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

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