😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $860 in Zenica.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,260 in Zenica.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,660 in Zenica.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 64% more expensive than in Zenica, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Zenica is 36% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Zenica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45Rp 62.1K
$7.06BAM 12.09
-51.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34Rp 581.1K
$18.38BAM 31.48
75.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.84Rp 87.1K
$4.23BAM 7.24
14.42%
Cappuccino
$2.75Rp 49.4K
$1.61BAM 2.75
70.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38Rp 24.9K
$1.74BAM 2.98
-20.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75Rp 13.5K
$1.17BAM 2.00
-35.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.99Rp 53.8K
$2.03BAM 3.47
47.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85Rp 69.2K
$2.02BAM 3.46
90.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Zenica
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74Rp 31.2K
$1.21BAM 2.08
43.80%
White Bread(500g)
$2.46Rp 44.2K
$0.91BAM 1.56
170.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17Rp 21.0K
$1.78BAM 3.05
-34.27%
Eggs
$2.43Rp 43.7K
$2.69BAM 4.60
-9.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.50Rp 260.6K
$7.76BAM 13.29
86.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.35Rp 78.2K
$7.39BAM 12.66
-41.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.98Rp 215.3K
$12.68BAM 21.72
-5.52%
Apples(1kg)
$3.72Rp 66.8K
$1.34BAM 2.30
177.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63Rp 29.2K
$1.63BAM 2.79
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.74Rp 49.3K
$1.55BAM 2.66
76.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24Rp 40.3K
$1.83BAM 3.14
22.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92Rp 34.5K
$1.01BAM 1.73
90.10%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28Rp 40.9K
$1.31BAM 2.24
74.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 19.1K
$0.62BAM 1.06
70.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72Rp 12.9K
$0.78BAM 1.33
-7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29Rp 59.0K
$3.47BAM 5.94
-5.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.19Rp 416.8K
$4.00BAM 6.85
479.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78Rp 49.9K
$0.85BAM 1.46
227.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73Rp 49.1K
$1.01BAM 1.74
170.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Zenica
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,786
$0.90BAM 1.54
-70.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.11Rp 145.7K
$32.07BAM 54.9
-74.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,675
$1.58BAM 2.70
-69.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42Rp 7,545
$0.83BAM 1.43
-49.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.22Rp 111.8K
$8.81BAM 15.09
-29.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.6K
$1.44BAM 2.47
-43.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KRp 478.2M
$24.0KBAM 41.2K
10.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2KRp 578.5M
$26.1KBAM 44.6K
23.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Zenica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.4Rp 1.4M
$167BAM 285
-52.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07Rp 73.1K
$19.21BAM 32.90
-78.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33Rp 437.1K
$25.03BAM 42.87
-2.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Zenica
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.6Rp 1.8M
$24.42BAM 41.83
303.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34Rp 113.9K
$14.91BAM 25.54
-57.48%
Cinema Ticket
$3.99Rp 71.6K
$4.79BAM 8.21
-16.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Zenica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305Rp 5.5M
$154BAM 264
97.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,642Rp 119.4M
$3,252BAM 5,569
104.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Zenica
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1Rp 972.9K
$50.5BAM 86.5
7.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81Rp 679.4K
$30.90BAM 52.9
22.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.8Rp 1.6M
$96.0BAM 164
-9.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4Rp 1.4M
$88.7BAM 152
-13.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Zenica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$992Rp 17.8M
$199BAM 342
397.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$673Rp 12.1M
$147BAM 252
357.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,375Rp 60.7M
$280BAM 480
1103.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,050Rp 36.8M
$209BAM 358
881.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,805Rp 50.4M
$1,609BAM 2,757
74.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,227Rp 40.0M
$1,328BAM 2,275
67.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Zenica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$167Rp 3.0M
$719BAM 1,231
-76.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
3
342.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026
Last update for Zenica: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Ubud, Bali and $199 in Zenica. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Zenica pays 331% 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 $18.00 in Zenica for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $201 per month, with Zenica 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 Zenica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Zenica?
Zenica wins on cost – living expenses run 64% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Zenica the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or in Zenica?
On paper, salaries run 331% lower in Zenica. 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 Zenica?
Rent for a central apartment: $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $199 in Zenica. 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 Zenica?
Childcare runs $305 in Ubud, Bali versus $154 in Zenica. 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 Zenica?
Supermarket bills run roughly 48% 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 Zenica?
At $860 in Zenica versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Zenica but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Zenica the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Zenica?
Both work as nomad bases, but Zenica delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $860 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Zenica hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Zenica?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Zenica 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 Zenica gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared