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: $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
$8.89 MDL 153
$3.33 Rp 58.7K
166.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.72 MDL 407
$35.82 Rp 630.7K
-33.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.81 MDL 186
$5.63 Rp 99.1K
92.01%
Cappuccino
$1.69 MDL 29.04
$2.82 Rp 49.7K
-40.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 MDL 19.66
$1.75 Rp 30.8K
-34.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 MDL 9.66
$0.80 Rp 14.0K
-30.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.00 MDL 34.25
$3.04 Rp 53.6K
-34.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 MDL 32.59
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
-55.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.32 MDL 22.62
$1.61 Rp 28.3K
-18.01%
White Bread (500g)
$0.47 MDL 8.04
$2.27 Rp 39.9K
-79.30%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.64 MDL 28.21
$1.17 Rp 20.6K
40.17%
Eggs
$2.25 MDL 38.65
$2.17 Rp 38.2K
3.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.04 MDL 121
$17.63 Rp 310.5K
-60.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.76 MDL 81.7
$4.05 Rp 71.4K
17.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.56 MDL 113
$12.18 Rp 214.5K
-46.14%
Apples (1kg)
$1.02 MDL 17.47
$3.62 Rp 63.7K
-71.82%
Banana (1kg)
$2.38 MDL 40.90
$1.64 Rp 28.8K
45.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.93 MDL 33.04
$2.31 Rp 40.6K
-16.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.45 MDL 42.11
$1.96 Rp 34.5K
25.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.79 MDL 13.60
$1.84 Rp 32.5K
-57.07%
Onion (1kg)
$0.54 MDL 9.24
$2.37 Rp 41.7K
-77.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.44 MDL 7.55
$1.05 Rp 18.5K
-58.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 MDL 9.47
$0.54 Rp 9,560
1.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.38 MDL 58.0
$2.30 Rp 40.6K
46.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.60 MDL 79.0
$23.08 Rp 406.4K
-80.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.43 MDL 24.55
$2.34 Rp 41.2K
-38.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 MDL 34.48
$3.07 Rp 54.0K
-34.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.25 Rp 4,365
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$9.42 Rp 165.9K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.88 MDL 49.41
$0.49 Rp 8,631
487.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.25 MDL 4.28
$0.47 Rp 8,349
-46.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.88 MDL 101
$5.60 Rp 98.6K
5.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MDL 26.35
$0.81 Rp 14.2K
90.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3K MDL 588.8K
$25.0K Rp 440.3M
37.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K MDL 438.7K
$31.1K Rp 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)
$236 MDL 4,050
$82.7 Rp 1.5M
185.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.07 MDL 139
$6.49 Rp 114.2K
24.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.47 MDL 197
$18.79 Rp 330.8K
-38.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$55.2 Rp 972.6K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.21 Rp 320.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.73 MDL 133
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
79.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$116 MDL 1,998
$494 Rp 8.7M
-76.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,457 MDL 93.6K
$5,917 Rp 104.2M
-7.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.16 MDL 809
$46.28 Rp 814.8K
1.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$36.44 Rp 641.6K
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$57.1 MDL 980
$80.7 Rp 1.4M
-29.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.5 MDL 901
$78.8 Rp 1.4M
-33.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,114 Rp 19.6M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$693 Rp 12.2M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,639 Rp 64.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,712 Rp 30.1M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,761 Rp 48.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,293 Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cahul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$528 MDL 9,054
$167 Rp 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.

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