Ubud
Ubud on a budget: cheap food, stays and free sights
Budget travellers in Ubud should plan Rp350,000–830,000 per day (about $22–50) for a homestay, warung meals, a scooter and one paid sight; that covers most people who eat local and walk the centre. You need more if you add day tours, yoga classes or a villa with a pool.
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GuideUbud
Key facts
- Backpacker day
- Rp350,000–830,000 per person (2026 estimate)
- Bed in a homestay or hostel
- Rp120,000–300,000 per night
- Warung meal
- Rp20,000–40,000 for nasi goreng or mie goreng
- Scooter rental
- Rp50,000–100,000 per day; bring an IDP and a helmet
- Free things to do
- Rice-field walks, the market, temple grounds, morning walks before traffic
- Cheapest monthscheck
- Low season roughly November–March outside Christmas and New Year; check current rates
- Bali tourist levy
- Rp150,000 per visit, paid once on arrival
Top picks
Ubud is one of the cheapest places on Bali to eat well and sleep simply, because the town still runs on warungs and family homestays rather than resort pricing. The money you save on food and a bed is best spent on one or two paid experiences, not on a long list of them.
Start with a homestay or hostel inside walking distance of the centre: Jalan Hanoman, Jalan Dewi Sita and the lanes off Jalan Raya Ubud. Then eat where locals eat, rent a scooter only if you are licensed and confident, and treat the rice fields and temple grounds as your free daily itinerary.
| Pick | Typical cost | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Homestay or hostel bed | Rp120,000–300,000 per night | Breakfast often included; walkable to the centre |
| Warung meal | Rp20,000–40,000 | Nasi goreng, mie goreng, nasi campur; cheapest full meal |
| Scooter rental | Rp50,000–100,000 per day | Cheaper than daily Grab rides if you cover several stops |
| Paid sight or temple | Rp50,000–150,000 | One per day keeps the budget intact |
| Free rice-field walk | Rp0 | Best before 08:00, before heat and traffic |
| Bintang in a bar | Rp50,000–80,000 | Imported alcohol is the fastest way to blow a budget |
2026 estimate, per person. Prices are higher in the centre and lower on the outskirts.
Prices and hours
A backpacker day in Ubud lands in the same band as the rest of Indonesia: roughly Rp350,000–830,000 per person, covering a bed, warung food, local transport and one paid sight. Two people sharing a room and a scooter sit at the bottom of that range; a solo traveller paying for a private room sits near the top.
Warungs open early for breakfast and run through the evening, and most close one day a week or for a temple ceremony, so a favourite spot can be shut without notice. Markets and shops in the centre generally run from morning to early evening. Confirm current hours and prices on arrival; treat every figure here as a 2026 estimate.
- Backpacker total: Rp350,000–830,000 per day
- Mid-range total: Rp1,050,000–2,400,000 per day
- Comfort total: Rp3,400,000+ per day
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Homestay or hostel bed | Rp120,000–300,000 | Per night; breakfast common |
| Warung meal | Rp20,000–40,000 | Nasi goreng, mie goreng, nasi campur |
| Bintang beer (large) in a bar | Rp50,000–80,000 | Imported alcohol is expensive |
| Grab car, 5 km in Bali | Rp40,000–80,000 | App-based; not always available in Ubud centre |
| Scooter rental | Rp50,000–100,000 | Per day |
| Private driver day | Rp600,000–900,000 | Split between three or four people |
| Bali tourist levy | Rp150,000 | Per visit, paid once on arrival |
2026 estimate, per person. Amounts in Indonesian rupiah (Rp).
How to get there
Most travellers reach Ubud from Ngurah Rai International Airport near Denpasar, roughly 1.5–2 hours by road depending on traffic. A metered or app taxi is the usual choice; a private transfer booked ahead costs more but removes haggling at the exit. There is no train to Ubud, and the nearest useful bus links are on the Denpasar–Kuta corridor, so plan on road transport.
Once in town, the centre is walkable and the cheapest way around is on foot. Scooters are the standard local option if you hold an International Driving Permit and are comfortable in traffic; otherwise use app cars and motorbike taxis for short hops and share a private driver for full-day trips. Flight prices from your home country swing widely by season, so check fares for your dates rather than assuming a fixed cost.
- Airport to Ubud: about 1.5–2 hours by road
- App car, 5 km in Bali: Rp40,000–80,000
- Private driver day: Rp600,000–900,000
- Scooter: Rp50,000–100,000 per day, IDP required
Tips
Eat where the menu is short and the room is full. A warung turning over one or two dishes at lunch is cheaper and better than a tourist restaurant with a long menu. Ask for local water refills where offered, and carry small rupiah notes for warungs, parking and drivers.
Use bank-branch ATMs, cover the keypad and decline dynamic currency conversion; change money only at authorised changers with a visible licence and count the notes before leaving the counter. Agree scooter rental terms and photograph the bike before you ride off. Read up on common tourist scams before you book tours or transport, and expect higher prices during peak season and Indonesian holidays.
- Carry small Rp notes: warungs, parking, offerings, drivers
- Decline dynamic currency conversion at ATMs
- Photograph the scooter and agree the daily rate in writing
- Book tours through your accommodation or a licensed operator
- Expect peak-season and holiday price rises
FAQ
Short answers to the questions travellers ask most about costs in Ubud. Figures are 2026 estimates in Indonesian rupiah.
Questions people ask
How much do I need per day in Ubud?
Budget travellers should plan Rp350,000–830,000 per person per day (about $22–50) for a homestay bed, warung meals, local transport and one paid sight. Mid-range travellers spending on restaurants and a villa share should budget Rp1,050,000–2,400,000. Flights, tours and diving are extra.
Where can I eat cheaply in Ubud?
Warungs are the cheapest full meal, with nasi goreng, mie goreng or nasi campur at Rp20,000–40,000. Local warungs away from Jalan Raya Ubud and the market area cost less than tourist restaurants. A large Bintang in a bar runs Rp50,000–80,000, so drink less if you are counting.
What are the cheapest months for Ubud?
Rates are usually lowest in the low season, roughly November to March outside the Christmas and New Year peak, when demand and accommodation prices drop. Check current rates for your dates, because holiday periods and events can push prices up even in the low season.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialIndonesia.travel (Ministry of Tourism)
- officialBali Provincial Government
- secondaryWikivoyage – Ubud
- secondaryOpenStreetMap