 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 West Caldwell, NJ?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,396 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 West Caldwell, NJ?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and West Caldwell, NJ 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 90% less than in West Caldwell, NJ. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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