Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Worcester, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Worcester, MA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,991 in Worcester, MA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,001 in Worcester, MA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Ubud, Bali versus $5,010 in Worcester, MA.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 53% less than in Worcester, MA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 5% above, Worcester, MA 124% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Worcester, MA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45 Rp 62.1K
$17.33 $17.33
-80.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 Rp 581.1K
$66.2 $66.2
-51.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.84 Rp 87.1K
$12.13 $12.13
-60.10%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
$4.03 $4.03
-31.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 24.9K
$2.07 $2.07
-33.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
$1.75 $1.75
-57.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 53.8K
$6.10 $6.10
-50.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 69.2K
$7.17 $7.17
-46.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Worcester, MA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 31.2K
$0.96 $0.96
81.25%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 44.2K
$3.37 $3.37
-27.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
$5.67 $5.67
-79.37%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 43.7K
$3.62 $3.62
-32.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 Rp 260.6K
$18.85 $18.85
-23.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.35 Rp 78.2K
$13.49 $13.49
-67.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.98 Rp 215.3K
$19.42 $19.42
-38.31%
Apples (1kg)
$3.72 Rp 66.8K
$3.85 $3.85
-3.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
$1.43 $1.43
13.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.74 Rp 49.3K
$3.97 $3.97
-30.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
$3.91 $3.91
-42.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 Rp 34.5K
$3.26 $3.26
-41.10%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.9K
$2.44 $2.44
-6.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$1.86 $1.86
-43.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
$1.61 $1.61
-55.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29 Rp 59.0K
$12.97 $12.97
-74.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.19 Rp 416.8K
$11.79 $11.79
96.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$1.78 $1.78
56.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$3.24 $3.24
-15.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Worcester, MA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,786
$1.97 $1.97
-86.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.11 Rp 145.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,675
$3.02 $3.02
-84.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,545
$2.06 $2.06
-79.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.22 Rp 111.8K
$28.96 $28.96
-78.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$0.85 $0.85
-4.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 478.2M
$29.5K $29.5K
-9.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K Rp 578.5M
$24.9K $24.9K
29.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Worcester, MA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$191 $191
-59.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07 Rp 73.1K
$52.7 $52.7
-92.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33 Rp 437.1K
$54.7 $54.7
-55.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Worcester, MA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
$30.02 $30.02
228.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34 Rp 113.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.99 Rp 71.6K
$12.55 $12.55
-68.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Worcester, MA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 Rp 5.5M
$1,737 $1,737
-82.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,642 Rp 119.4M
$30.5K $30.5K
-78.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Worcester, MA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 Rp 972.9K
$37.27 $37.27
45.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81 Rp 679.4K
$33.54 $33.54
12.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
$86.9 $86.9
-0.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
$157 $157
-51.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Worcester, MA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$992 Rp 17.8M
$1,847 $1,847
-46.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$1,768 $1,768
-61.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,375 Rp 60.7M
$2,806 $2,806
20.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
$2,320 $2,320
-11.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,805 Rp 50.4M
$2,843 $2,843
-1.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,227 Rp 40.0M
$2,813 $2,813
-20.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Worcester, MA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 3.0M
$4,133 $4,133
-95.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
6.6
101.21%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Worcester, MA: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Ubud, Bali and $1,847 in Worcester, MA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Worcester, MA pays 2375% 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 $66.0 in Worcester, MA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $406 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 Worcester, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Worcester, MA?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 112% lower than in Worcester, MA. 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 Worcester, MA?
On paper, salaries run 2375% lower in Worcester, MA. 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 Worcester, MA?
Rent for a central apartment: $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,847 in Worcester, MA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Worcester, MA?
Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Worcester, MA. 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 Worcester, MA?
All in, you'll spend $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $2,991 in Worcester, MA – a 112% 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 Worcester, MA?
At $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,991 in Worcester, MA, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Worcester, MA. 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 Worcester, MA?
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 Worcester, MA?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Worcester, MA 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 112% less than in Worcester, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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