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 $530 per month in Madang vs $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,180 per month in Madang vs $2,549 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,831 per month in Madang vs $3,694 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

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

Madang sits 61% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.85 PGK 29.44

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

91.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.80 PGK 167

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

19.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.71 PGK 46.02

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

120.37%

Cappuccino

$2.34 PGK 10.03

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

-14.91%

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

$1.22 PGK 5.22

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

-7.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 PGK 3.00

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 PGK 12.68

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

1.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 PGK 18.47

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

13.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 PGK 8.08

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

9.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 PGK 6.06

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

-42.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.45 PGK 6.24

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

20.83%

Eggs

$3.28 PGK 14.10

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

34.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.61 PGK 24.12

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

30.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.19 PGK 35.18

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

-32.92%

Apples (1kg)

$5.35 PGK 22.99

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

45.38%

Banana (1kg)

$2.43 PGK 10.44

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

56.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.91 PGK 3.92

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

-67.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 PGK 8.44

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

-15.88%

Potato (1kg)

$4.85 PGK 20.85

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

146.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.93 PGK 12.58

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

26.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$6.10 PGK 26.19

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

475.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 PGK 1.96

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

-36.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.20 PGK 22.33

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

58.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 PGK 9.21

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

-23.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 PGK 10.21

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

-14.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,047

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 PGK 4.71

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

29.41%

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

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

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

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

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

$68.1 PGK 292

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

-15.70%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.06 PGK 103

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

-1.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

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

$80.3 PGK 345

$304 Rp 5.4M

-73.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,942 PGK 25.5K

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

-10.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.19 PGK 82.4

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

-64.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.45 PGK 62.1

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

-62.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.4 PGK 290

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

-21.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$28.32 PGK 122

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

-63.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.8M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$951 PGK 4,085

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

-71.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$592 PGK 2,542

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

-71.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Madang versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $225 in Madang vs $297 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 165% 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 $795 per month in Madang and $2,106 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 $39.00 in Madang and $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 32% 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 $530, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. 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 $530 versus $1,404 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.