🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,328 in Utena versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,098 in Utena versus $2,549 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,868 in Utena versus $3,694 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Utena costs roughly 5% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Utena is 1% below, Ubud, Bali is 4% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Utena
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.41€9.89
$3.57Rp 64.7K
219.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.2€60.8
$32.50Rp 589.5K
115.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.97€6.04
$4.86Rp 88.2K
43.42%
Cappuccino
$3.08€2.67
$2.75Rp 49.8K
12.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57€2.22
$1.32Rp 24.0K
94.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92€1.67
$0.70Rp 12.7K
174.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.92€5.13
$2.91Rp 52.8K
103.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.64€4.89
$3.79Rp 68.8K
48.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Utena
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34€1.16
$1.71Rp 31.0K
-21.64%
White Bread(500g)
$1.53€1.32
$2.47Rp 44.9K
-38.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.01€1.74
$1.20Rp 21.8K
67.50%
Eggs
$3.06€2.65
$2.44Rp 44.3K
25.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.69€9.26
$14.38Rp 260.9K
-25.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.43€4.70
$4.31Rp 78.1K
25.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.71€8.42
$12.21Rp 221.4K
-20.48%
Apples(1kg)
$1.35€1.17
$3.68Rp 66.8K
-63.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62€1.40
$1.55Rp 28.1K
4.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.77€1.54
$2.79Rp 50.5K
-36.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.18€2.75
$2.33Rp 42.3K
36.48%
Potato(1kg)
$0.81€0.71
$1.97Rp 35.7K
-58.88%
Onion(1kg)
$0.99€0.86
$2.31Rp 41.9K
-57.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.56€1.36
$1.06Rp 19.3K
47.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88€0.76
$0.73Rp 13.2K
20.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.69€4.94
$3.28Rp 59.5K
73.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.44€7.32
$22.79Rp 413.4K
-62.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74€1.51
$2.81Rp 50.9K
-38.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80€1.56
$2.78Rp 50.5K
-35.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Utena
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.14€0.99
$0.29Rp 5,281
293.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$33.93€29.40
$8.06Rp 146.2K
320.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.66€4.04
$0.45Rp 8,146
935.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.12€0.97
$0.45Rp 8,193
148.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.55€11.74
$6.24Rp 113.1K
117.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.65€1.43
$0.85Rp 15.4K
94.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.4K€33.3K
$26.0KRp 471.2M
47.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.5K€24.7K
$31.7KRp 574.1M
-9.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Utena
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$210€182
$80.8Rp 1.5M
159.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.12€12.24
$4.06Rp 73.6K
247.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.76€10.19
$24.42Rp 442.9K
-51.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Utena
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.48€35.95
$97.7Rp 1.8M
-57.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.88€19.83
$6.45Rp 116.9K
254.73%
Cinema Ticket
$9.38€8.13
$4.04Rp 73.3K
132.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Utena
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$454€394
$304Rp 5.5M
49.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5K€9,117
$6,621Rp 120.1M
58.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Utena
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$138€120
$54.2Rp 983.6K
154.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.70€37.01
$38.78Rp 703.2K
10.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.6€73.3
$86.1Rp 1.6M
-1.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$189€163
$76.7Rp 1.4M
145.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Utena
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$534€463
$986Rp 17.9M
-45.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$361€313
$658Rp 11.9M
-45.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$824€714
$3,369Rp 61.1M
-75.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$664€576
$2,066Rp 37.5M
-67.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,632€2,281
$2,741Rp 49.7M
-4.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,649€1,429
$2,228Rp 40.4M
-25.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Utena
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,237€1,072
$163Rp 3.0M
657.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.13
13.28
-68.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Utena: June 6, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $534 in Utena and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Utena pays 657% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $70.0 in Utena vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $227 vs $297, with Utena 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
Utena vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Utena or Ubud, Bali?
Utena wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Utena the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Utena or Ubud, Bali?
Utena pays 657% 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 Utena vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $534 in Utena versus $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Utena and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $454 in Utena versus $304 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Utena or Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Utena or Ubud, Bali?
At $1,328 in Utena versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Utena but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Utena the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Utena or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Utena delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,328 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Utena hard to pass up.
How safe is Utena compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Utena 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 Utena gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.