🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $696 in Cahul versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,085 in Cahul versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,474 in Cahul versus $3,763 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 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.58MDL 149
$3.45Rp 62.0K
148.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.74MDL 640
$32.34Rp 580.1K
13.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.66MDL 133
$4.84Rp 86.9K
58.26%
Cappuccino
$1.82MDL 31.66
$2.75Rp 49.3K
-33.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93MDL 16.27
$1.38Rp 24.8K
-32.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64MDL 11.11
$0.75Rp 13.5K
-14.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.73MDL 30.09
$2.99Rp 53.7K
-42.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28MDL 39.69
$3.85Rp 69.1K
-40.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28MDL 22.29
$1.74Rp 31.1K
-26.44%
White Bread(500g)
$0.55MDL 9.61
$2.46Rp 44.1K
-77.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.50MDL 26.03
$1.17Rp 21.0K
28.21%
Eggs
$2.51MDL 43.72
$2.43Rp 43.6K
3.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.43MDL 182
$14.50Rp 260.2K
-28.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.50MDL 95.8
$4.35Rp 78.0K
26.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.94MDL 156
$11.98Rp 214.9K
-25.38%
Apples(1kg)
$0.90MDL 15.70
$3.72Rp 66.7K
-75.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74MDL 30.27
$1.63Rp 29.2K
6.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.77MDL 30.73
$2.74Rp 49.2K
-35.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.10MDL 36.56
$2.24Rp 40.2K
-6.25%
Potato(1kg)
$0.77MDL 13.46
$1.92Rp 34.4K
-59.90%
Onion(1kg)
$0.55MDL 9.53
$2.28Rp 40.8K
-75.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36MDL 23.65
$1.06Rp 19.1K
28.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84MDL 14.66
$0.72Rp 12.9K
16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28MDL 57.1
$3.29Rp 58.9K
-0.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.57MDL 79.6
$23.19Rp 416.1K
-80.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22MDL 21.27
$2.78Rp 49.8K
-56.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98MDL 34.44
$2.73Rp 49.0K
-27.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.27Rp 4,778
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.11Rp 145.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.02MDL 35.23
$0.48Rp 8,659
320.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27MDL 4.72
$0.42Rp 7,532
-35.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.30MDL 92.3
$6.22Rp 111.6K
-14.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43MDL 24.82
$0.81Rp 14.6K
76.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KMDL 560.4K
$26.6KRp 477.4M
20.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5KMDL 547.8K
$32.2KRp 577.4M
-2.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169MDL 2,948
$78.4Rp 1.4M
116.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.74MDL 135
$4.07Rp 73.0K
90.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.68MDL 186
$24.33Rp 436.4K
-56.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$98.6Rp 1.8M
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.34Rp 113.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.58MDL 132
$3.99Rp 71.5K
89.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$394MDL 6,859
$305Rp 5.5M
29.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,562MDL 131.7K
$6,642Rp 119.2M
13.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.3MDL 1,137
$54.1Rp 971.2K
20.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.4MDL 947
$37.81Rp 678.2K
43.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114MDL 1,992
$86.8Rp 1.6M
31.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MDL 2,106
$76.4Rp 1.4M
58.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$992Rp 17.8M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$673Rp 12.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$3,375Rp 60.5M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,050Rp 36.8M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,805Rp 50.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,227Rp 39.9M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$514MDL 8,942
$167Rp 3.0M
207.61%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Cahul pays 208% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $37.00 in Cahul vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $191 vs $297, 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 102% 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 208% 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 56% 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 $696 per month in Cahul versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali – a 102% 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 $696 in Cahul versus $1,408 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 $696 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 102% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.