🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,123 in Upington versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,789 in Upington versus $2,327 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,455 in Upington versus $3,275 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Upington costs roughly 18% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Upington is 19% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Upington
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.43R 200
$3.33Rp 58.7K
273.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.08R 613
$35.82Rp 630.7K
6.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.02R 97.0
$5.63Rp 99.1K
6.93%
Cappuccino
$1.80R 29.03
$2.82Rp 49.7K
-36.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09R 17.53
$1.75Rp 30.8K
-37.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78R 12.60
$0.80Rp 14.0K
-2.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.80R 28.98
$3.04Rp 53.6K
-40.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89R 46.52
$4.30Rp 75.7K
-32.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Upington
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.98R 15.71
$1.61Rp 28.3K
-39.13%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29R 20.69
$2.27Rp 39.9K
-43.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58R 25.44
$1.17Rp 20.6K
35.04%
Eggs
$3.08R 49.55
$2.17Rp 38.2K
41.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.33R 134
$17.63Rp 310.5K
-52.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.05R 97.5
$4.05Rp 71.4K
49.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.41R 119
$12.18Rp 214.5K
-39.16%
Apples(1kg)
$1.87R 30.19
$3.62Rp 63.7K
-48.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50R 24.21
$1.64Rp 28.8K
-8.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.60R 25.75
$2.31Rp 40.6K
-30.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.92R 30.96
$1.96Rp 34.5K
-2.04%
Potato(1kg)
$1.48R 23.82
$1.84Rp 32.5K
-19.57%
Onion(1kg)
$1.31R 21.10
$2.37Rp 41.7K
-44.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.11R 17.82
$1.05Rp 18.5K
5.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.35R 21.75
$0.54Rp 9,560
150.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.79R 44.91
$2.30Rp 40.6K
21.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.94R 63.5
$23.08Rp 406.4K
-82.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.51R 24.32
$2.34Rp 41.2K
-35.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80R 29.00
$3.07Rp 54.0K
-41.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Upington
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.64R 26.40
$0.25Rp 4,365
556.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$9.42Rp 165.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.72R 11.60
$0.49Rp 8,631
46.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.94R 15.09
$0.47Rp 8,349
100.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.05R 130
$5.60Rp 98.6K
43.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.48R 23.78
$0.81Rp 14.2K
82.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3KR 519.5K
$25.0KRp 440.3M
28.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.3KR 552.9K
$31.1KRp 547.0M
10.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Upington
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$144R 2,315
$82.7Rp 1.5M
73.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.08R 613
$6.49Rp 114.2K
486.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.37R 618
$18.79Rp 330.8K
104.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Upington
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.49R 572
$55.2Rp 972.6K
-35.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.21Rp 320.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.75R 125
$4.30Rp 75.7K
80.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Upington
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$254R 4,094
$494Rp 8.7M
-48.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,727R 92.2K
$5,917Rp 104.2M
-3.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Upington
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9R 1,012
$46.28Rp 814.8K
35.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.73R 543
$36.44Rp 641.6K
-7.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108R 1,732
$80.7Rp 1.4M
33.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.5R 1,457
$78.8Rp 1.4M
14.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Upington
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$432R 6,956
$1,114Rp 19.6M
-61.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376R 6,052
$693Rp 12.2M
-45.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$615R 9,908
$3,639Rp 64.1M
-83.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$788R 12.7K
$1,712Rp 30.1M
-53.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,025R 16.5K
$2,761Rp 48.6M
-62.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$623R 10.0K
$2,293Rp 40.4M
-72.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Upington
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$816R 13.1K
$167Rp 2.9M
388.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.38
13.78
-17.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Upington: September 6, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Upington and $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Upington pays 388% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Upington vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $200 vs $294, 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 23% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 388% higher in Upington, 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 compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $432 in Upington versus $1,114 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 47% 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 $1,123 per month in Upington versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali – a 23% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,123 in Upington versus $1,378 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 $1,123 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 23% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.