Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Zamboanga

For one person, living is cheaper in Zamboanga: $714 a month against $1,331 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $7,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Zamboanga, Philippines
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,331
/mo nomad
Zamboanga
🇵🇭 Philippines
$714
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Zamboanga actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,331 in Ubud, Bali versus $714 in Zamboanga.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,331
  • Zamboanga $714

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,076 in Zamboanga.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,255
  • Zamboanga $1,076

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,180 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,438 in Zamboanga.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,180
  • Zamboanga $1,438

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 86% more expensive than in Zamboanga, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ubud, Bali 2% lower, Zamboanga 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Zamboanga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.38 Rp 61.2K
$1.31 ₱82.8
158.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.65 Rp 628.6K
$16.52 ₱1,048
109.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.57 Rp 101.1K
$3.32 ₱211
67.77%
Cappuccino
$2.62 Rp 47.5K
$2.05 ₱130
27.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 Rp 27.9K
$0.91 ₱57.5
69.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 Rp 11.6K
$0.39 ₱24.95
64.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.67 Rp 48.4K
$1.45 ₱91.8
84.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26 Rp 77.3K
$1.95 ₱124
118.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Zamboanga
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 Rp 26.5K
$1.80 ₱114
-18.89%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 Rp 41.6K
$1.38 ₱87.4
65.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 20.1K
$1.10 ₱70.0
0.91%
Eggs
$2.10 Rp 38.1K
$1.44 ₱91.2
45.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 Rp 289.2K
$4.69 ₱298
239.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.88 Rp 70.4K
$3.88 ₱246
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.40 Rp 206.8K
$3.13 ₱199
264.22%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 Rp 64.4K
$3.00 ₱190
18.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 Rp 27.9K
$1.20 ₱76.0
28.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
$3.78 ₱240
-41.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.8K
$1.15 ₱73.2
71.30%
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 Rp 33.7K
$1.18 ₱74.8
57.63%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 43.9K
$2.40 ₱152
0.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 Rp 18.6K
$0.85 ₱53.8
20.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 Rp 9,475
$0.49 ₱31.28
6.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.20 Rp 39.9K
$2.69 ₱170
-18.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.79 Rp 395.2K
$4.22 ₱268
416.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 Rp 42.2K
$1.30 ₱82.4
79.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.9K
$1.99 ₱127
49.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Zamboanga
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,542
$0.17 ₱11.05
47.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 148.3K
$12.49 ₱792
-34.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,941
$0.74 ₱47.19
-40.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 Rp 8,489
$0.22 ₱13.93
113.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.60 Rp 101.6K
$1.90 ₱121
194.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
$0.97 ₱61.6
-14.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K Rp 443.5M
$20.9K ₱1.3M
17.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 575.0M
$18.6K ₱1.2M
70.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Zamboanga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.5 Rp 1.4M
$118 ₱7,503
-34.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.14 Rp 111.5K
$15.47 ₱982
-60.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.92 Rp 343.1K
$47.75 ₱3,030
-60.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Zamboanga
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 Rp 925.0K
$35.86 ₱2,275
42.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.25 Rp 331.0K
$5.11 ₱324
257.14%
Cinema Ticket
$4.38 Rp 79.5K
$5.02 ₱319
-12.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Zamboanga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$492 Rp 8.9M
$131 ₱8,293
276.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K Rp 221.7M
$7,774 ₱493.2K
57.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Zamboanga
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.16 Rp 819.2K
$32.15 ₱2,039
40.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.89 Rp 632.9K
$19.42 ₱1,232
79.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
$71.8 ₱4,553
9.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$54.0 ₱3,425
44.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Zamboanga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 Rp 19.5M
$250 ₱15.9K
331.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 Rp 12.1M
$166 ₱10.5K
300.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,510 Rp 63.7M
$329 ₱20.9K
967.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,671 Rp 30.3M
$353 ₱22.4K
373.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,340 Rp 42.4M
$2,668 ₱169.3K
-12.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,236 Rp 40.6M
$1,111 ₱70.5K
101.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Zamboanga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
$191 ₱12.1K
-13.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
6.92
99.13%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: November 1, 2026

Last update for Zamboanga: October 31, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$665
Zamboanga
$166 75% $499
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$279
Zamboanga
$165 41.1% $115
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$106
Zamboanga
$80 24.9% $27
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$106
Zamboanga
$61 42% $44
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$103
Zamboanga
$181 77% $79
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$60
Zamboanga
$46 23.2% $14
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$12
Zamboanga
$15 25.8% $3.1

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,078 in Ubud, Bali and $250 in Zamboanga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zamboanga pays 15% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $35 in Ubud, Bali vs $17 in Zamboanga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $279 vs $165 per month, with Zamboanga cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇵🇭 Zamboanga
🕒 Local time
22:15 10:15 PM
22:15 10:15 PM
Same time as Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

PHP, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 18,140 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,309 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.92 EUR).

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 63.44 PHP (100 PHP = 1.58 USD). 1 EUR = 71.03 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Zamboanga 1,870 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Zamboanga

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 Zamboanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Zamboanga?
Zamboanga wins on cost – living expenses run 46% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Zamboanga the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or in Zamboanga?
On paper, salaries run 13% lower in Ubud, Bali. 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 Zamboanga?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,078 in Ubud, Bali versus $250 in Zamboanga. 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 Zamboanga?
Childcare runs $492 in Ubud, Bali versus $131 in Zamboanga. 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 Zamboanga?
Supermarket bills run roughly 70% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Zamboanga?
At $714 in Zamboanga versus $1,331 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Zamboanga but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Zamboanga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ubud, Bali or Zamboanga?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

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