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: $2,704 in Union City, CA versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,511 in Union City, CA versus $2,348 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $8,318 in Union City, CA versus $3,327 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Union City, CA is roughly 98% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Union City, CA 98% above, Ubud, Bali 0% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Union City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.41 $23.41
$3.44 Rp 61.0K
580.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$110 $110
$36.31 Rp 644.2K
201.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.90 $12.90
$5.71 Rp 101.2K
125.92%
Cappuccino
$5.67 $5.67
$2.67 Rp 47.4K
112.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 $2.94
$1.75 Rp 31.0K
68.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$0.87 Rp 15.5K
136.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.01 $8.01
$2.95 Rp 52.4K
171.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.17 $10.17
$4.52 Rp 80.2K
125.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Union City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 $1.20
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
-25.93%
White Bread (500g)
$4.57 $4.57
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
96.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.14 $4.14
$1.11 Rp 19.6K
272.97%
Eggs
$5.80 $5.80
$2.20 Rp 39.0K
163.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.51 $19.51
$17.69 Rp 313.9K
10.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.28 $13.28
$4.10 Rp 72.7K
223.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.60 $8.60
$12.18 Rp 216.0K
-29.39%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$3.71 Rp 65.8K
39.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.59 Rp 28.2K
25.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.28 Rp 40.5K
20.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.28 $4.28
$1.95 Rp 34.7K
119.49%
Potato (1kg)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.91 Rp 33.8K
12.57%
Onion (1kg)
$3.00 $3.00
$2.33 Rp 41.4K
28.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.01 Rp 17.9K
139.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.59 $2.59
$0.55 Rp 9,791
370.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.93 $11.93
$2.23 Rp 39.6K
434.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.58 $15.58
$23.07 Rp 409.3K
-32.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.52 $2.52
$2.42 Rp 42.9K
4.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 $3.44
$3.00 Rp 53.2K
14.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Union City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.96 $1.96
$0.27 Rp 4,823
625.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.98 Rp 159.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.40 $3.40
$0.48 Rp 8,582
608.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.82 $1.82
$0.43 Rp 7,693
323.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.69 $29.69
$5.64 Rp 100.1K
426.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.49 $1.49
$0.80 Rp 14.3K
86.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.5K $37.5K
$24.9K Rp 442.5M
50.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K $26.0K
$31.7K Rp 562.6M
-17.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Union City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$278 $278
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
241.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.32 $48.32
$6.49 Rp 115.2K
644.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$82.0 $82.0
$18.77 Rp 333.0K
336.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Union City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.36 $41.36
$56.9 Rp 1.0M
-27.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.73 Rp 332.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.06 $17.06
$4.54 Rp 80.5K
275.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Union City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,846 $1,846
$481 Rp 8.5M
284.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.8K $39.8K
$5,711 Rp 101.3M
596.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Union City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.71 $41.71
$45.52 Rp 807.5K
-8.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.2 $51.2
$35.88 Rp 636.6K
42.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.5 $86.5
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
7.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 $120
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
52.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Union City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,567 $1,567
$1,115 Rp 19.8M
40.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,286 $1,286
$698 Rp 12.4M
84.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,888 $4,888
$3,637 Rp 64.5M
34.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,021 $5,021
$1,737 Rp 30.8M
189.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,722 $2,722
$2,784 Rp 49.4M
-2.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,360 $2,360
$2,290 Rp 40.6M
3.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Union City, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,200 $7,200
$168 Rp 3.0M
4185.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.17
13.78
-55.22%

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

Last update for Union City, CA: September 13, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,567 in Union City, CA and $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Union City, CA pays 4185% 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: $110 in Union City, CA vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $422 vs $295 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 98% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 4185% higher in Union City, CA, 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 compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,567 in Union City, CA versus $1,115 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 43% 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 $2,704 per month in Union City, CA versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali – a 98% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,704 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 $1,368 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 98% 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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