🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $869 in Al Mukalla versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,546 in Al Mukalla versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,222 in Al Mukalla versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Al Mukalla costs roughly 38% 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 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Mukalla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.60YER 3,930
$3.45Rp 61.8K
381.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.53YER 8,883
$32.34Rp 578.5K
16.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.58YER 3,924
$4.84Rp 86.7K
242.56%
Cappuccino
$8.15YER 1,929
$2.75Rp 49.1K
196.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.77YER 891
$1.38Rp 24.8K
173.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83YER 197
$0.75Rp 13.4K
10.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.99Rp 53.5K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.85Rp 68.9K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Mukalla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$1.74Rp 31.1K
-
White Bread(500g)
$0.78YER 185
$2.46Rp 44.0K
-68.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$6.46YER 1,528
$1.17Rp 20.9K
452.14%
Eggs
$7.18YER 1,700
$2.43Rp 43.5K
195.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.54YER 3,442
$14.50Rp 259.5K
0.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$22.96YER 5,434
$4.35Rp 77.8K
427.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$56.6YER 13.4K
$11.98Rp 214.3K
372.54%
Apples(1kg)
$12.91YER 3,056
$3.72Rp 66.5K
247.04%
Banana(1kg)
$4.70YER 1,112
$1.63Rp 29.1K
188.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.86YER 1,151
$2.74Rp 49.1K
77.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.25YER 770
$2.24Rp 40.1K
45.09%
Potato(1kg)
$5.46YER 1,292
$1.92Rp 34.3K
184.38%
Onion(1kg)
$4.14YER 980
$2.28Rp 40.7K
81.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.06Rp 19.0K
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.52YER 596
$0.72Rp 12.9K
250.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.29Rp 58.8K
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$23.19Rp 414.9K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.78Rp 49.7K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.73Rp 48.9K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Al Mukalla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.27Rp 4,765
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.11Rp 145.0K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$0.48Rp 8,636
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.42Rp 7,511
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$6.22Rp 111.3K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$0.81Rp 14.6K
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$26.6KRp 476.1M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$32.2KRp 575.9M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Mukalla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$78.4Rp 1.4M
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$4.07Rp 72.8K
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$24.33Rp 435.2K
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Mukalla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$98.6Rp 1.8M
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.34Rp 113.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$3.99Rp 71.3K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Mukalla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$305Rp 5.5M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$6,642Rp 118.8M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Mukalla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$54.1Rp 968.6K
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$37.81Rp 676.3K
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$86.8Rp 1.6M
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$76.4Rp 1.4M
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Mukalla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$992Rp 17.7M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$673Rp 12.0M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$3,375Rp 60.4M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,050Rp 36.7M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,805Rp 50.2M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,227Rp 39.8M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Mukalla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$167Rp 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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Al Mukalla vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $574 vs $297 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 62% 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 $2,112 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Shoppers in Ubud, Bali pay roughly 93% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Al Mukalla or in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Al Mukalla – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Al Mukalla or in Ubud, Bali?
At $869 in Al Mukalla versus $1,408 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 62% 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