🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $615 in Vung Tau versus $1,379 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $999 in Vung Tau versus $2,363 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,383 in Vung Tau versus $3,347 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Vung Tau costs roughly 55% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊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
$1.89₫49.2K
$3.31Rp 58.9K
-42.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.16₫395.6K
$39.08Rp 694.5K
-61.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.81₫99.4K
$5.62Rp 99.8K
-32.21%
Cappuccino
$1.81₫47.2K
$2.64Rp 46.9K
-31.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40₫10.5K
$1.58Rp 28.2K
-74.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31₫7,977
$0.71Rp 12.6K
-56.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.74₫19.3K
$2.73Rp 48.5K
-72.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06₫27.7K
$4.32Rp 76.8K
-75.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vung Tau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32₫34.6K
$1.54Rp 27.4K
-14.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.07₫27.9K
$2.30Rp 40.8K
-53.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.89₫23.3K
$1.03Rp 18.3K
-13.59%
Eggs
$1.54₫40.2K
$2.12Rp 37.7K
-27.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.66₫121.6K
$17.30Rp 307.5K
-73.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.68₫96.1K
$4.03Rp 71.6K
-8.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.73₫253.8K
$12.42Rp 220.8K
-21.66%
Apples(1kg)
$3.08₫80.3K
$3.70Rp 65.7K
-16.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22₫31.9K
$1.62Rp 28.7K
-24.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.68₫17.7K
$2.27Rp 40.3K
-70.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.19₫31.2K
$1.99Rp 35.4K
-40.20%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13₫29.4K
$1.83Rp 32.5K
-38.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.14₫29.8K
$2.25Rp 40.1K
-49.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.59₫15.3K
$1.04Rp 18.6K
-43.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46₫12.0K
$0.56Rp 10.0K
-17.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.20₫31.3K
$2.22Rp 39.5K
-45.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.93₫311.5K
$23.22Rp 412.7K
-48.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.81₫21.1K
$2.39Rp 42.5K
-66.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96₫24.9K
$2.87Rp 51.1K
-66.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Vung Tau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.25Rp 4,416
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$7.17Rp 127.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.69₫17.9K
$0.46Rp 8,163
50.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56₫14.5K
$0.46Rp 8,235
21.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.12₫29.3K
$5.70Rp 101.2K
-80.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.86₫22.5K
$0.76Rp 13.6K
13.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K₫781.4M
$24.6KRp 436.7M
21.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7K₫775.8M
$31.0KRp 551.5M
-4.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vung Tau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$47.32₫1.2M
$82.2Rp 1.5M
-42.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.03₫157.5K
$6.33Rp 112.5K
-4.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.01₫208.9K
$18.54Rp 329.6K
-56.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vung Tau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$16.76₫437.4K
$56.1Rp 996.2K
-70.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.20₫240.1K
$18.41Rp 327.2K
-50.03%
Cinema Ticket
$3.41₫88.9K
$4.26Rp 75.8K
-19.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vung Tau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$115₫3.0M
$489Rp 8.7M
-76.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,741₫254.2M
$5,793Rp 103.0M
68.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vung Tau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.63₫538.5K
$45.98Rp 817.3K
-55.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.46₫507.8K
$35.86Rp 637.4K
-45.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.0₫2.4M
$79.5Rp 1.4M
15.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.5₫1.7M
$80.9Rp 1.4M
-17.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vung Tau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$291₫7.6M
$1,144Rp 20.3M
-74.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$200₫5.2M
$692Rp 12.3M
-71.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$739₫19.3M
$3,532Rp 62.8M
-79.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$498₫13.0M
$1,709Rp 30.4M
-70.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,444₫194.3M
$2,785Rp 49.5M
167.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,333₫113.1M
$2,261Rp 40.2M
91.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vung Tau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$583₫15.2M
$169Rp 3.0M
244.33%
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: August 16, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $291 in Vung Tau and $1,144 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Vung Tau pays 244% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $15.00 in Vung Tau vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $170 vs $293 per month, with Vung Tau 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
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 124% 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 244% 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: $291 in Vung Tau versus $1,144 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 72% 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 $615 per month in Vung Tau versus $1,379 in Ubud, Bali – a 124% 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 $615 in Vung Tau versus $1,379 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 $615 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 124% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.