Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Yala and Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Yala: $895 a month against $1,229 in Bali, rent and utilities included – about $4,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Yala
🇹🇭 Thailand
$895
/mo nomad
Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,229
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Yala and in Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Yala and in Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $895 per month in Yala vs $1,229 in Bali, rent included.

  • Yala $895
  • Bali $1,229

A couple spends around $1,487 per month in Yala vs $2,053 in Bali, rent included.

  • Yala $1,487
  • Bali $2,053

A family of three spends $2,079 per month in Yala vs $2,877 in Bali, rent included.

  • Yala $2,079
  • Bali $2,877

Yala is about 27% cheaper than Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Yala and Bali are more affordable than the global median – Yala 34% lower, Bali 9% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yala
Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.51 ฿50.3
$2.75 Rp 49.5K
-45.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.70 ฿825
$29.09 Rp 523.7K
-15.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.73 ฿225
$4.66 Rp 83.9K
44.42%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ฿64.0
$2.31 Rp 41.5K
-16.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.76
$1.42 Rp 25.6K
-60.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 ฿5.42
$0.64 Rp 11.4K
-75.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.90 ฿63.4
$2.23 Rp 40.2K
-14.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 ฿110
$3.61 Rp 64.9K
-8.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yala
Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.54 ฿51.3
$1.43 Rp 25.8K
7.69%
White Bread (500g)
$1.22 ฿40.90
$2.11 Rp 38.0K
-42.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿44.51
$1.15 Rp 20.6K
15.65%
Eggs
$1.79 ฿59.7
$1.96 Rp 35.3K
-8.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.29 ฿611
$16.38 Rp 294.8K
11.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.96 ฿98.8
$3.60 Rp 64.7K
-17.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.26 ฿309
$11.70 Rp 210.6K
-20.85%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 ฿101
$3.48 Rp 62.7K
-13.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.14 ฿37.97
$1.46 Rp 26.4K
-21.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.09 ฿69.7
$2.21 Rp 39.8K
-5.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.95 ฿65.3
$1.90 Rp 34.3K
2.63%
Potato (1kg)
$1.57 ฿52.3
$1.72 Rp 30.9K
-8.72%
Onion (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.44
$2.19 Rp 39.4K
-55.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 ฿39.17
$1.00 Rp 17.9K
17.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.62
$0.51 Rp 9,256
3.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.87 ฿163
$2.08 Rp 37.4K
134.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.33 ฿546
$21.20 Rp 381.6K
-22.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 ฿54.8
$2.18 Rp 39.2K
-24.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 ฿86.2
$2.88 Rp 51.9K
-10.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Yala
Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.61 ฿20.44
$0.23 Rp 4,137
165.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.27 Rp 148.8K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.12 ฿37.42
$0.45 Rp 8,030
148.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.31 ฿43.70
$0.47 Rp 8,471
178.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.43 ฿215
$5.42 Rp 97.6K
18.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.42 ฿47.43
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
71.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5K ฿887.0K
$24.0K Rp 431.7M
10.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K ฿887.1K
$31.9K Rp 573.5M
-16.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yala
Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.4 ฿2,853
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
7.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.99 ฿401
$6.46 Rp 116.3K
85.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.46 ฿650
$18.69 Rp 336.4K
4.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yala
Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.07 ฿1,473
$45.96 Rp 827.2K
-4.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.69 ฿458
$14.87 Rp 267.7K
-7.94%
Cinema Ticket
$6.63 ฿222
$3.67 Rp 66.1K
80.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yala
Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$589 ฿19.7K
$443 Rp 8.0M
33.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿376.2K
$5,164 Rp 93.0M
117.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yala
Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.88 ฿1,533
$43.58 Rp 784.5K
5.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.27 ฿1,079
$32.98 Rp 593.7K
-2.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.6 ฿2,592
$75.0 Rp 1.3M
3.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.9 ฿2,704
$75.0 Rp 1.3M
7.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yala
Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$475 ฿15.9K
$975 Rp 17.5M
-51.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$289 ฿9,662
$593 Rp 10.7M
-51.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 ฿39.1K
$3,065 Rp 55.2M
-61.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$759 ฿25.4K
$1,463 Rp 26.3M
-48.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,762 ฿58.9K
$2,391 Rp 43.0M
-26.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,405 ฿46.9K
$1,945 Rp 35.0M
-27.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yala
Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$216 Rp 3.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.57
13.78
-59.58%

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

Last update for Yala: October 18, 2026

Last update for Bali: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Yala
$289
Bali
$593 105% $304
Groceries & Markets
Yala
$241
Bali
$273 13.3% $32
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yala
$117
Bali
$105 10.5% $12
Clothing & Footwear
Yala
$106
Bali
$102 4.3% $4.5
Eating Out
Yala
$74
Bali
$90 21.6% $16
Sport & Entertainment
Yala
$57
Bali
$53 7% $4
Getting Around
Yala
$10 *
Bali
$12 18.6% $1.9

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Yala versus $975 in Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Yala versus $29.00 in Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $241 vs $273 – making Yala the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Yala
🇮🇩 Bali
🕒 Local time
04:19 4:19 AM
05:19 5:19 AM
1 h ahead of Yala
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
60,617
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to THB – Thai Baht Converter

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Yala Bali 2,280 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Yala
  • Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Yala vs Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Yala or Bali?
Bali costs about 37% more than Yala, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Yala and in Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,343 per month in Yala and $1,843 in Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Yala or Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Yala, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Yala compared to Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $895 in Yala and $1,229 in Bali. That's a gap of about 37%.
How do childcare costs compare in Yala and in Bali?
Kindergarten costs $589 per month in Yala and $443 in Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Yala or in Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Yala, where all-in costs run around $895, than in Bali at $1,229. In Yala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Yala or Bali?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Yala costs $895 versus $1,229 in Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Yala compared to Bali?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Yala or to Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Yala. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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