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 $539 per month in Madang vs $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,213 per month in Madang vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,887 per month in Madang vs $3,732 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Madang is about 63% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Madang sits 60% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.86 PGK 29.91

$3.57 Rp 61.6K

92.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.85 PGK 165

$32.58 Rp 562.6K

16.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.79 PGK 47.02

$5.07 Rp 87.5K

112.82%

Cappuccino

$2.47 PGK 10.75

$2.83 Rp 48.8K

-12.72%

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

$1.18 PGK 5.14

$1.34 Rp 23.1K

-11.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 PGK 3.20

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

5.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.82 PGK 12.30

$2.99 Rp 51.6K

-5.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.33 PGK 18.90

$3.85 Rp 66.4K

12.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 PGK 8.25

$1.74 Rp 30.1K

8.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 PGK 6.36

$2.54 Rp 43.8K

-42.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.45 PGK 6.33

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

21.85%

Eggs

$3.31 PGK 14.43

$2.43 Rp 41.9K

36.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 253.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.72 PGK 24.95

$4.18 Rp 72.1K

36.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.38 PGK 36.52

$11.94 Rp 206.1K

-29.82%

Apples (1kg)

$5.24 PGK 22.86

$3.69 Rp 63.6K

42.01%

Banana (1kg)

$2.33 PGK 10.17

$1.61 Rp 27.7K

44.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 PGK 4.08

$2.69 Rp 46.4K

-65.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.93 PGK 8.42

$2.33 Rp 40.2K

-17.17%

Potato (1kg)

$4.70 PGK 20.51

$1.91 Rp 32.9K

146.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.95 PGK 12.86

$2.19 Rp 37.7K

34.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$6.14 PGK 26.78

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

479.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 PGK 2.04

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

-34.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.04 PGK 21.97

$3.13 Rp 54.1K

61.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.32 PGK 49.38

$23.49 Rp 405.6K

-51.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.10 PGK 9.17

$2.74 Rp 47.3K

-23.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 PGK 10.71

$2.88 Rp 49.7K

-14.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,010

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,834

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,278

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.3K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 PGK 4.78

$0.84 Rp 14.5K

30.95%

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

$26.2K Rp 453.1M

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

$32.5K Rp 560.8M

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

$66.2 PGK 289

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

-15.57%

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

$3.95 Rp 68.2K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.19 PGK 105

$24.40 Rp 421.4K

-0.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 109.6K

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 69.7K

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

$80.2 PGK 350

$303 Rp 5.2M

-73.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,987 PGK 26.1K

$6,523 Rp 112.6M

-8.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.42 PGK 84.7

$53.8 Rp 929.5K

-63.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.64 PGK 63.8

$37.98 Rp 655.8K

-61.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.5 PGK 290

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

-23.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$29.18 PGK 127

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

-63.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$971 PGK 4,233

$3,390 Rp 58.5M

-71.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$606 PGK 2,643

$2,098 Rp 36.2M

-71.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$234 PGK 1,020

$173 Rp 3.0M

35.17%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 35% higher in Madang, 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 $38.00 in Madang versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $248 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 167% 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 $808 per month in Madang and $2,158 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 $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 20% 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 $539, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. 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 $539 versus $1,438 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.