Cost of Living Comparison Between Varginha and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Varginha and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $609 in Varginha versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $975 in Varginha versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,341 in Varginha versus $3,732 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Varginha costs roughly 58% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Varginha is 54% below, Ubud, Bali is 7% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Varginha
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.25 R$31.18
$3.57 Rp 61.9K
75.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.56 R$108
$32.58 Rp 564.7K
-33.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.31 R$31.51
$5.07 Rp 87.8K
24.46%
Cappuccino
$0.94 R$4.68
$2.83 Rp 49.0K
-66.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 R$4.14
$1.34 Rp 23.2K
-38.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 R$2.76
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
-20.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.29 R$6.44
$2.99 Rp 51.8K
-56.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 R$16.64
$3.85 Rp 66.7K
-13.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Varginha
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 R$5.59
$1.74 Rp 30.2K
-35.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.45 R$7.26
$2.54 Rp 44.0K
-42.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.88 R$4.40
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
-26.05%
Eggs
$1.34 R$6.66
$2.43 Rp 42.0K
-44.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.81 R$38.99
$14.66 Rp 254.1K
-46.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.78 R$18.87
$4.18 Rp 72.4K
-9.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.35 R$36.67
$11.94 Rp 206.9K
-38.44%
Apples (1kg)
$1.23 R$6.16
$3.69 Rp 63.9K
-66.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.27 R$6.36
$1.61 Rp 27.8K
-21.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.86 R$4.30
$2.69 Rp 46.5K
-68.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.13 R$5.66
$2.33 Rp 40.4K
-51.50%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 R$4.24
$1.91 Rp 33.0K
-55.50%
Onion (1kg)
$0.93 R$4.64
$2.19 Rp 37.9K
-57.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.47 R$2.33
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
-55.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 R$2.72
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
-23.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.00 R$9.98
$3.13 Rp 54.3K
-36.10%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.02 R$25.05
$23.49 Rp 407.1K
-78.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 R$5.07
$2.74 Rp 47.5K
-62.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 R$8.30
$2.88 Rp 49.9K
-42.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Varginha
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.82 R$4.09
$0.29 Rp 5,029
182.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.44 R$192
$8.17 Rp 141.6K
370.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.87 R$4.34
$0.45 Rp 7,863
93.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.62 R$3.09
$0.42 Rp 7,305
47.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.91 R$29.47
$6.16 Rp 106.7K
-4.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 R$5.24
$0.84 Rp 14.6K
25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3K R$111.2K
$26.2K Rp 454.9M
-15.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K R$132.7K
$32.5K Rp 562.9M
-18.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Varginha
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.61 R$233
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
-40.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.43 R$22.11
$3.95 Rp 68.5K
12.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.80 R$88.8
$24.40 Rp 423.0K
-27.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Varginha
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.86 R$114
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
-76.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.46 R$107
$6.35 Rp 110.0K
237.95%
Cinema Ticket
$5.29 R$26.42
$4.04 Rp 70.0K
30.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Varginha
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$195 R$975
$303 Rp 5.2M
-35.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,925 R$19.6K
$6,523 Rp 113.1M
-39.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Varginha
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.96 R$164
$53.8 Rp 933.1K
-38.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.0 R$259
$37.98 Rp 658.3K
36.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.9 R$359
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
-17.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.6 R$267
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
-32.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Varginha
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$134 R$668
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
-86.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$106 R$531
$674 Rp 11.7M
-84.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$246 R$1,227
$3,390 Rp 58.8M
-92.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$230 R$1,150
$2,098 Rp 36.4M
-89.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,644 R$8,206
$2,985 Rp 51.7M
-44.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,202 R$5,998
$2,339 Rp 40.5M
-48.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Varginha
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$462 R$2,303
$173 Rp 3.0M
166.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10
13.28
-24.70%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Varginha: April 26, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $134 in Varginha and $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Varginha pays 167% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $22.00 in Varginha vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $153 vs $298 per month, with Varginha cheaper across the board.

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
Varginha vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Varginha or Ubud, Bali?
Varginha wins on cost – living expenses run 136% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Varginha the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Varginha or Ubud, Bali?
Varginha pays 167% 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 Varginha vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $134 in Varginha versus $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Varginha and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $195 in Varginha versus $303 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 Varginha or Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 94% 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 Varginha or Ubud, Bali?
At $609 in Varginha versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Varginha but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Varginha the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Varginha or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Varginha delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $609 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Varginha hard to pass up.
How safe is Varginha compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Varginha 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 Varginha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 136% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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