🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,034 in Upington versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Upington versus $2,557 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,170 in Upington versus $3,723 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Upington costs roughly 26% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Upington is 22% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Upington
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.00R 183
$3.57Rp 64.6K
208.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.12R 552
$32.32Rp 584.4K
2.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.99R 83.2
$5.01Rp 90.5K
-0.40%
Cappuccino
$1.54R 25.70
$2.82Rp 51.1K
-45.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00R 16.63
$1.35Rp 24.4K
-25.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68R 11.28
$0.73Rp 13.2K
-6.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.55R 25.79
$2.93Rp 53.0K
-47.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50R 41.59
$3.94Rp 71.2K
-36.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Upington
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.82R 13.66
$1.78Rp 32.2K
-53.93%
White Bread(500g)
$1.13R 18.90
$2.45Rp 44.3K
-53.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.57R 26.10
$1.15Rp 20.8K
36.52%
Eggs
$2.45R 40.82
$2.41Rp 43.7K
1.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.86R 131
$14.33Rp 259.1K
-45.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.51R 75.2
$4.19Rp 75.7K
7.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.70R 112
$12.06Rp 218.1K
-44.44%
Apples(1kg)
$1.59R 26.52
$3.64Rp 65.8K
-56.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52R 25.24
$1.57Rp 28.3K
-3.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.47R 24.52
$2.79Rp 50.4K
-47.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57R 26.09
$2.24Rp 40.5K
-29.91%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38R 22.93
$1.98Rp 35.8K
-30.30%
Onion(1kg)
$1.24R 20.70
$2.28Rp 41.2K
-45.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06R 17.65
$1.05Rp 19.1K
0.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92R 15.25
$0.79Rp 14.2K
16.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.51R 41.76
$3.19Rp 57.7K
-21.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.83R 63.8
$23.49Rp 424.8K
-83.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38R 23.00
$2.90Rp 52.4K
-52.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67R 27.74
$2.76Rp 49.8K
-39.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Upington
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.62R 27.01
$0.27Rp 4,821
500.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.37Rp 151.3K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.10R 18.30
$0.45Rp 8,180
144.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.94R 15.62
$0.46Rp 8,311
104.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.07R 67.7
$6.07Rp 109.7K
-32.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28R 21.35
$0.86Rp 15.6K
48.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5KR 358.9K
$26.6KRp 480.7M
-18.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9KR 397.4K
$32.5KRp 588.6M
-26.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Upington
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$120R 2,000
$79.0Rp 1.4M
51.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.82R 580
$4.09Rp 74.0K
751.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.21R 686
$23.85Rp 431.2K
72.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Upington
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.52R 508
$98.8Rp 1.8M
-69.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.35Rp 114.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.53R 109
$4.01Rp 72.5K
62.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Upington
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$196R 3,269
$297Rp 5.4M
-33.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,377R 72.9K
$6,602Rp 119.4M
-33.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Upington
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.5R 840
$53.4Rp 966.0K
-5.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.78R 529
$38.11Rp 689.2K
-16.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.3R 1,453
$88.7Rp 1.6M
-1.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.6R 1,342
$76.6Rp 1.4M
5.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Upington
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$363R 6,047
$1,020Rp 18.4M
-64.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$334R 5,557
$680Rp 12.3M
-50.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$564R 9,394
$3,469Rp 62.7M
-83.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$703R 11.7K
$2,090Rp 37.8M
-66.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$878R 14.6K
$2,729Rp 49.3M
-67.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$709R 11.8K
$2,295Rp 41.5M
-69.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Upington
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$770R 12.8K
$164Rp 3.0M
370.52%
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $363 in Upington and $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Upington pays 371% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Upington vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $172 vs $298, 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 35% 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 371% 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: $363 in Upington versus $1,020 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 73% 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 $1,034 per month in Upington versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali – a 35% 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 $1,034 in Upington versus $1,392 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 $1,034 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 35% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.