🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $870 in Al Mukalla versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,554 in Al Mukalla versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,238 in Al Mukalla versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Al Mukalla costs roughly 39% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Al Mukalla is 35% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Mukalla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.72YER 3,985
$3.56Rp 63.7K
369.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.33YER 8,895
$32.73Rp 584.5K
14.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.27YER 3,877
$4.95Rp 88.4K
228.69%
Cappuccino
$8.09YER 1,929
$2.71Rp 48.4K
198.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.77YER 899
$1.34Rp 24.0K
181.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78YER 186
$0.70Rp 12.5K
11.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.92Rp 52.1K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.96Rp 70.7K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Mukalla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$1.81Rp 32.3K
-
White Bread(500g)
$0.86YER 205
$2.52Rp 45.0K
-65.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$6.60YER 1,572
$1.16Rp 20.7K
468.97%
Eggs
$7.29YER 1,738
$2.46Rp 43.9K
196.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.27YER 3,401
$14.71Rp 262.7K
-2.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$23.34YER 5,561
$4.32Rp 77.1K
440.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$58.5YER 13.9K
$12.14Rp 216.7K
381.71%
Apples(1kg)
$12.76YER 3,042
$3.84Rp 68.6K
232.29%
Banana(1kg)
$4.83YER 1,151
$1.56Rp 27.8K
209.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.80YER 1,144
$2.83Rp 50.6K
69.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.20YER 764
$2.33Rp 41.5K
37.34%
Potato(1kg)
$5.21YER 1,243
$1.91Rp 34.2K
172.77%
Onion(1kg)
$4.16YER 990
$2.20Rp 39.3K
89.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.01Rp 18.1K
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.48YER 591
$0.78Rp 13.8K
217.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.32Rp 59.2K
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$23.74Rp 423.9K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.79Rp 49.8K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.86Rp 51.1K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Al Mukalla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.27Rp 4,800
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.03Rp 143.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$0.46Rp 8,150
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.45Rp 8,037
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$6.10Rp 108.9K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$0.79Rp 14.2K
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$26.1KRp 467.0M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$32.1KRp 573.6M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Mukalla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$79.9Rp 1.4M
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$4.06Rp 72.6K
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$23.52Rp 420.0K
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Mukalla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$98.7Rp 1.8M
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.63Rp 118.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.15Rp 74.1K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Mukalla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$304Rp 5.4M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$6,613Rp 118.1M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Mukalla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$55.5Rp 991.8K
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$38.31Rp 684.1K
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$88.6Rp 1.6M
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$77.9Rp 1.4M
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Mukalla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,006Rp 18.0M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$675Rp 12.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$3,442Rp 61.5M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,039Rp 36.4M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,841Rp 50.7M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,264Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Mukalla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$165Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
13.28
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al Mukalla: June 1, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $37.00 in Al Mukalla vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $581 vs $302 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
Al Mukalla vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Al Mukalla?
Al Mukalla is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 63% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,304 in Al Mukalla and $2,129 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 do food prices compare in Al Mukalla and Ubud, Bali?
Shoppers in Ubud, Bali pay roughly 92% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Al Mukalla or Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Al Mukalla – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Al Mukalla or Ubud, Bali?
At $870 in Al Mukalla versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al Mukalla but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Al Mukalla the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Al Mukalla or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Al Mukalla is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Al Mukalla or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Al Mukalla 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Al Mukalla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 63% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Al Mukalla vs other spots: cost of living compared