Cost of Living Comparison Between Chennai (Madras) and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Chennai (Madras) and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $475 per month in Chennai (Madras) vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $741 per month in Chennai (Madras) vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,007 per month in Chennai (Madras) vs $3,763 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Chennai (Madras) is about 66% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Chennai (Madras) sits 64% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.30 ₹221

$3.45 Rp 62.0K

-33.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.59 ₹1,116

$32.34 Rp 580.1K

-64.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.10 ₹395

$4.84 Rp 86.9K

-15.29%

Cappuccino

$2.16 ₹208

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

-21.45%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₹47.17

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

-64.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 ₹16.45

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

-77.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 ₹199

$2.99 Rp 53.7K

-30.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.08 ₹393

$3.85 Rp 69.1K

5.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.59 ₹56.4

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

-66.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 ₹47.76

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

-79.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.77 ₹74.6

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

-34.19%

Eggs

$0.87 ₹84.1

$2.43 Rp 43.6K

-64.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.08 ₹681

$14.50 Rp 260.2K

-51.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.57 ₹344

$4.35 Rp 78.0K

-17.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 214.9K

Apples (1kg)

$2.84 ₹273

$3.72 Rp 66.7K

-23.66%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 ₹82.7

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

-47.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 ₹122

$2.74 Rp 49.2K

-53.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.48 ₹46.34

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

-78.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 ₹53.0

$1.92 Rp 34.4K

-71.35%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 ₹51.7

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

-76.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 ₹52.7

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

-48.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₹31.48

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

-54.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.06 ₹391

$3.29 Rp 58.9K

23.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.14 ₹687

$23.19 Rp 416.1K

-69.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 ₹174

$2.78 Rp 49.8K

-34.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 ₹336

$2.73 Rp 49.0K

27.84%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$6.08 ₹585

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 ₹32.57

$0.27 Rp 4,778

25.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.59 ₹1,115

$8.11 Rp 145.4K

42.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.54 ₹148

$0.48 Rp 8,659

220.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 ₹29.18

$0.42 Rp 7,532

-28.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.70 ₹163

$6.22 Rp 111.6K

-72.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ₹113

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

45.68%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.3K ₹1.7M

$26.6K Rp 477.4M

-35.16%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.8K ₹2.3M

$32.2K Rp 577.4M

-26.19%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$47.66 ₹4,589

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

-39.17%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.90 ₹472

$4.07 Rp 73.0K

20.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.78 ₹941

$24.33 Rp 436.4K

-59.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.77 ₹1,710

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

-81.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.12 ₹686

$6.34 Rp 113.7K

12.30%

Cinema Ticket

$2.87 ₹276

$3.99 Rp 71.5K

-28.07%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$79.5 ₹7,652

$305 Rp 5.5M

-73.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,738 ₹167.3K

$6,642 Rp 119.2M

-73.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.12 ₹2,515

$54.1 Rp 971.2K

-51.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.16 ₹2,229

$37.81 Rp 678.2K

-38.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.19 ₹4,736

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

-43.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.39 ₹3,504

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

-52.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$195 ₹18.8K

$992 Rp 17.8M

-80.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 ₹11.1K

$673 Rp 12.1M

-82.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$441 ₹42.4K

$3,375 Rp 60.5M

-86.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$260 ₹25.0K

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

-87.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,817 ₹174.9K

$2,805 Rp 50.3M

-35.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$793 ₹76.3K

$2,227 Rp 39.9M

-64.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$754 ₹72.6K

$167 Rp 3.0M

351.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.42

13.28

-29.07%

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

Last update for Chennai (Madras): July 12, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $195 in Chennai (Madras) versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 352% higher in Chennai (Madras), which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Chennai (Madras) versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $122 vs $297 – making Chennai (Madras) the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Chennai (Madras) vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 196% more than Chennai (Madras), with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $712 per month in Chennai (Madras) and $2,112 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chennai (Madras), especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $475 in Chennai (Madras) and $1,408 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 43% less in Chennai (Madras). For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chennai (Madras), where all-in costs run around $475, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In Chennai (Madras) it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chennai (Madras) costs $475 versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Chennai (Madras). If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.