Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Vung Tau and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Vung Tau: $608 a month against $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $9,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Vung Tau
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$608
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,368
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Vung Tau and in Ubud, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Vung Tau and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $608 in Vung Tau versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Vung Tau $608
  • Ubud, Bali $1,368

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,015 in Vung Tau versus $2,314 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Vung Tau $1,015
  • Ubud, Bali $2,314

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,423 in Vung Tau versus $3,260 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Vung Tau $1,423
  • Ubud, Bali $3,260

Living in Vung Tau costs roughly 56% less than in Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Vung Tau is 55% below, Ubud, Bali is 1% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vung Tau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.95 ₫50.5K
$3.33 Rp 59.8K
-41.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.66 ₫405.5K
$35.18 Rp 631.2K
-55.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.75 ₫97.0K
$5.80 Rp 104.1K
-35.34%
Cappuccino
$1.84 ₫47.6K
$2.73 Rp 49.0K
-32.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 ₫10.6K
$1.64 Rp 29.4K
-75.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ₫8,662
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
-60.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.78 ₫20.2K
$2.70 Rp 48.4K
-71.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 ₫26.3K
$4.30 Rp 77.1K
-76.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vung Tau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 ₫36.3K
$1.50 Rp 27.0K
-6.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.11 ₫28.7K
$2.30 Rp 41.2K
-51.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.89 ₫23.1K
$1.18 Rp 21.1K
-24.58%
Eggs
$1.65 ₫42.8K
$2.14 Rp 38.5K
-22.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.79 ₫124.0K
$17.48 Rp 313.6K
-72.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.60 ₫93.1K
$4.03 Rp 72.3K
-10.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.44 ₫244.4K
$12.23 Rp 219.4K
-22.81%
Apples (1kg)
$3.06 ₫79.3K
$3.55 Rp 63.7K
-13.80%
Banana (1kg)
$1.24 ₫32.1K
$1.57 Rp 28.2K
-21.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.63 ₫16.3K
$2.24 Rp 40.1K
-71.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.29 ₫33.5K
$1.93 Rp 34.6K
-33.16%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 ₫29.8K
$1.88 Rp 33.8K
-38.83%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 ₫30.8K
$2.29 Rp 41.1K
-48.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.60 ₫15.7K
$0.99 Rp 17.8K
-39.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 ₫11.0K
$0.53 Rp 9,445
-18.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.20 ₫31.1K
$2.28 Rp 41.0K
-47.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.74 ₫329.7K
$23.01 Rp 412.9K
-44.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 ₫21.1K
$2.34 Rp 42.0K
-65.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 ₫26.2K
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
-65.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Vung Tau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.24 Rp 4,301
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.82 Rp 158.2K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.70 ₫18.1K
$0.48 Rp 8,657
45.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.59 ₫15.3K
$0.46 Rp 8,207
28.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.15 ₫29.7K
$5.45 Rp 97.9K
-78.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 ₫20.7K
$0.88 Rp 15.9K
-9.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K ₫782.2M
$24.6K Rp 440.8M
22.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.4K ₫811.9M
$31.2K Rp 559.6M
0.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vung Tau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.69 ₫1.2M
$83.0 Rp 1.5M
-43.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.90 ₫152.7K
$6.45 Rp 115.7K
-8.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.99 ₫206.9K
$18.57 Rp 333.1K
-56.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vung Tau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$17.04 ₫441.1K
$55.8 Rp 1.0M
-69.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.41 ₫243.6K
$18.11 Rp 324.9K
-48.04%
Cinema Ticket
$3.54 ₫91.6K
$4.38 Rp 78.6K
-19.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vung Tau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$117 ₫3.0M
$493 Rp 8.8M
-76.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,586 ₫248.2M
$5,754 Rp 103.2M
66.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vung Tau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.13 ₫547.1K
$46.19 Rp 828.8K
-54.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.89 ₫489.1K
$35.33 Rp 634.0K
-46.53%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.2 ₫2.4M
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
16.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.9 ₫1.8M
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
-13.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vung Tau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$304 ₫7.9M
$1,142 Rp 20.5M
-73.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$199 ₫5.2M
$676 Rp 12.1M
-70.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$752 ₫19.5M
$3,503 Rp 62.9M
-78.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$504 ₫13.0M
$1,700 Rp 30.5M
-70.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,301 ₫189.0M
$2,784 Rp 50.0M
162.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,367 ₫113.1M
$2,241 Rp 40.2M
94.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vung Tau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$572 ₫14.8M
$165 Rp 3.0M
247.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.64
13.78
-37.30%

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

Last update for Vung Tau: October 10, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Vung Tau
$199
Ubud, Bali
$676 240% $477
Groceries & Markets
Vung Tau
$173
Ubud, Bali
$290 68.2% $118
Clothing & Footwear
Vung Tau
$90
Ubud, Bali
$108 19.4% $17
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vung Tau
$61
Ubud, Bali
$108 78.3% $47
Eating Out
Vung Tau
$58
Ubud, Bali
$109 88.1% $51
Sport & Entertainment
Vung Tau
$24
Ubud, Bali
$65 168% $40
Getting Around
Vung Tau
$3.7 *
Ubud, Bali
$13 243% $8.9

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $304 in Vung Tau and $1,142 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vung Tau pays 247% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $16.00 in Vung Tau vs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $173 vs $290 per month, with Vung Tau cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇻🇳 Vung Tau
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
18:48 6:48 PM
19:48 7:48 PM
1 h ahead of Vung Tau
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
380,000
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to VND – Vietnamese Dong Converter

Vietnamese Dong exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 25,889 VND (100,000 VND = 3.86 USD). 1 EUR = 29,108 VND (100,000 VND = 3.44 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 17,943 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.57 USD). 1 EUR = 20,174 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.96 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Vung Tau Ubud, Bali 2,280 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Vung Tau
  • Ubud, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Vung Tau vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Vung Tau or Ubud, Bali?
Vung Tau wins on cost – living expenses run 125% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Vung Tau the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Vung Tau or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 247% higher in Vung Tau, 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 Vung Tau compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $304 in Vung Tau versus $1,142 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Vung Tau or in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 68% 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 Vung Tau compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $608 per month in Vung Tau versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali – a 125% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Vung Tau or in Ubud, Bali?
At $608 in Vung Tau versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Vung Tau but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Vung Tau the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Vung Tau or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Vung Tau delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $608 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Vung Tau hard to pass up.
How safe is Vung Tau compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Vung Tau 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 Vung Tau gentler on the wallet – expenses run 125% 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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