Cost of Living Comparison Between Union City, CA and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Union City, CA and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,738 in Union City, CA versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,980 in Union City, CA versus $2,549 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,222 in Union City, CA versus $3,694 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Union City, CA is roughly 95% more expensive than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Union City, CA 104% above, Ubud, Bali 4% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Union City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.40 $22.40
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
527.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.7 $76.7
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
136.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.17 $11.17
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
129.84%
Cappuccino
$5.61 $5.61
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
104.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 $2.82
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
113.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 $2.93
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
318.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.38 $7.38
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
153.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.92 $8.92
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
135.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Union City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 $1.21
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
-29.24%
White Bread (500g)
$3.67 $3.67
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
48.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.41 $5.41
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
350.83%
Eggs
$3.86 $3.86
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
58.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.94 $18.94
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
31.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.44 $9.44
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
119.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.87 $8.87
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
-27.35%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
40.49%
Banana (1kg)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
65.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.97 $2.97
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
6.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.45 $6.45
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
176.82%
Potato (1kg)
$2.24 $2.24
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
13.71%
Onion (1kg)
$4.11 $4.11
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
77.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.20 $2.20
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
107.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.19 $3.19
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
336.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.78 $11.78
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
259.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.20 $13.20
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
-42.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 $1.79
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
-36.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 $2.77
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
-0.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Union City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.01 $2.01
$0.29 Rp 5,217
593.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.45 $3.45
$0.45 Rp 8,047
666.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.94 $1.94
$0.45 Rp 8,094
331.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.62 $29.62
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
374.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 $1.27
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
49.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K $30.3K
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
16.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K $25.2K
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
-20.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Union City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$196 $196
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
142.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.17 $46.17
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
1037.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$78.3 $78.3
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
220.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Union City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.80 $42.80
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
-56.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.32 $12.32
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
204.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Union City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,679 $1,679
$304 Rp 5.4M
452.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.9K $31.9K
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
381.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Union City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.02 $22.02
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
-59.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.54 $35.54
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
-8.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 $101
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
17.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$237 $237
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
209.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Union City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,616 $1,616
$986 Rp 17.7M
64.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,364 $1,364
$658 Rp 11.8M
107.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,391 $5,391
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
60.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,221 $2,221
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
7.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Union City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,086 $7,086
$163 Rp 2.9M
4235.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6
13.28
-54.82%

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

Last update for Union City, CA: June 8, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,616 in Union City, CA and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Union City, CA pays 4236% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $77.0 in Union City, CA vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $405 vs $297 per month, with Ubud, Bali 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
Union City, CA vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Union City, CA or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 95% lower than in Union City, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Union City, CA or Ubud, Bali?
Union City, CA pays 4236% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Union City, CA vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,616 in Union City, CA versus $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Union City, CA or Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 36% higher in Union City, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Union City, CA compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $2,738 per month in Union City, CA versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali – a 95% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Union City, CA or Ubud, Bali?
At $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,738 in Union City, CA, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Union City, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Union City, CA or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,404 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Union City, CA compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Union City, CA and Ubud, Bali 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 Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 95% less than in Union City, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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