Cost of Living Comparison Between Worcester, MA and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Worcester, MA and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,896 in Worcester, MA versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,097 in Worcester, MA versus $2,348 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,298 in Worcester, MA versus $3,327 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Worcester, MA is roughly 112% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Worcester, MA 112% above, Ubud, Bali 0% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Worcester, MA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.43 $22.43
$3.44 Rp 60.9K
552.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.4 $72.4
$36.31 Rp 643.0K
99.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.24 $12.24
$5.71 Rp 101.0K
114.36%
Cappuccino
$5.11 $5.11
$2.67 Rp 47.3K
91.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$1.75 Rp 31.0K
39.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 $1.66
$0.87 Rp 15.4K
90.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.83 $5.83
$2.95 Rp 52.3K
97.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91 $6.91
$4.52 Rp 80.0K
52.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Worcester, MA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 $1.18
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
-27.16%
White Bread (500g)
$3.69 $3.69
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
58.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.96 $4.96
$1.11 Rp 19.6K
346.85%
Eggs
$3.77 $3.77
$2.20 Rp 39.0K
71.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.42 $19.42
$17.69 Rp 313.3K
9.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.03 $11.03
$4.10 Rp 72.5K
169.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.26 $20.26
$12.18 Rp 215.6K
66.34%
Apples (1kg)
$3.78 $3.78
$3.71 Rp 65.6K
1.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.59 Rp 28.1K
-8.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.50 $3.50
$2.28 Rp 40.4K
53.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.74 $4.74
$1.95 Rp 34.6K
143.08%
Potato (1kg)
$2.84 $2.84
$1.91 Rp 33.7K
48.69%
Onion (1kg)
$3.16 $3.16
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
35.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.01 Rp 17.8K
75.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.59 $1.59
$0.55 Rp 9,773
189.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.04 $13.04
$2.23 Rp 39.5K
484.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.83 $11.83
$23.07 Rp 408.6K
-48.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 $1.68
$2.42 Rp 42.8K
-30.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38 $3.38
$3.00 Rp 53.1K
12.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Worcester, MA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.27 Rp 4,814
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.98 Rp 159.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.14 $5.14
$0.48 Rp 8,566
970.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.35 $2.35
$0.43 Rp 7,679
446.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.84 $35.84
$5.64 Rp 99.9K
535.46%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
28.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7K $35.7K
$24.9K Rp 441.7M
42.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K $25.1K
$31.7K Rp 561.5M
-20.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Worcester, MA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$195 $195
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
138.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$55.0 $55.0
$6.49 Rp 115.0K
746.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.8 $61.8
$18.77 Rp 332.4K
229.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Worcester, MA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.08 $29.08
$56.9 Rp 1.0M
-48.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.78 $29.78
$18.73 Rp 331.7K
59.00%
Cinema Ticket
$16.45 $16.45
$4.54 Rp 80.4K
262.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Worcester, MA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,725 $1,725
$481 Rp 8.5M
258.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$43.6K $43.6K
$5,711 Rp 101.1M
663.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Worcester, MA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.81 $47.81
$45.52 Rp 806.0K
5.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.34 $34.34
$35.88 Rp 635.4K
-4.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.8 $91.8
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
14.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
84.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Worcester, MA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,912 $1,912
$1,115 Rp 19.7M
71.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,611 $1,611
$698 Rp 12.4M
130.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,944 $2,944
$3,637 Rp 64.4M
-19.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,439 $2,439
$1,737 Rp 30.8M
40.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,940 $2,940
$2,784 Rp 49.3M
5.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,783 $2,783
$2,290 Rp 40.5M
21.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Worcester, MA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,222 $4,222
$168 Rp 3.0M
2412.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.05
13.78
-56.10%

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

Last update for Worcester, MA: September 12, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,912 in Worcester, MA and $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Worcester, MA pays 2413% 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: $72.0 in Worcester, MA vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $403 vs $295 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
Worcester, MA vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Worcester, MA or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 112% lower than in Worcester, MA. 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 Worcester, MA or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 2413% higher in Worcester, MA, 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 Worcester, MA compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,912 in Worcester, MA versus $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Worcester, MA or in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Worcester, MA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Worcester, MA compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $2,896 per month in Worcester, MA versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali – a 112% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Worcester, MA or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,896 in Worcester, MA, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Worcester, MA. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Worcester, MA or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,368 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Worcester, MA compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Worcester, MA 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 112% less than in Worcester, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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