🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,006 in Upington versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,576 in Upington versus $2,582 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,146 in Upington versus $3,757 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Upington costs roughly 29% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Upington is 25% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Upington
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.14R 183
$3.42Rp 58.7K
225.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.12R 562
$32.96Rp 566.5K
3.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.73R 77.9
$5.08Rp 87.3K
-6.89%
Cappuccino
$1.56R 25.63
$2.82Rp 48.5K
-44.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98R 16.17
$1.37Rp 23.5K
-28.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67R 11.02
$0.71Rp 12.2K
-5.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.54R 25.40
$2.97Rp 51.0K
-48.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58R 42.52
$3.91Rp 67.2K
-34.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Upington
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.88R 14.49
$1.75Rp 30.0K
-49.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.11R 18.22
$2.52Rp 43.2K
-55.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.59R 26.17
$1.21Rp 20.8K
31.40%
Eggs
$2.41R 39.71
$2.33Rp 40.1K
3.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.52R 124
$14.50Rp 249.2K
-48.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.51R 74.3
$4.36Rp 74.9K
3.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.88R 113
$12.05Rp 207.0K
-42.90%
Apples(1kg)
$1.59R 26.24
$3.82Rp 65.6K
-58.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46R 23.97
$1.61Rp 27.7K
-9.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.47R 24.26
$2.70Rp 46.5K
-45.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59R 26.11
$2.23Rp 38.3K
-28.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33R 21.89
$1.90Rp 32.6K
-30.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.23R 20.28
$2.18Rp 37.5K
-43.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05R 17.27
$1.03Rp 17.7K
1.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90R 14.76
$0.77Rp 13.3K
16.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.50R 41.13
$3.18Rp 54.7K
-21.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.76R 61.9
$23.23Rp 399.2K
-83.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39R 22.85
$2.85Rp 48.9K
-51.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69R 27.88
$2.72Rp 46.7K
-37.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Upington
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.61R 26.50
$0.29Rp 5,022
455.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.43Rp 144.8K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.14R 18.85
$0.49Rp 8,344
132.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.93R 15.34
$0.45Rp 7,812
106.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.96R 65.2
$6.28Rp 107.8K
-36.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24R 20.37
$0.85Rp 14.6K
45.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2KR 349.1K
$26.1KRp 447.8M
-18.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KR 390.5K
$31.5KRp 541.8M
-24.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Upington
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$120R 1,983
$79.8Rp 1.4M
50.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.74R 589
$4.09Rp 70.3K
773.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.99R 675
$24.06Rp 413.6K
70.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Upington
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.12R 513
$96.2Rp 1.7M
-67.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.53Rp 112.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.74R 111
$4.13Rp 71.1K
63.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Upington
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$201R 3,303
$297Rp 5.1M
-32.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,263R 70.2K
$6,661Rp 114.5M
-36.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Upington
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.0R 824
$55.0Rp 944.5K
-9.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.69R 522
$38.75Rp 666.0K
-18.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.7R 1,445
$89.6Rp 1.5M
-2.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.4R 1,292
$78.9Rp 1.4M
-0.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Upington
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$365R 6,014
$1,018Rp 17.5M
-64.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$331R 5,452
$660Rp 11.3M
-49.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$561R 9,248
$3,435Rp 59.0M
-83.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$699R 11.5K
$2,053Rp 35.3M
-65.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$751R 12.4K
$2,981Rp 51.2M
-74.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$688R 11.3K
$2,368Rp 40.7M
-70.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Upington
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$779R 12.8K
$172Rp 3.0M
352.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.38
13.28
-14.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Upington: April 21, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $365 in Upington and $1,018 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Upington pays 353% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $34 in Upington vs $33 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $171 vs $299, with Upington 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
Upington vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Upington or Ubud, Bali?
Upington wins on cost – living expenses run 40% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Upington the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Upington or Ubud, Bali?
Upington pays 353% 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 Upington vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $365 in Upington versus $1,018 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Upington or Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 74% 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 Upington compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $1,006 per month in Upington versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali – a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Upington or Ubud, Bali?
At $1,006 in Upington versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Upington but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Upington the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Upington or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Upington delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,006 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Upington hard to pass up.
How safe is Upington compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Upington 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 Upington gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.