Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Yala

For one person, living is cheaper in Yala: $895 a month against $1,353 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $5,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,353
/mo nomad
Yala
🇹🇭 Thailand
$895
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Yala

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Yala actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,353 in Ubud, Bali versus $895 in Yala.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,353
  • Yala $895

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,487 in Yala.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,297
  • Yala $1,487

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,241 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,079 in Yala.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,241
  • Yala $2,079

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 51% more expensive than in Yala, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Yala is 34% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Yala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.23 Rp 58.1K
$1.51 ฿50.3
113.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.88 Rp 627.8K
$24.70 ฿825
41.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.70 Rp 102.5K
$6.73 ฿225
-15.30%
Cappuccino
$2.62 Rp 47.1K
$1.92 ฿64.0
36.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 Rp 31.0K
$0.56 ฿18.76
207.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$0.16 ฿5.42
406.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 47.7K
$1.90 ฿63.4
39.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37 Rp 78.6K
$3.30 ฿110
32.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Yala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$1.54 ฿51.3
1.95%
White Bread (500g)
$2.19 Rp 39.5K
$1.22 ฿40.90
79.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
$1.33 ฿44.51
-11.28%
Eggs
$2.16 Rp 38.8K
$1.79 ฿59.7
20.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.65 Rp 317.7K
$18.29 ฿611
-3.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.78 Rp 68.0K
$2.96 ฿98.8
27.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.95 Rp 215.1K
$9.26 ฿309
29.05%
Apples (1kg)
$3.60 Rp 64.8K
$3.02 ฿101
19.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.6K
$1.14 ฿37.97
39.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.6K
$2.09 ฿69.7
10.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
$1.95 ฿65.3
-2.05%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
$1.57 ฿52.3
13.38%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.9K
$0.97 ฿32.44
140.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 Rp 18.0K
$1.17 ฿39.17
-14.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 Rp 9,509
$0.53 ฿17.62
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.29 Rp 41.1K
$4.87 ฿163
-52.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.07 Rp 397.3K
$16.33 ฿546
35.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 Rp 42.2K
$1.64 ฿54.8
43.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 Rp 53.6K
$2.58 ฿86.2
15.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Yala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 Rp 4,112
$0.61 ฿20.44
-62.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.90 Rp 160.2K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.47 Rp 8,466
$1.12 ฿37.42
-58.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,737
$1.31 ฿43.70
-67.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.47 Rp 98.4K
$6.43 ฿215
-14.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
$1.42 ฿47.43
-41.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9K Rp 429.8M
$26.5K ฿887.0K
-10.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8K Rp 590.1M
$26.5K ฿887.1K
23.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Yala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.0 Rp 1.4M
$85.4 ฿2,853
-6.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.56 Rp 118.1K
$11.99 ฿401
-45.29%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.60 Rp 334.8K
$19.46 ฿650
-4.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Yala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.1 Rp 974.1K
$44.07 ฿1,473
22.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.28 Rp 329.0K
$13.69 ฿458
33.53%
Cinema Ticket
$4.25 Rp 76.5K
$6.63 ฿222
-35.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Yala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$493 Rp 8.9M
$589 ฿19.7K
-16.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,597 Rp 100.7M
$11.3K ฿376.2K
-50.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Yala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.58 Rp 820.4K
$45.88 ฿1,533
-0.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.96 Rp 629.4K
$32.27 ฿1,079
8.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 Rp 1.4M
$77.6 ฿2,592
0.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.5 Rp 1.4M
$80.9 ฿2,704
-2.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Yala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,131 Rp 20.4M
$475 ฿15.9K
138.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$289 ฿9,662
132.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,613 Rp 65.0M
$1,169 ฿39.1K
208.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,702 Rp 30.6M
$759 ฿25.4K
124.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,717 Rp 48.9M
$1,762 ฿58.9K
54.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
$1,405 ฿46.9K
59.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Yala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
5.57
147.40%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 19, 2026

Last update for Yala: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$673
Yala
$289 57% $384
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$287
Yala
$241 16% $46
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$107
Yala
$106 0.1% $0.1
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$106
Yala
$74 30.3% $32
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$105
Yala
$117 11.1% $12
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$63
Yala
$57 8.4% $5.3
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$12
Yala
$10 * 18.7% $2.3

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,131 in Ubud, Bali and $475 in Yala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $35.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $25.00 in Yala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $287 vs $241 per month, with Yala cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇹🇭 Yala
🕒 Local time
04:30 4:30 AM
03:30 3:30 AM
1 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
60,617
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Yala 2,280 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Yala

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 51% 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 $2,030 in Ubud, Bali and $1,343 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: $1,131 in Ubud, Bali versus $475 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 19% 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 $1,353 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $895 in Yala – a 51% 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 $895 in Yala versus $1,353 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 $895 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 51% 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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