Cost of Living Comparison Between Vac and Ubud, BaliCost of Living Comparison Between Vac and Ubud, Bali
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,122 in Vac versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,777 in Vac versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,431 in Vac versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Vac costs roughly 21% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Vac is 16% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vac
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.80Ft 2,685
$3.56Rp 63.7K
147.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.58Ft 14.2K
$32.73Rp 584.5K
42.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.45Ft 2,577
$4.95Rp 88.4K
70.71%
Cappuccino
$2.14Ft 653
$2.71Rp 48.4K
-21.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44Ft 438
$1.34Rp 24.0K
7.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08Ft 329
$0.70Rp 12.5K
54.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.89Ft 577
$2.92Rp 52.1K
-35.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28Ft 694
$3.96Rp 70.7K
-42.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vac
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06Ft 324
$1.81Rp 32.3K
-41.44%
White Bread(500g)
$1.54Ft 471
$2.52Rp 45.0K
-38.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92Ft 585
$1.16Rp 20.7K
65.52%
Eggs
$2.69Ft 820
$2.46Rp 43.9K
9.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.15Ft 2,790
$14.71Rp 262.7K
-37.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.83Ft 1,777
$4.32Rp 77.1K
34.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.88Ft 3,625
$12.14Rp 216.7K
-2.14%
Apples(1kg)
$1.87Ft 571
$3.84Rp 68.6K
-51.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.89Ft 577
$1.56Rp 27.8K
21.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04Ft 623
$2.83Rp 50.6K
-27.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.12Ft 952
$2.33Rp 41.5K
33.91%
Potato(1kg)
$1.10Ft 335
$1.91Rp 34.2K
-42.41%
Onion(1kg)
$1.25Ft 382
$2.20Rp 39.3K
-43.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.50Ft 457
$1.01Rp 18.1K
48.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56Ft 172
$0.78Rp 13.8K
-28.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.65Ft 2,029
$3.32Rp 59.2K
100.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.44Ft 1,658
$23.74Rp 423.9K
-77.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09Ft 333
$2.79Rp 49.8K
-60.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41Ft 431
$2.86Rp 51.1K
-50.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Vac
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.14Ft 347
$0.27Rp 4,800
322.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.88Ft 7,588
$8.03Rp 143.4K
209.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.97Ft 904
$0.46Rp 8,150
545.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.11Ft 337
$0.45Rp 8,037
146.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.31Ft 5,280
$6.10Rp 108.9K
183.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.77Ft 539
$0.79Rp 14.2K
124.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2KFt 8.0M
$26.1KRp 467.0M
0.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.6KFt 9.3M
$32.1KRp 573.6M
-4.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vac
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$141Ft 42.9K
$79.9Rp 1.4M
76.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.12Ft 7,965
$4.06Rp 72.6K
543.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.74Ft 6,021
$23.52Rp 420.0K
-16.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vac
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.11Ft 14.4K
$98.7Rp 1.8M
-52.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98Ft 5,177
$6.63Rp 118.4K
156.11%
Cinema Ticket
$7.29Ft 2,224
$4.15Rp 74.1K
75.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vac
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$300Ft 91.4K
$304Rp 5.4M
-1.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,697Ft 2.0M
$6,613Rp 118.1M
1.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vac
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.0Ft 21.7K
$55.5Rp 991.8K
27.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.75Ft 8,463
$38.31Rp 684.1K
-27.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.4Ft 22.4K
$88.6Rp 1.6M
-17.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.9Ft 25.9K
$77.9Rp 1.4M
8.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vac
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$436Ft 132.8K
$1,006Rp 18.0M
-56.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$341Ft 104.1K
$675Rp 12.1M
-49.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$766Ft 233.7K
$3,442Rp 61.5M
-77.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$705Ft 215.1K
$2,039Rp 36.4M
-65.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,233Ft 985.9K
$2,841Rp 50.7M
13.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,480Ft 756.4K
$2,264Rp 40.4M
9.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vac
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,534Ft 468.0K
$165Rp 3.0M
828.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.4
13.28
-44.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vac: May 31, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $436 in Vac and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Vac pays 829% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Vac vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $219 vs $302, with Vac 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
Vac vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Vac or Ubud, Bali?
Vac wins on cost – living expenses run 26% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Vac the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Vac or Ubud, Bali?
Vac pays 829% 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 Vac vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $436 in Vac versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Vac and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $300 in Vac 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 Vac or Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 38% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Vac or Ubud, Bali?
At $1,122 in Vac versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Vac but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Vac the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Vac or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Vac delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,122 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Vac hard to pass up.
How safe is Vac compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Vac 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 Vac gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.