Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Yala Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Yala

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,392 in Ubud, Bali versus $904 in Yala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,557 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,453 in Yala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,723 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,002 in Yala.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 54% more expensive than in Yala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Yala is 32% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Yala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.5K
$1.50 ฿49.97
138.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.32 Rp 583.4K
$27.34 ฿912
18.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.01 Rp 90.4K
$6.42 ฿214
-21.96%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 51.0K
$2.08 ฿69.3
35.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 Rp 24.4K
$0.58 ฿19.46
132.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
$0.18 ฿5.84
305.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.93 Rp 53.0K
$2.43 ฿81.0
20.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94 Rp 71.1K
$3.80 ฿127
3.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Yala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
$1.68 ฿56.1
5.95%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 Rp 44.2K
$1.36 ฿45.29
80.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 Rp 20.7K
$1.27 ฿42.25
-9.45%
Eggs
$2.41 Rp 43.6K
$2.12 ฿70.7
13.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 Rp 258.7K
$18.79 ฿627
-23.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.19 Rp 75.6K
$3.05 ฿102
37.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.06 Rp 217.7K
$10.73 ฿358
12.40%
Apples (1kg)
$3.64 Rp 65.7K
$3.11 ฿104
17.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$1.22 ฿40.61
28.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 50.3K
$1.97 ฿65.8
41.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.5K
$1.60 ฿53.4
40.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 Rp 35.7K
$1.46 ฿48.70
35.62%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
$1.25 ฿41.84
82.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 Rp 19.0K
$1.02 ฿33.87
2.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$0.52 ฿17.44
51.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.19 Rp 57.6K
$4.43 ฿148
-27.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 424.1K
$17.69 ฿590
32.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 Rp 52.3K
$1.82 ฿60.7
59.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 Rp 49.7K
$2.68 ฿89.4
2.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Yala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,813
$0.60 ฿20.09
-55.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.37 Rp 151.1K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,167
$1.10 ฿36.71
-59.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,298
$1.20 ฿39.98
-61.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.07 Rp 109.6K
$6.32 ฿211
-3.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
$1.06 ฿35.24
-18.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 480.0M
$27.7K ฿925.0K
-4.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 587.6M
$27.1K ฿903.0K
20.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Yala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.0 Rp 1.4M
$77.4 ฿2,580
2.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09 Rp 73.9K
$12.43 ฿415
-67.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.85 Rp 430.5K
$18.82 ฿628
26.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Yala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.8 Rp 1.8M
$48.72 ฿1,625
102.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 114.7K
$12.37 ฿413
-48.67%
Cinema Ticket
$4.01 Rp 72.3K
$7.17 ฿239
-44.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Yala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$297 Rp 5.4M
$295 ฿9,839
0.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,602 Rp 119.2M
$9,683 ฿323.0K
-31.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Yala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 Rp 964.5K
$34.19 ฿1,140
56.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.11 Rp 688.1K
$34.60 ฿1,154
10.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.7 Rp 1.6M
$100 ฿3,349
-11.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.6 Rp 1.4M
$71.3 ฿2,377
7.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Yala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,020 Rp 18.4M
$427 ฿14.3K
138.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 Rp 12.3M
$282 ฿9,411
141.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,469 Rp 62.6M
$808 ฿26.9K
329.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,090 Rp 37.7M
$643 ฿21.5K
225.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,729 Rp 49.3M
$1,780 ฿59.4K
53.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,295 Rp 41.4M
$1,418 ฿47.3K
61.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Yala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
5.45
143.67%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Last update for Yala: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali and $427 in Yala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $27.00 in Yala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $254 per month, with Yala 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 Yala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Yala?
Yala wins on cost – living expenses run 54% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Yala the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali and in Yala?
You'd need roughly $2,088 in Ubud, Bali and $1,355 in Yala to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali compared to Yala?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $427 in Yala. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Yala?
Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Ubud, Bali. 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 Yala?
All in, you'll spend $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $904 in Yala – a 54% 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 Yala?
At $904 in Yala versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Yala but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Yala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Yala?
Both work as nomad bases, but Yala delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $904 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Yala hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Yala?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Yala 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 Yala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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