Cost of Living Comparison Between Upala and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Upala and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,299 in Upala versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,980 in Upala versus $2,549 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,660 in Upala versus $3,694 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Upala costs roughly 7% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Upala is 3% below, Ubud, Bali is 4% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Upala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.06 ₡4,995
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
209.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.1 ₡22.6K
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
54.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.10 ₡4,564
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
107.82%
Cappuccino
$3.41 ₡1,542
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
24.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ₡706
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
18.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 ₡724
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
128.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.06 ₡1,381
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
5.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.64 ₡2,094
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
22.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Upala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.95 ₡880
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
14.04%
White Bread (500g)
$1.50 ₡678
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
-39.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.21 ₡998
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
84.17%
Eggs
$2.35 ₡1,061
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
-3.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.96 ₡1,340
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
-79.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.06 ₡2,736
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
40.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.74 ₡3,499
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
-36.61%
Apples (1kg)
$1.56 ₡707
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
-57.61%
Banana (1kg)
$0.63 ₡284
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
-59.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.58 ₡1,165
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
-7.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.35 ₡1,062
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
0.86%
Potato (1kg)
$3.32 ₡1,500
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
68.53%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 ₡1,052
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
0.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 ₡438
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
-8.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.36 ₡1,068
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
223.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.38 ₡2,430
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
64.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.80 ₡3,977
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
-61.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 ₡1,057
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
-16.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93 ₡1,326
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
5.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Upala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.02 ₡461
$0.29 Rp 5,217
251.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.88 ₡851
$0.45 Rp 8,047
317.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.77 ₡800
$0.45 Rp 8,094
293.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.01 ₡2,714
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
-3.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 ₡584
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
51.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8K ₡17.1M
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
45.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.3K ₡14.6M
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
2.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Upala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$50.5 ₡22.8K
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
-37.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.87 ₡11.7K
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
537.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.24 ₡9,145
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
-17.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Upala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 ₡25.5K
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
-42.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.99 ₡10.8K
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
271.94%
Cinema Ticket
$9.68 ₡4,371
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
139.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Upala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$568 ₡256.7K
$304 Rp 5.4M
86.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K ₡5.8M
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
92.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Upala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.39 ₡13.7K
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
-43.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.70 ₡8,900
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
-49.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$124 ₡55.8K
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
43.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.92 ₡13.5K
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
-60.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Upala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$762 ₡344.1K
$986 Rp 17.7M
-22.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$590 ₡266.5K
$658 Rp 11.8M
-10.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,534 ₡693.2K
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
-54.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$973 ₡439.7K
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
-52.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Upala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$163 Rp 2.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.17
13.28
-23.42%

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

Last update for Upala: June 7, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $762 in Upala and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $50.0 in Upala vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $231 vs $297, with Upala cheaper for home cooking.

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
Upala vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Upala or Ubud, Bali?
Upala wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Upala the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Upala vs Ubud, Bali?
You'd need roughly $1,949 in Upala and $2,106 in Ubud, Bali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Upala vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $762 in Upala 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 Upala or Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Upala compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $1,299 per month in Upala versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Upala or Ubud, Bali?
At $1,299 in Upala versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Upala but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Upala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Upala or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Upala delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,299 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Upala hard to pass up.
How safe is Upala compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Upala 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 Upala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% 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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