Cost of Living Comparison Between Madang and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Madang and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $529 per month in Madang vs $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,191 per month in Madang vs $2,557 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,852 per month in Madang vs $3,723 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Madang is about 62% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Madang sits 60% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.69 PGK 29.50

$3.57 Rp 64.5K

87.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.09 PGK 168

$32.32 Rp 583.4K

17.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.82 PGK 47.75

$5.01 Rp 90.4K

115.97%

Cappuccino

$2.44 PGK 10.76

$2.82 Rp 51.0K

-13.48%

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

$1.23 PGK 5.43

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

-8.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 PGK 3.12

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

-2.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 PGK 12.77

$2.93 Rp 53.0K

-1.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.31 PGK 19.00

$3.94 Rp 71.1K

9.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 PGK 8.62

$1.78 Rp 32.1K

9.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 PGK 6.43

$2.45 Rp 44.2K

-40.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 PGK 6.50

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

27.83%

Eggs

$3.39 PGK 14.94

$2.41 Rp 43.6K

40.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 Rp 258.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.75 PGK 25.36

$4.19 Rp 75.6K

37.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.21 PGK 36.25

$12.06 Rp 217.7K

-31.92%

Apples (1kg)

$5.41 PGK 23.87

$3.64 Rp 65.7K

48.63%

Banana (1kg)

$2.38 PGK 10.51

$1.57 Rp 28.3K

51.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.92 PGK 4.04

$2.79 Rp 50.3K

-67.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 PGK 8.68

$2.24 Rp 40.5K

-12.05%

Potato (1kg)

$4.89 PGK 21.59

$1.98 Rp 35.7K

146.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.91 PGK 12.86

$2.28 Rp 41.1K

27.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$5.91 PGK 26.07

$1.05 Rp 19.0K

462.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 PGK 2.06

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

-40.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.08 PGK 22.41

$3.19 Rp 57.6K

59.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 424.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 PGK 9.78

$2.90 Rp 52.3K

-23.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 PGK 10.75

$2.76 Rp 49.7K

-11.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,813

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 151.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,167

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,298

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 Rp 109.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 PGK 4.88

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

29.07%

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

$26.6K Rp 480.0M

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

$32.5K Rp 587.6M

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

$65.9 PGK 291

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

-16.58%

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

$4.09 Rp 73.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.73 PGK 105

$23.85 Rp 430.5K

-0.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 114.7K

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 Rp 72.3K

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

$78.8 PGK 348

$297 Rp 5.4M

-73.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,047 PGK 26.7K

$6,602 Rp 119.2M

-8.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.43 PGK 85.7

$53.4 Rp 964.5K

-63.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.52 PGK 64.1

$38.11 Rp 688.1K

-61.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.7 PGK 294

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

-24.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.71 PGK 127

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

-62.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 Rp 18.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 Rp 12.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$952 PGK 4,201

$3,469 Rp 62.6M

-72.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$599 PGK 2,641

$2,090 Rp 37.7M

-71.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,729 Rp 49.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,295 Rp 41.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

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

Last update for Madang: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Madang versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $227 in Madang vs $298 in Ubud, Bali – so Madang 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

Madang vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 163% more than Madang, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $794 per month in Madang and $2,088 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $38.00 in Madang and $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 31% 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Madang, where all-in costs run around $529, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. In Madang 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. Madang costs $529 versus $1,392 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 Madang. 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.