Cost of Living Comparison Between Wakayama and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Wakayama and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,362 in Wakayama versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,105 in Wakayama versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,848 in Wakayama versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Wakayama costs roughly 3% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Wakayama 2% above, Ubud, Bali 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wakayama
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.05 ¥1,146
$3.45 Rp 62.1K
104.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.04 ¥5,530
$32.34 Rp 581.1K
5.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.40 ¥1,041
$4.84 Rp 87.1K
32.23%
Cappuccino
$3.12 ¥508
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
13.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20 ¥195
$1.38 Rp 24.9K
-13.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 ¥113
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
-6.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.38 ¥550
$2.99 Rp 53.8K
13.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 ¥341
$3.85 Rp 69.2K
-45.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wakayama
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 ¥261
$1.74 Rp 31.2K
-7.47%
White Bread (500g)
$1.78 ¥289
$2.46 Rp 44.2K
-27.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.10 ¥828
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
335.90%
Eggs
$2.45 ¥399
$2.43 Rp 43.7K
0.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.43 ¥2,832
$14.50 Rp 260.6K
20.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.69 ¥1,249
$4.35 Rp 78.2K
76.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.75 ¥2,559
$11.98 Rp 215.3K
31.47%
Apples (1kg)
$9.04 ¥1,469
$3.72 Rp 66.8K
143.01%
Banana (1kg)
$2.81 ¥457
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
72.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.78 ¥777
$2.74 Rp 49.3K
74.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$9.67 ¥1,571
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
331.70%
Potato (1kg)
$3.86 ¥627
$1.92 Rp 34.5K
101.04%
Onion (1kg)
$2.56 ¥416
$2.28 Rp 40.9K
12.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.32 ¥214
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
24.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 ¥235
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
101.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.39 ¥552
$3.29 Rp 59.0K
3.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.02 ¥1,465
$23.19 Rp 416.8K
-61.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 ¥445
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
-1.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ¥375
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
-15.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Wakayama
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.65 ¥268
$0.27 Rp 4,786
511.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$55.9 ¥9,089
$8.11 Rp 145.7K
589.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.46 ¥562
$0.48 Rp 8,675
620.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.89 ¥469
$0.42 Rp 7,545
588.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.65 ¥2,869
$6.22 Rp 111.8K
183.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.19 ¥194
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
46.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9K ¥3.7M
$26.6K Rp 478.2M
-13.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K ¥2.7M
$32.2K Rp 578.5M
-48.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wakayama
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$138 ¥22.4K
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
76.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.61 ¥4,485
$4.07 Rp 73.1K
578.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.19 ¥5,555
$24.33 Rp 437.1K
40.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wakayama
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.3 ¥9,139
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
-42.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.96 ¥2,269
$6.34 Rp 113.9K
120.19%
Cinema Ticket
$12.64 ¥2,053
$3.99 Rp 71.6K
216.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wakayama
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$478 ¥77.6K
$305 Rp 5.5M
56.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.4K ¥1.9M
$6,642 Rp 119.4M
72.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wakayama
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.82 ¥7,607
$54.1 Rp 972.9K
-13.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.60 ¥5,297
$37.81 Rp 679.4K
-13.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$56.9 ¥9,245
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
-34.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.9 ¥15.1K
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
21.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wakayama
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$470 ¥76.3K
$992 Rp 17.8M
-52.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$330 ¥53.7K
$673 Rp 12.1M
-50.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$850 ¥138.0K
$3,375 Rp 60.7M
-74.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$670 ¥108.9K
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
-67.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,081 ¥663.1K
$2,805 Rp 50.4M
45.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,175 ¥353.3K
$2,227 Rp 40.0M
-2.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wakayama
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,832 ¥622.6K
$167 Rp 3.0M
2195.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
1.67
13.28
-87.42%

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

Last update for Wakayama: July 14, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $470 in Wakayama and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Wakayama pays 2195% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $34.00 in Wakayama vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $407 vs $297 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
Wakayama vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Wakayama or Ubud, Bali?
Wakayama wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Wakayama the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Wakayama or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 2195% higher in Wakayama, 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 Wakayama compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $470 in Wakayama versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Wakayama and in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $478 in Wakayama versus $305 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 Wakayama or in Ubud, Bali?
Shoppers in Ubud, Bali pay roughly 37% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Wakayama or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,362 in Wakayama versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Wakayama but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Wakayama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Wakayama or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Wakayama delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,362 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Wakayama hard to pass up.
How safe is Wakayama compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Wakayama 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 Wakayama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% 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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