Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Yala and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Yala: $895 a month against $1,353 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $5,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Yala
🇹🇭 Thailand
$895
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,353
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Yala and in Ubud, 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 Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $895 in Yala versus $1,353 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Yala $895
  • Ubud, Bali $1,353

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,487 in Yala versus $2,297 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Yala $1,487
  • Ubud, Bali $2,297

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,079 in Yala versus $3,241 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Yala $2,079
  • Ubud, Bali $3,241

Living in Yala costs roughly 34% less than in Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Yala is 34% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.51 ฿50.3
$3.23 Rp 58.1K
-53.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.70 ฿825
$34.88 Rp 627.8K
-29.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.73 ฿225
$5.70 Rp 102.5K
18.07%
Cappuccino
$1.92 ฿64.0
$2.62 Rp 47.1K
-26.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 ฿18.76
$1.72 Rp 31.0K
-67.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 ฿5.42
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
-80.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.90 ฿63.4
$2.65 Rp 47.7K
-28.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30 ฿110
$4.37 Rp 78.6K
-24.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.54 ฿51.3
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
-1.91%
White Bread (500g)
$1.22 ฿40.90
$2.19 Rp 39.5K
-44.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 ฿44.51
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
12.71%
Eggs
$1.79 ฿59.7
$2.16 Rp 38.8K
-17.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.29 ฿611
$17.65 Rp 317.7K
3.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.96 ฿98.8
$3.78 Rp 68.0K
-21.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.26 ฿309
$11.95 Rp 215.1K
-22.51%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 ฿101
$3.60 Rp 64.8K
-16.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.14 ฿37.97
$1.59 Rp 28.6K
-28.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.09 ฿69.7
$2.31 Rp 41.6K
-9.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.95 ฿65.3
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
2.09%
Potato (1kg)
$1.57 ฿52.3
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
-11.80%
Onion (1kg)
$0.97 ฿32.44
$2.33 Rp 41.9K
-58.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 ฿39.17
$1.00 Rp 18.0K
17.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ฿17.62
$0.53 Rp 9,509
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.87 ฿163
$2.29 Rp 41.1K
112.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.33 ฿546
$22.07 Rp 397.3K
-26.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.64 ฿54.8
$2.35 Rp 42.2K
-30.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 ฿86.2
$2.98 Rp 53.6K
-13.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Yala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.61 ฿20.44
$0.23 Rp 4,112
165.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.90 Rp 160.2K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.12 ฿37.42
$0.47 Rp 8,466
138.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.31 ฿43.70
$0.43 Rp 7,737
204.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.43 ฿215
$5.47 Rp 98.4K
17.55%
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
$23.9K Rp 429.8M
11.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K ฿887.1K
$32.8K Rp 590.1M
-19.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.4 ฿2,853
$80.0 Rp 1.4M
6.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.99 ฿401
$6.56 Rp 118.1K
82.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.46 ฿650
$18.60 Rp 334.8K
4.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.07 ฿1,473
$54.1 Rp 974.1K
-18.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.69 ฿458
$18.28 Rp 329.0K
-25.11%
Cinema Ticket
$6.63 ฿222
$4.25 Rp 76.5K
56.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$589 ฿19.7K
$493 Rp 8.9M
19.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.3K ฿376.2K
$5,597 Rp 100.7M
101.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.88 ฿1,533
$45.58 Rp 820.4K
0.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.27 ฿1,079
$34.96 Rp 629.4K
-7.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.6 ฿2,592
$77.7 Rp 1.4M
-0.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.9 ฿2,704
$78.5 Rp 1.4M
3.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$475 ฿15.9K
$1,131 Rp 20.4M
-58.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$289 ฿9,662
$673 Rp 12.1M
-57.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,169 ฿39.1K
$3,613 Rp 65.0M
-67.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$759 ฿25.4K
$1,702 Rp 30.6M
-55.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,762 ฿58.9K
$2,717 Rp 48.9M
-35.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,405 ฿46.9K
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
-37.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yala
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$166 Rp 3.0M
-
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 Ubud, Bali: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Yala
$289
Ubud, Bali
$673 133% $384
Groceries & Markets
Yala
$241
Ubud, Bali
$287 19.1% $46
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yala
$117
Ubud, Bali
$105 10% $12
Clothing & Footwear
Yala
$106
Ubud, Bali
$107 0.1% $0.1
Eating Out
Yala
$74
Ubud, Bali
$106 43.4% $32
Sport & Entertainment
Yala
$57
Ubud, Bali
$63 9.2% $5.3
Getting Around
Yala
$10 *
Ubud, Bali
$12 23.1% $2.3

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Yala and $1,131 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $25.00 in Yala vs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $287 per month, with Yala cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇹🇭 Yala
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
17:50 5:50 PM
18:50 6:50 PM
1 h ahead of Yala
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
60,617
74,800
💱 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 Ubud, Bali 2,280 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Yala
  • Ubud, 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 Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Yala or Ubud, Bali?
Yala wins on cost – living expenses run 51% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Yala the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Yala and in Ubud, Bali?
You'd need roughly $1,343 in Yala and $2,030 in Ubud, Bali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Yala compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $475 in Yala versus $1,131 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Yala or in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Yala compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $895 per month in Yala versus $1,353 in Ubud, Bali – a 51% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Yala or in Ubud, Bali?
At $895 in Yala versus $1,353 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Yala but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Yala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Yala or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Yala delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $895 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Yala hard to pass up.
How safe is Yala compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Yala 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 Yala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% 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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