Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Wilmington, NC Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Wilmington, NC

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,624 in Wilmington, NC.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,540 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,905 in Wilmington, NC.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Ubud, Bali versus $5,186 in Wilmington, NC.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 46% less than in Wilmington, NC, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 6% above, Wilmington, NC 96% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Wilmington, NC
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
$14.95 $14.95
-76.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
$80.3 $80.3
-59.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
$11.10 $11.10
-55.41%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
$5.31 $5.31
-48.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
$2.38 $2.38
-43.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
$2.38 $2.38
-70.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
$3.97 $3.97
-26.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
$5.90 $5.90
-32.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Wilmington, NC
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
$0.92 $0.92
96.74%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
$3.97 $3.97
-36.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
$6.19 $6.19
-81.26%
Eggs
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
$5.82 $5.82
-57.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
$10.40 $10.40
41.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
$19.06 $19.06
-77.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
$22.53 $22.53
-46.12%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
$7.60 $7.60
-49.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
$1.29 $1.29
20.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
$5.84 $5.84
-51.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
$5.35 $5.35
-56.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
$4.29 $4.29
-55.48%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
$5.92 $5.92
-62.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
$2.28 $2.28
-55.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
$3.20 $3.20
-75.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
$7.91 $7.91
-58.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
$16.72 $16.72
41.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
$1.71 $1.71
63.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
$4.98 $4.98
-42.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Wilmington, NC
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,800
$2.04 $2.04
-86.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
$79.2 $79.2
-89.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,150
$3.92 $3.92
-88.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,037
$1.52 $1.52
-70.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
$29.24 $29.24
-79.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$0.79 $0.79
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
$29.0K $29.0K
-9.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
$24.2K $24.2K
32.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Wilmington, NC
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$179 $179
-55.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
$53.7 $53.7
-92.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
$70.9 $70.9
-66.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Wilmington, NC
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
$60.4 $60.4
63.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
$11.87 $11.87
-65.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Wilmington, NC
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$1,427 $1,427
-78.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
$23.9K $23.9K
-72.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Wilmington, NC
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
$54.3 $54.3
2.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
$48.99 $48.99
-21.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
$102 $102
-13.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$114 $114
-31.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Wilmington, NC
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
$1,393 $1,393
-27.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$675 Rp 12.1M
$1,198 $1,198
-43.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
$2,345 $2,345
46.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
$1,879 $1,879
8.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
$2,800 $2,800
1.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
$2,763 $2,763
-18.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Wilmington, NC
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$3,947 $3,947
-95.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
6.45
105.89%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Wilmington, NC: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali and $1,393 in Wilmington, NC. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Wilmington, NC pays 2289% 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: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $80.0 in Wilmington, NC for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $302 vs $511 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 Wilmington, NC: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Wilmington, NC?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 85% lower than in Wilmington, NC. 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 Wilmington, NC?
On paper, Wilmington, NC earns 2289% 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 Wilmington, NC?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,393 in Wilmington, NC. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and Wilmington, NC?
Childcare runs $304 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,427 in Wilmington, NC. 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 Wilmington, NC?
Supermarket bills run roughly 69% higher in Wilmington, NC. 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 Wilmington, NC?
At $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,624 in Wilmington, NC, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Wilmington, NC. 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 Wilmington, NC?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,419 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 Wilmington, NC?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Wilmington, NC 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 85% less than in Wilmington, NC. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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