Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Zamboanga and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Zamboanga: $734 a month against $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $7,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Zamboanga, Philippines
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Zamboanga
🇵🇭 Philippines
$734
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $734 in Zamboanga versus $1,349 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Zamboanga $734
  • Ubud, Bali $1,349

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,106 in Zamboanga versus $2,305 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Zamboanga $1,106
  • Ubud, Bali $2,305

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,478 in Zamboanga versus $3,261 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Zamboanga $1,478
  • Ubud, Bali $3,261

Living in Zamboanga costs roughly 46% less than in Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zamboanga
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.31 ₱82.9
$3.32 Rp 60.3K
-60.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.01 ₱1,015
$35.64 Rp 647.3K
-55.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.32 ₱210
$5.53 Rp 100.5K
-39.96%
Cappuccino
$2.01 ₱127
$2.72 Rp 49.4K
-26.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 ₱53.2
$1.70 Rp 30.9K
-50.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ₱25.13
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
-47.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ₱90.9
$2.65 Rp 48.2K
-46.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 ₱129
$4.38 Rp 79.6K
-53.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zamboanga
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.78 ₱113
$1.49 Rp 27.1K
19.46%
White Bread (500g)
$1.41 ₱89.3
$2.28 Rp 41.3K
-38.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.10 ₱69.6
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
-7.56%
Eggs
$1.50 ₱95.1
$2.04 Rp 37.0K
-26.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.18 ₱645
$17.70 Rp 321.5K
-42.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.98 ₱252
$3.96 Rp 72.0K
0.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.28 ₱208
$12.19 Rp 221.4K
-73.09%
Apples (1kg)
$3.11 ₱197
$3.66 Rp 66.4K
-15.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 ₱74.8
$1.52 Rp 27.6K
-22.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.72 ₱236
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
66.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.13 ₱71.9
$1.97 Rp 35.8K
-42.64%
Potato (1kg)
$1.22 ₱77.6
$1.85 Rp 33.6K
-34.05%
Onion (1kg)
$2.50 ₱159
$2.42 Rp 44.0K
3.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.86 ₱54.7
$0.99 Rp 18.0K
-13.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ₱31.28
$0.51 Rp 9,324
-3.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.66 ₱169
$2.22 Rp 40.4K
19.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.06 ₱257
$22.24 Rp 403.9K
-81.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 ₱81.4
$2.26 Rp 41.0K
-43.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 ₱124
$2.97 Rp 53.9K
-34.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Zamboanga
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.21 ₱13.19
$0.25 Rp 4,559
-16.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.20 ₱900
$7.82 Rp 142.1K
81.59%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.75 ₱47.76
$0.44 Rp 7,982
70.45%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.22 ₱14.03
$0.43 Rp 7,811
-48.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.62 ₱103
$5.41 Rp 98.2K
-70.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.00 ₱63.6
$0.82 Rp 15.0K
21.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.0K ₱1.3M
$23.8K Rp 433.0M
-16.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.5K ₱1.1M
$31.7K Rp 576.6M
-44.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zamboanga
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$118 ₱7,496
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
49.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.99 ₱1,013
$6.45 Rp 117.1K
147.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.02 ₱2,980
$18.58 Rp 337.4K
153.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zamboanga
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.45 ₱2,247
$49.48 Rp 898.7K
-28.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.16 ₱327
$17.65 Rp 320.5K
-70.76%
Cinema Ticket
$5.19 ₱329
$4.27 Rp 77.6K
21.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zamboanga
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$129 ₱8,191
$491 Rp 8.9M
-73.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,770 ₱492.5K
$5,674 Rp 103.0M
36.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zamboanga
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.17 ₱2,039
$44.64 Rp 810.7K
-27.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.70 ₱1,312
$34.95 Rp 634.8K
-40.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.3 ₱4,389
$79.9 Rp 1.5M
-13.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.4 ₱3,508
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
-30.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zamboanga
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$254 ₱16.1K
$1,125 Rp 20.4M
-77.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$167 ₱10.6K
$671 Rp 12.2M
-75.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$334 ₱21.1K
$3,565 Rp 64.7M
-90.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$350 ₱22.2K
$1,723 Rp 31.3M
-79.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,716 ₱172.2K
$2,732 Rp 49.6M
-0.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,102 ₱69.8K
$2,284 Rp 41.5M
-51.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zamboanga
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$186 ₱11.8K
$164 Rp 3.0M
13.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.92
13.78
-49.78%

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

Last update for Zamboanga: October 27, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Zamboanga
$182
Ubud, Bali
$288 58.2% $106
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zamboanga
$181
Ubud, Bali
$104 42.6% $77
Accommodation & Living
Zamboanga
$167
Ubud, Bali
$672 303% $505
Clothing & Footwear
Zamboanga
$80
Ubud, Bali
$108 34.6% $28
Eating Out
Zamboanga
$61
Ubud, Bali
$108 77.5% $47
Sport & Entertainment
Zamboanga
$46
Ubud, Bali
$58 26.6% $12
Getting Around
Zamboanga
$17
Ubud, Bali
$11 32.4% $5.5

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $254 in Zamboanga and $1,125 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zamboanga pays 14% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $16 in Zamboanga vs $36 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $182 vs $288 per month, with Zamboanga cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Zamboanga
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
11:20 11:20 AM
11:20 11:20 AM
Same time as Zamboanga
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 63.38 PHP (100 PHP = 1.58 USD). 1 EUR = 71.04 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 18,161 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,355 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.91 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Zamboanga Ubud, Bali 1,870 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Zamboanga
  • 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
Zamboanga vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Zamboanga or Ubud, Bali?
Zamboanga wins on cost – living expenses run 46% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Zamboanga the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Zamboanga or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 14% higher in Zamboanga, 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 Zamboanga compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $254 in Zamboanga versus $1,125 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Zamboanga and in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $129 in Zamboanga versus $491 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 Zamboanga or in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 58% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Zamboanga or in Ubud, Bali?
At $734 in Zamboanga versus $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Zamboanga but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Zamboanga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Zamboanga or Ubud, Bali?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Zamboanga vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?