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: $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $806 in Zacatecas.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,275 in Zacatecas.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,275 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,744 in Zacatecas.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 71% more expensive than in Zacatecas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Zacatecas is 42% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Zacatecas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33 Rp 58.7K
$6.90 MX$117
-51.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.82 Rp 630.7K
$34.73 MX$589
3.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.63 Rp 99.1K
$7.83 MX$133
-28.10%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 49.7K
$3.23 MX$54.8
-12.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 Rp 30.8K
$1.38 MX$23.34
26.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 Rp 14.0K
$0.78 MX$13.28
2.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 Rp 53.6K
$2.12 MX$35.97
43.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
$4.55 MX$77.2
-5.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Zacatecas
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 Rp 28.3K
$1.55 MX$26.27
3.87%
White Bread (500g)
$2.27 Rp 39.9K
$2.31 MX$39.19
-1.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 20.6K
$1.73 MX$29.34
-32.37%
Eggs
$2.17 Rp 38.2K
$2.39 MX$40.62
-9.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.63 Rp 310.5K
$7.91 MX$134
122.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.05 Rp 71.4K
$6.38 MX$108
-36.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.18 Rp 214.5K
$10.37 MX$176
17.45%
Apples (1kg)
$3.62 Rp 63.7K
$1.97 MX$33.35
83.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 Rp 28.8K
$1.77 MX$30.01
-7.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 40.6K
$2.21 MX$37.55
4.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.96 Rp 34.5K
$1.54 MX$26.15
27.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 Rp 32.5K
$2.09 MX$35.46
-11.96%
Onion (1kg)
$2.37 Rp 41.7K
$1.90 MX$32.22
24.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 Rp 18.5K
$1.54 MX$26.15
-31.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 Rp 9,560
$0.92 MX$15.56
-41.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.30 Rp 40.6K
$4.76 MX$80.8
-51.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.08 Rp 406.4K
$11.57 MX$196
99.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 Rp 41.2K
$1.81 MX$30.69
29.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 Rp 54.0K
$3.53 MX$60.0
-13.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Zacatecas
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,365
$0.53 MX$9.03
-52.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.42 Rp 165.9K
$17.84 MX$303
-47.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.49 Rp 8,631
$2.42 MX$41.11
-79.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 Rp 8,349
$1.19 MX$20.22
-60.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.60 Rp 98.6K
$12.89 MX$219
-56.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.2K
$1.59 MX$27.01
-49.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K Rp 440.3M
$23.3K MX$395.6K
7.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1K Rp 547.0M
$25.7K MX$435.4K
21.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Zacatecas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.7 Rp 1.5M
$24.89 MX$422
232.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49 Rp 114.2K
$9.09 MX$154
-28.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.79 Rp 330.8K
$27.23 MX$462
-31.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Zacatecas
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.2 Rp 972.6K
$26.38 MX$448
109.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.21 Rp 320.6K
$8.77 MX$149
107.64%
Cinema Ticket
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
$4.56 MX$77.3
-5.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Zacatecas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 Rp 8.7M
$278 MX$4,720
77.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,917 Rp 104.2M
$3,489 MX$59.2K
69.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Zacatecas
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.28 Rp 814.8K
$48.51 MX$823
-4.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.44 Rp 641.6K
$45.71 MX$775
-20.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.7 Rp 1.4M
$97.1 MX$1,647
-16.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.8 Rp 1.4M
$46.93 MX$796
67.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Zacatecas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,114 Rp 19.6M
$261 MX$4,435
326.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$693 Rp 12.2M
$176 MX$2,979
294.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,639 Rp 64.1M
$414 MX$7,020
779.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,712 Rp 30.1M
$264 MX$4,486
547.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,761 Rp 48.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,293 Rp 40.4M
$617 MX$10.5K
271.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Zacatecas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 2.9M
$452 MX$7,667
-63.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
10.8
27.59%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Last update for Zacatecas: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali and $261 in Zacatecas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zacatecas pays 170% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $35.00 in Zacatecas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $294 vs $245 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 71% 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 170% 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: $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $261 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 $494 in Ubud, Bali versus $278 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 20% 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 $806 in Zacatecas versus $1,378 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 $806 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 71% 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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