Cost of Living Comparison Between Waco, TX and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Waco, TX and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,561 in Waco, TX versus $1,374 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,272 in Waco, TX versus $2,313 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,983 in Waco, TX versus $3,252 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Waco, TX is roughly 86% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Waco, TX 90% above, Ubud, Bali 2% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Waco, TX
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.17 $20.17
$3.32 Rp 59.6K
507.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.0 $61.0
$35.33 Rp 633.8K
72.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.36 $12.36
$5.33 Rp 95.7K
131.89%
Cappuccino
$5.49 $5.49
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
99.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 $1.79
$1.73 Rp 31.0K
3.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 $1.52
$0.80 Rp 14.3K
90.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.67 $6.67
$2.95 Rp 52.9K
126.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.54 $5.54
$4.44 Rp 79.6K
24.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Waco, TX
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.50 Rp 26.9K
-37.33%
White Bread (500g)
$3.24 $3.24
$2.30 Rp 41.2K
40.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.10 Rp 19.7K
83.64%
Eggs
$3.29 $3.29
$2.16 Rp 38.7K
52.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.76 $12.76
$17.09 Rp 306.5K
-25.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.16 $14.16
$3.88 Rp 69.6K
264.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.85 $11.85
$11.92 Rp 213.8K
-0.59%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 $3.84
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
7.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.58 Rp 28.4K
-28.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.94 $3.94
$2.36 Rp 42.4K
66.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.56 $3.56
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
80.71%
Potato (1kg)
$2.28 $2.28
$1.81 Rp 32.4K
25.97%
Onion (1kg)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.39 Rp 42.9K
7.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.79 $1.79
$1.02 Rp 18.3K
75.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 $1.02
$0.49 Rp 8,815
108.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.05 $9.05
$2.25 Rp 40.3K
302.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.83 $13.83
$22.30 Rp 400.0K
-37.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 $1.76
$2.37 Rp 42.5K
-25.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 $3.43
$2.90 Rp 51.9K
18.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Waco, TX
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.47 $1.47
$0.25 Rp 4,469
488.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.28 $40.28
$8.55 Rp 153.4K
371.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.78 $2.78
$0.44 Rp 7,927
531.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$0.42 Rp 7,575
292.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.62 $35.62
$5.66 Rp 101.6K
529.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 $0.85
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
4.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.9K $36.9K
$23.7K Rp 425.9M
55.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.9K $27.9K
$31.0K Rp 555.7M
-9.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Waco, TX
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$229 $229
$82.3 Rp 1.5M
178.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.3 $57.3
$6.30 Rp 113.0K
809.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$66.8 $66.8
$18.63 Rp 334.3K
258.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Waco, TX
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.46 $27.46
$54.7 Rp 981.8K
-49.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.45 Rp 330.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.79 $8.79
$4.24 Rp 76.0K
107.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Waco, TX
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$867 $867
$484 Rp 8.7M
79.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.8K $20.8K
$5,590 Rp 100.3M
272.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Waco, TX
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.62 $46.62
$45.77 Rp 821.1K
1.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.14 $43.14
$35.69 Rp 640.3K
20.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.7 $86.7
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
10.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.4 $93.4
$80.1 Rp 1.4M
16.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Waco, TX
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,265 $1,265
$1,147 Rp 20.6M
10.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,326 $1,326
$678 Rp 12.2M
95.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,539 $1,539
$3,504 Rp 62.9M
-56.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,331 $1,331
$1,688 Rp 30.3M
-21.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,948 $1,948
$2,788 Rp 50.0M
-30.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,912 $1,912
$2,257 Rp 40.5M
-15.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Waco, TX
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,227 $3,227
$165 Rp 3.0M
1855.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.13
13.78
-55.52%

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

Last update for Waco, TX: September 26, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,265 in Waco, TX and $1,147 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Waco, TX pays 1855% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $61.0 in Waco, TX vs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $342 vs $286 per month, with Ubud, Bali 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
Waco, TX vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Waco, TX or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 86% lower than in Waco, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Waco, TX or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 1855% higher in Waco, TX, 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 Waco, TX compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,265 in Waco, TX versus $1,147 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Waco, TX and in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $867 in Waco, TX versus $484 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 Waco, TX or in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Waco, TX. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Waco, TX or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,374 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,561 in Waco, TX, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Waco, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Waco, TX or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,374 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Waco, TX compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Waco, TX 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 Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in Waco, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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