Cost of Living Comparison Between Vung Tau and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Vung Tau and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $597 in Vung Tau versus $1,394 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $960 in Vung Tau versus $2,551 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,324 in Vung Tau versus $3,708 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Vung Tau costs roughly 57% 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 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vung Tau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.97 ₫51.7K
$3.40 Rp 60.2K
-42.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.83 ₫389.2K
$32.38 Rp 573.6K
-54.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.65 ₫122.0K
$5.00 Rp 88.6K
-7.00%
Cappuccino
$1.76 ₫46.3K
$2.82 Rp 50.0K
-37.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 ₫12.7K
$1.38 Rp 24.4K
-65.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ₫7,912
$0.73 Rp 13.0K
-58.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.66 ₫17.4K
$2.98 Rp 52.8K
-77.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51 ₫39.6K
$3.97 Rp 70.3K
-61.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vung Tau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 ₫38.4K
$1.79 Rp 31.8K
-18.44%
White Bread (500g)
$0.97 ₫25.5K
$2.46 Rp 43.7K
-60.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.73 ₫19.2K
$1.20 Rp 21.2K
-39.17%
Eggs
$1.45 ₫38.1K
$2.39 Rp 42.3K
-39.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.88 ₫180.4K
$14.40 Rp 255.1K
-52.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.67 ₫96.2K
$4.28 Rp 75.9K
-14.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.88 ₫101.9K
$11.82 Rp 209.4K
-67.17%
Apples (1kg)
$2.33 ₫61.1K
$3.78 Rp 67.0K
-38.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.08 ₫28.5K
$1.63 Rp 28.9K
-33.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.92 ₫24.1K
$2.80 Rp 49.6K
-67.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.01 ₫26.6K
$2.26 Rp 40.0K
-55.31%
Potato (1kg)
$1.02 ₫26.9K
$2.00 Rp 35.3K
-49.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.04 ₫27.3K
$2.21 Rp 39.2K
-52.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.57 ₫14.9K
$1.07 Rp 18.9K
-46.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 ₫13.1K
$0.76 Rp 13.5K
-34.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.28 ₫33.5K
$3.13 Rp 55.4K
-59.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.55 ₫329.4K
$23.81 Rp 421.9K
-47.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.83 ₫21.7K
$2.84 Rp 50.3K
-70.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 ₫29.6K
$2.78 Rp 49.2K
-59.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Vung Tau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 ₫9,009
$0.27 Rp 4,726
25.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.39 ₫167.8K
$8.37 Rp 148.2K
-23.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.71 ₫18.5K
$0.45 Rp 8,034
57.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.62 ₫16.2K
$0.43 Rp 7,578
44.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.05 ₫80.2K
$5.98 Rp 105.9K
-49.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 ₫21.4K
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
1.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K ₫988.6M
$25.8K Rp 457.2M
45.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K ₫879.6M
$31.8K Rp 563.4M
5.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vung Tau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.39 ₫1.0M
$80.7 Rp 1.4M
-52.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.68 ₫122.9K
$4.14 Rp 73.3K
13.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.47 ₫195.9K
$24.12 Rp 427.2K
-69.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vung Tau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$15.11 ₫396.6K
$97.8 Rp 1.7M
-84.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.65 ₫200.8K
$6.64 Rp 117.7K
15.21%
Cinema Ticket
$3.08 ₫80.7K
$4.04 Rp 71.5K
-23.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vung Tau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$278 ₫7.3M
$297 Rp 5.3M
-6.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.7K ₫360.6M
$6,590 Rp 116.7M
108.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vung Tau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.47 ₫510.8K
$55.1 Rp 976.8K
-64.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.03 ₫551.7K
$38.51 Rp 682.1K
-45.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.5 ₫2.6M
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
14.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.8 ₫2.3M
$78.0 Rp 1.4M
12.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vung Tau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$260 ₫6.8M
$985 Rp 17.5M
-73.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$186 ₫4.9M
$665 Rp 11.8M
-72.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$686 ₫18.0M
$3,446 Rp 61.0M
-80.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$420 ₫11.0M
$2,042 Rp 36.2M
-79.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,381 ₫193.7M
$2,829 Rp 50.1M
160.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,378 ₫114.9M
$2,282 Rp 40.4M
91.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vung Tau
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$564 ₫14.8M
$169 Rp 3.0M
233.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.14
13.28
-31.17%

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

Last update for Vung Tau: June 16, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $260 in Vung Tau and $985 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vung Tau pays 233% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $155 vs $299 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 133% 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 Ubud, Bali?
Vung Tau pays 233% 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 Vung Tau vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $260 in Vung Tau versus $985 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Vung Tau and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $278 in Vung Tau versus $297 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 Vung Tau or Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 93% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Vung Tau or Ubud, Bali?
At $597 in Vung Tau versus $1,394 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 $597 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 133% 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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