Cost of Living Comparison Between El Medano and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between El Medano and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,344 per month in El Medano vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,642 per month in El Medano vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,939 per month in El Medano vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

El Medano is about 5% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both El Medano and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – El Medano by 0%, Ubud, Bali by 6%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Medano
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.33 €14.91
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
386.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.1 €49.99
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
77.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.58 €9.10
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
113.74%
Cappuccino
$2.01 €1.73
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
-25.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84 €1.59
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
37.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 €0.87
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
44.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.94 €2.53
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
0.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32 €2.86
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
-16.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Medano
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.29 €1.11
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
-28.73%
White Bread (500g)
$1.71 €1.47
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
-32.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.45 €1.25
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
25.00%
Eggs
$3.17 €2.73
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
28.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.98 €12.89
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
1.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.28 €7.12
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
91.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.40 €12.38
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
18.62%
Apples (1kg)
$2.44 €2.10
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
-36.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
12.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.65 €1.42
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
-41.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.60 €2.24
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
11.59%
Potato (1kg)
$1.57 €1.35
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
-17.80%
Onion (1kg)
$1.76 €1.51
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
-20.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.48 €1.28
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
46.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 €0.56
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
-15.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.12 €4.41
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
54.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.99 €6.87
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
-66.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54 €1.32
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
-44.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.18
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
-52.10%
🚌 Getting Around
El Medano
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.70 €1.46
$0.27 Rp 4,800
529.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.12 €14.72
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
113.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.67 €4.01
$0.46 Rp 8,150
915.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 €1.15
$0.45 Rp 8,037
197.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.17 €14.77
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
181.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 €1.12
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
65.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K €24.2K
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
7.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.8K €25.7K
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
-7.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Medano
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.3 €76.8
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
11.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.72 €18.68
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
434.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.73 €26.43
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
30.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Medano
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.78 €39.38
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-53.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.96 €12.87
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
125.64%
Cinema Ticket
$9.58 €8.24
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
130.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Medano
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$342 €295
$304 Rp 5.4M
12.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,321 €7,158
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
25.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Medano
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.4 €71.8
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
50.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.89 €29.15
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
-11.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.6 €72.7
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
-4.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.7 €59.9
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
-10.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Medano
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,062 €913
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
5.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$487 €419
$675 Rp 12.1M
-27.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,886 €1,622
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
-45.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,824 €1,569
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
-10.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,431 €2,951
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
20.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,368 €2,037
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
4.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Medano
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$165 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.5
13.28
-73.64%

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

Last update for El Medano: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in El Medano versus $1,006 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in El Medano versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $269 in El Medano vs $302 in Ubud, Bali – so El Medano wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
El Medano vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in El Medano and Ubud, Bali compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,344 in El Medano, $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 6% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in El Medano compared to Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,017 per month in El Medano and $2,129 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between El Medano and Ubud, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in El Medano, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between El Medano and Ubud, Bali?
Kindergarten costs $342 per month in El Medano and $304 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 12% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in El Medano, where all-in costs run around $1,344, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In El Medano it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between El Medano and Ubud, Bali?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,344 in El Medano to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is El Medano or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between El Medano and Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with El Medano. 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.

El Medano vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities