🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $649 in Cahul versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $953 in Cahul versus $2,327 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,258 in Cahul versus $3,275 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Cahul costs roughly 53% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cahul is 53% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.89MDL 153
$3.33Rp 58.7K
166.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.72MDL 407
$35.82Rp 630.7K
-33.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.81MDL 186
$5.63Rp 99.1K
92.01%
Cappuccino
$1.69MDL 29.04
$2.82Rp 49.7K
-40.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MDL 19.66
$1.75Rp 30.8K
-34.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56MDL 9.66
$0.80Rp 14.0K
-30.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.00MDL 34.25
$3.04Rp 53.6K
-34.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90MDL 32.59
$4.30Rp 75.7K
-55.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32MDL 22.62
$1.61Rp 28.3K
-18.01%
White Bread(500g)
$0.47MDL 8.04
$2.27Rp 39.9K
-79.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.64MDL 28.21
$1.17Rp 20.6K
40.17%
Eggs
$2.25MDL 38.65
$2.17Rp 38.2K
3.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.04MDL 121
$17.63Rp 310.5K
-60.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.76MDL 81.7
$4.05Rp 71.4K
17.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.56MDL 113
$12.18Rp 214.5K
-46.14%
Apples(1kg)
$1.02MDL 17.47
$3.62Rp 63.7K
-71.82%
Banana(1kg)
$2.38MDL 40.90
$1.64Rp 28.8K
45.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93MDL 33.04
$2.31Rp 40.6K
-16.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.45MDL 42.11
$1.96Rp 34.5K
25.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.79MDL 13.60
$1.84Rp 32.5K
-57.07%
Onion(1kg)
$0.54MDL 9.24
$2.37Rp 41.7K
-77.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.44MDL 7.55
$1.05Rp 18.5K
-58.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55MDL 9.47
$0.54Rp 9,560
1.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38MDL 58.0
$2.30Rp 40.6K
46.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.60MDL 79.0
$23.08Rp 406.4K
-80.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43MDL 24.55
$2.34Rp 41.2K
-38.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01MDL 34.48
$3.07Rp 54.0K
-34.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.25Rp 4,365
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$9.42Rp 165.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.88MDL 49.41
$0.49Rp 8,631
487.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25MDL 4.28
$0.47Rp 8,349
-46.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.88MDL 101
$5.60Rp 98.6K
5.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MDL 26.35
$0.81Rp 14.2K
90.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3KMDL 588.8K
$25.0KRp 440.3M
37.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6KMDL 438.7K
$31.1KRp 547.0M
-17.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$236MDL 4,050
$82.7Rp 1.5M
185.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.07MDL 139
$6.49Rp 114.2K
24.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.47MDL 197
$18.79Rp 330.8K
-38.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$55.2Rp 972.6K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.21Rp 320.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.73MDL 133
$4.30Rp 75.7K
79.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$116MDL 1,998
$494Rp 8.7M
-76.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,457MDL 93.6K
$5,917Rp 104.2M
-7.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.16MDL 809
$46.28Rp 814.8K
1.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$36.44Rp 641.6K
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$57.1MDL 980
$80.7Rp 1.4M
-29.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.5MDL 901
$78.8Rp 1.4M
-33.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,114Rp 19.6M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$693Rp 12.2M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$3,639Rp 64.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,712Rp 30.1M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,761Rp 48.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,293Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$528MDL 9,054
$167Rp 2.9M
215.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8
13.78
-41.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cahul: September 5, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Cahul pays 216% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $24.00 in Cahul vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $170 vs $294 per month, with Cahul 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
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 112% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 216% higher in Cahul, 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 73% 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 $649 per month in Cahul versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali – a 112% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
At $649 in Cahul versus $1,378 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 $649 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 112% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.