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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $944 in Zacatecas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,493 in Zacatecas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,042 in Zacatecas.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 49% more expensive than in Zacatecas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Zacatecas is 29% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Zacatecas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45 Rp 62.1K
$6.02 MX$105
-42.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 Rp 581.1K
$31.09 MX$541
4.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.84 Rp 87.1K
$7.28 MX$127
-33.52%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
$2.96 MX$51.6
-7.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 24.9K
$1.22 MX$21.25
13.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
$0.70 MX$12.21
7.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 53.8K
$1.81 MX$31.45
65.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 69.2K
$3.79 MX$65.9
1.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Zacatecas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 31.2K
$1.39 MX$24.21
25.18%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 44.2K
$2.14 MX$37.21
14.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
$1.57 MX$27.26
-25.48%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 43.7K
$2.20 MX$38.31
10.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 Rp 260.6K
$7.26 MX$126
99.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.35 Rp 78.2K
$5.89 MX$103
-26.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.98 Rp 215.3K
$9.10 MX$158
31.65%
Apples (1kg)
$3.72 Rp 66.8K
$1.74 MX$30.35
113.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
$1.49 MX$25.96
9.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.74 Rp 49.3K
$1.78 MX$30.97
53.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
$1.43 MX$24.94
56.64%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 Rp 34.5K
$1.80 MX$31.41
6.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.9K
$2.02 MX$35.16
12.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$1.37 MX$23.82
-22.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
$0.75 MX$13.11
-4.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29 Rp 59.0K
$4.17 MX$72.6
-21.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.19 Rp 416.8K
$10.90 MX$190
112.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$1.63 MX$28.32
70.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$3.11 MX$54.1
-12.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Zacatecas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,786
$0.49 MX$8.48
-44.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.11 Rp 145.7K
$16.10 MX$280
-49.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,675
$2.08 MX$36.19
-76.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,545
$0.94 MX$16.36
-55.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.22 Rp 111.8K
$11.50 MX$200
-45.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$1.30 MX$22.70
-37.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 478.2M
$24.2K MX$422.0K
9.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K Rp 578.5M
$23.9K MX$416.8K
34.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Zacatecas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$22.53 MX$392
247.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07 Rp 73.1K
$8.09 MX$141
-49.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33 Rp 437.1K
$25.10 MX$437
-3.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Zacatecas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
$23.52 MX$410
319.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34 Rp 113.9K
$7.80 MX$136
-18.72%
Cinema Ticket
$3.99 Rp 71.6K
$4.15 MX$72.3
-3.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Zacatecas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 Rp 5.5M
$191 MX$3,324
59.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,642 Rp 119.4M
$3,190 MX$55.5K
108.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Zacatecas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 Rp 972.9K
$43.23 MX$753
25.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81 Rp 679.4K
$42.35 MX$737
-10.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
$87.9 MX$1,531
-1.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
$42.12 MX$733
81.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Zacatecas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$992 Rp 17.8M
$239 MX$4,162
314.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$403 MX$7,013
67.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,375 Rp 60.7M
$366 MX$6,372
822.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
$768 MX$13.4K
166.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,805 Rp 50.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,227 Rp 40.0M
$590 MX$10.3K
277.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Zacatecas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 3.0M
$435 MX$7,577
-61.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
11.48
15.68%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Zacatecas: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Ubud, Bali and $239 in Zacatecas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zacatecas pays 161% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $31.00 in Zacatecas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $221 per month, with Zacatecas 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 Zacatecas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Zacatecas?
Zacatecas wins on cost – living expenses run 49% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Zacatecas the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or in Zacatecas?
On paper, salaries run 161% lower in Zacatecas. 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 Zacatecas?
Rent for a central apartment: $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $239 in Zacatecas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Zacatecas?
Childcare runs $305 in Ubud, Bali versus $191 in Zacatecas. 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 in Zacatecas?
Supermarket bills run roughly 34% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Zacatecas?
At $944 in Zacatecas versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Zacatecas but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Zacatecas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Zacatecas?
Both work as nomad bases, but Zacatecas delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $944 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Zacatecas hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Zacatecas?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Zacatecas 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 Zacatecas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 49% 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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