🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,144 in KwaMhlanga versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,798 in KwaMhlanga versus $2,348 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,452 in KwaMhlanga versus $3,327 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in KwaMhlanga costs roughly 16% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: KwaMhlanga is 16% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
KwaMhlanga
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.54R 173
$3.44Rp 60.9K
206.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.18R 707
$36.31Rp 643.0K
18.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.04R 99.0
$5.71Rp 101.0K
5.78%
Cappuccino
$2.35R 38.52
$2.67Rp 47.3K
-11.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11R 18.26
$1.75Rp 31.0K
-36.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93R 15.21
$0.87Rp 15.4K
6.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41R 39.51
$2.95Rp 52.3K
-18.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80R 45.81
$4.52Rp 80.0K
-38.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
KwaMhlanga
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21R 19.78
$1.62Rp 28.7K
-25.31%
White Bread(500g)
$1.12R 18.29
$2.33Rp 41.3K
-51.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.79R 29.32
$1.11Rp 19.6K
61.26%
Eggs
$2.61R 42.79
$2.20Rp 39.0K
18.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.31R 136
$17.69Rp 313.3K
-53.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.44R 89.1
$4.10Rp 72.5K
32.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.55R 124
$12.18Rp 215.6K
-38.01%
Apples(1kg)
$1.93R 31.61
$3.71Rp 65.6K
-47.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71R 28.05
$1.59Rp 28.1K
7.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80R 29.41
$2.28Rp 40.4K
-21.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.72R 28.18
$1.95Rp 34.6K
-11.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.57R 25.78
$1.91Rp 33.7K
-17.80%
Onion(1kg)
$1.50R 24.54
$2.33Rp 41.3K
-35.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22R 20.00
$1.01Rp 17.8K
20.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20R 19.58
$0.55Rp 9,773
118.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.43R 56.2
$2.23Rp 39.5K
53.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.24R 85.8
$23.07Rp 408.6K
-77.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44R 23.63
$2.42Rp 42.8K
-40.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05R 33.53
$3.00Rp 53.1K
-31.67%
🚌 Getting Around
KwaMhlanga
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.58R 25.90
$0.27Rp 4,814
485.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.98Rp 159.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.60R 9.81
$0.48Rp 8,566
25.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.97R 15.91
$0.43Rp 7,679
125.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.28R 152
$5.64Rp 99.9K
64.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.47R 24.06
$0.80Rp 14.2K
83.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5KR 598.2K
$24.9KRp 441.7M
46.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7KR 534.9K
$31.7KRp 561.5M
2.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
KwaMhlanga
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$147R 2,400
$81.5Rp 1.4M
79.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.01R 573
$6.49Rp 115.0K
439.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.47R 630
$18.77Rp 332.4K
104.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
KwaMhlanga
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$33.63R 551
$56.9Rp 1.0M
-40.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.73Rp 331.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.62R 125
$4.54Rp 80.4K
67.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
KwaMhlanga
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$256R 4,193
$481Rp 8.5M
-46.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,702R 93.4K
$5,711Rp 101.1M
-0.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
KwaMhlanga
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4R 908
$45.52Rp 806.0K
21.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.80R 554
$35.88Rp 635.4K
-5.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110R 1,796
$80.4Rp 1.4M
36.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.8R 1,520
$78.7Rp 1.4M
17.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
KwaMhlanga
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$432R 7,076
$1,115Rp 19.7M
-61.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368R 6,033
$698Rp 12.4M
-47.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$805R 13.2K
$3,637Rp 64.4M
-77.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$759R 12.4K
$1,737Rp 30.8M
-56.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$899R 14.7K
$2,784Rp 49.3M
-67.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$694R 11.4K
$2,290Rp 40.5M
-69.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
KwaMhlanga
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$168Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11
13.78
-20.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for KwaMhlanga: September 12, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in KwaMhlanga and $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in KwaMhlanga vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $200 vs $295, with KwaMhlanga 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
KwaMhlanga vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, KwaMhlanga or Ubud, Bali?
KwaMhlanga wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making KwaMhlanga the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in KwaMhlanga and in Ubud, Bali?
You'd need roughly $1,715 in KwaMhlanga and $2,052 in Ubud, Bali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in KwaMhlanga compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $432 in KwaMhlanga versus $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in KwaMhlanga or in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 47% 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 KwaMhlanga compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $1,144 per month in KwaMhlanga versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in KwaMhlanga or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,144 in KwaMhlanga versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in KwaMhlanga but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes KwaMhlanga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, KwaMhlanga or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but KwaMhlanga delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,144 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes KwaMhlanga hard to pass up.
How safe is KwaMhlanga compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, KwaMhlanga 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 KwaMhlanga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
KwaMhlanga vs other spots: cost of living compared