🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $718 in Varginha versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,131 in Varginha versus $2,327 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,544 in Varginha versus $3,275 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Varginha costs roughly 48% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Varginha is 48% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Varginha
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.76R$44.89
$3.33Rp 58.7K
163.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.39R$120
$35.82Rp 630.7K
-34.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.77R$34.69
$5.63Rp 99.1K
20.25%
Cappuccino
$0.94R$4.84
$2.82Rp 49.7K
-66.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86R$4.40
$1.75Rp 30.8K
-50.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59R$3.03
$0.80Rp 14.0K
-26.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.36R$6.99
$3.04Rp 53.6K
-55.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49R$17.90
$4.30Rp 75.7K
-18.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Varginha
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.86R$4.40
$1.61Rp 28.3K
-46.58%
White Bread(500g)
$1.51R$7.72
$2.27Rp 39.9K
-33.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.00R$5.15
$1.17Rp 20.6K
-14.53%
Eggs
$1.36R$6.97
$2.17Rp 38.2K
-37.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.59R$44.06
$17.63Rp 310.5K
-51.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.48R$17.86
$4.05Rp 71.4K
-14.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.87R$45.48
$12.18Rp 214.5K
-27.18%
Apples(1kg)
$1.37R$7.01
$3.62Rp 63.7K
-62.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.33R$6.81
$1.64Rp 28.8K
-18.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.91R$4.68
$2.31Rp 40.6K
-60.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.91R$4.68
$1.96Rp 34.5K
-53.57%
Potato(1kg)
$0.95R$4.85
$1.84Rp 32.5K
-48.37%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97R$4.98
$2.37Rp 41.7K
-59.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.47R$2.41
$1.05Rp 18.5K
-55.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66R$3.41
$0.54Rp 9,560
22.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.08R$10.65
$2.30Rp 40.6K
-9.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.93R$25.28
$23.08Rp 406.4K
-78.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08R$5.55
$2.34Rp 41.2K
-53.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72R$8.80
$3.07Rp 54.0K
-43.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Varginha
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.87R$4.44
$0.25Rp 4,365
248.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.28R$222
$9.42Rp 165.9K
359.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.92R$4.69
$0.49Rp 8,631
87.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69R$3.56
$0.47Rp 8,349
46.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.28R$32.18
$5.60Rp 98.6K
12.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11R$5.70
$0.81Rp 14.2K
37.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9KR$117.2K
$25.0KRp 440.3M
-8.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.5KR$146.3K
$31.1KRp 547.0M
-8.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Varginha
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102R$522
$82.7Rp 1.5M
22.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.94R$25.33
$6.49Rp 114.2K
-23.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.35R$99.2
$18.79Rp 330.8K
2.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Varginha
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26R$130
$55.2Rp 972.6K
-54.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.14R$139
$18.21Rp 320.6K
49.04%
Cinema Ticket
$7.88R$40.40
$4.30Rp 75.7K
83.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Varginha
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$209R$1,071
$494Rp 8.7M
-57.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,185R$21.5K
$5,917Rp 104.2M
-29.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Varginha
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.56R$177
$46.28Rp 814.8K
-25.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.6R$295
$36.44Rp 641.6K
58.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.6R$388
$80.7Rp 1.4M
-6.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.4R$294
$78.8Rp 1.4M
-27.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Varginha
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$140R$718
$1,114Rp 19.6M
-87.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$115R$588
$693Rp 12.2M
-83.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$262R$1,344
$3,639Rp 64.1M
-92.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$242R$1,239
$1,712Rp 30.1M
-85.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,623R$8,320
$2,761Rp 48.6M
-41.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,137R$5,827
$2,293Rp 40.4M
-50.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Varginha
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$441R$2,259
$167Rp 2.9M
163.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10
13.78
-27.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Varginha: September 6, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $140 in Varginha and $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Varginha pays 164% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $23.00 in Varginha vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $159 vs $294 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 92% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 164% higher in Varginha, 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 compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $140 in Varginha versus $1,114 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $209 in Varginha versus $494 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 84% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
At $718 in Varginha versus $1,378 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 $718 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 92% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.