Cost of Living Comparison Between Cahul and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Cahul and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $697 in Cahul versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,101 in Cahul versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,505 in Cahul versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Cahul costs roughly 51% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Cahul is 48% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.63 MDL 148
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
142.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.47 MDL 627
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
11.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.53 MDL 129
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
52.12%
Cappuccino
$1.88 MDL 32.31
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
-30.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 MDL 16.93
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
-26.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 MDL 11.73
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
-2.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.78 MDL 30.60
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
-39.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 MDL 39.87
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
-41.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 MDL 22.13
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
-28.73%
White Bread (500g)
$0.52 MDL 8.96
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
-79.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.45 MDL 24.88
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
25.00%
Eggs
$2.59 MDL 44.56
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
5.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.47 MDL 180
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
-28.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.54 MDL 95.3
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
28.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.04 MDL 155
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
-25.54%
Apples (1kg)
$0.90 MDL 15.55
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
-76.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.82 MDL 31.30
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
16.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.73 MDL 29.66
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
-38.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.14 MDL 36.73
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
-8.15%
Potato (1kg)
$0.83 MDL 14.20
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
-56.54%
Onion (1kg)
$0.59 MDL 10.12
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
-73.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.35 MDL 23.25
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
33.66%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 MDL 14.05
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
5.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.15 MDL 54.1
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
-5.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.75 MDL 81.7
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
-79.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 MDL 21.62
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
-54.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 MDL 34.10
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
-30.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.27 Rp 4,800
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.08 MDL 35.83
$0.46 Rp 8,150
352.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.27 MDL 4.67
$0.45 Rp 8,037
-40.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.21 MDL 89.5
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
-14.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.41 MDL 24.32
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
78.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.7K MDL 544.5K
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
21.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.3K MDL 538.5K
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
-2.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$173 MDL 2,969
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
116.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.41 MDL 127
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
82.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.80 MDL 186
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
-54.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.49 MDL 129
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
80.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$384 MDL 6,606
$304 Rp 5.4M
26.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,544 MDL 129.7K
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
14.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.6 MDL 1,128
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
18.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.5 MDL 937
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
42.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 MDL 1,972
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
29.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 MDL 2,113
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
57.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$675 Rp 12.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$523 MDL 8,999
$165 Rp 3.0M
216.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.24
13.28
-30.42%

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

Last update for Cahul: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Cahul pays 217% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36.00 in Cahul vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $192 vs $302, with Cahul cheaper for home cooking.

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
Cahul vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cahul or Ubud, Bali?
Cahul wins on cost – living expenses run 104% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cahul the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Cahul or Ubud, Bali?
Cahul pays 217% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
Are groceries more expensive in Cahul or Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 57% 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 Cahul compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $697 per month in Cahul versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – a 104% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Cahul or Ubud, Bali?
At $697 in Cahul versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Cahul but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Cahul the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cahul or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Cahul delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $697 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Cahul hard to pass up.
How safe is Cahul compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Cahul 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 Cahul gentler on the wallet – expenses run 104% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Cahul vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities