Cost of Living Comparison Between Madison, WI and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Madison, WI and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,979 per month in Madison, WI vs $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,390 per month in Madison, WI vs $2,348 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,802 per month in Madison, WI vs $3,327 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Madison, WI costs about 118% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Madison, WI and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Madison, WI by 118%, Ubud, Bali by 0%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.87 $19.87

$3.44 Rp 61.0K

477.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$66.5 $66.5

$36.31 Rp 644.2K

83.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.06 $13.06

$5.71 Rp 101.2K

128.72%

Cappuccino

$5.64 $5.64

$2.67 Rp 47.4K

111.24%

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

$3.24 $3.24

$1.75 Rp 31.0K

85.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$0.87 Rp 15.5K

183.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.85 $6.85

$2.95 Rp 52.4K

132.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.72 $7.72

$4.52 Rp 80.2K

70.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

-41.36%

White Bread (500g)

$3.59 $3.59

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

54.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.62 $4.62

$1.11 Rp 19.6K

316.22%

Eggs

$3.62 $3.62

$2.20 Rp 39.0K

64.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 $14.71

$17.69 Rp 313.9K

-16.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.29 $13.29

$4.10 Rp 72.7K

224.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.96 $19.96

$12.18 Rp 216.0K

63.88%

Apples (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$3.71 Rp 65.8K

28.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.59 Rp 28.2K

Oranges (1kg)

$5.40 $5.40

$2.28 Rp 40.5K

136.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.99 $4.99

$1.95 Rp 34.7K

155.90%

Potato (1kg)

$2.78 $2.78

$1.91 Rp 33.8K

45.55%

Onion (1kg)

$3.11 $3.11

$2.33 Rp 41.4K

33.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.08 $2.08

$1.01 Rp 17.9K

105.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 $2.42

$0.55 Rp 9,791

340.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.81 $10.81

$2.23 Rp 39.6K

384.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.85 $15.85

$23.07 Rp 409.3K

-31.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.76 $2.76

$2.42 Rp 42.9K

14.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.34 $4.34

$3.00 Rp 53.2K

44.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 $2.02

$0.27 Rp 4,823

648.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.8 $64.8

$8.98 Rp 159.4K

621.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.89 $3.89

$0.48 Rp 8,582

710.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.43 Rp 7,693

358.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.90 $42.90

$5.64 Rp 100.1K

660.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 $1.01

$0.80 Rp 14.3K

26.25%

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

$35.4K $35.4K

$24.9K Rp 442.5M

42.02%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$31.7K Rp 562.6M

-21.29%

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

$273 $273

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

234.91%

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

$51.6 $51.6

$6.49 Rp 115.2K

695.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$80.6 $80.6

$18.77 Rp 333.0K

329.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.9 $58.9

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

3.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.52 $10.52

$18.73 Rp 332.3K

-43.83%

Cinema Ticket

$15.05 $15.05

$4.54 Rp 80.5K

231.50%

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

$1,722 $1,722

$481 Rp 8.5M

258.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.7K $23.7K

$5,711 Rp 101.3M

314.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.9 $64.9

$45.52 Rp 807.5K

42.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.75 $49.75

$35.88 Rp 636.6K

38.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 $107

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

32.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 $120

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

51.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,739 $1,739

$1,115 Rp 19.8M

56.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,510 $1,510

$698 Rp 12.4M

116.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,144 $3,144

$3,637 Rp 64.5M

-13.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,544 $2,544

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

46.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,481 $4,481

$2,784 Rp 49.4M

60.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,478 $2,478

$2,290 Rp 40.6M

8.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,387 $4,387

$168 Rp 3.0M

2511.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.26

13.78

-54.57%

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

Last update for Madison, WI: September 14, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,739 in Madison, WI versus $1,115 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.

Salaries run about 2511% higher in Madison, WI, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in Madison, WI versus $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $435 vs $295 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $2,979 in Madison, WI, $1,368 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 118% apart. Madison, WI costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,468 per month in Madison, WI and $2,052 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 622% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,722 per month in Madison, WI and $481 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,368, than in Madison, WI at $2,979. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Madison, WI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Madison, WI has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,368 in Ubud, Bali to $2,979 in Madison, WI. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Madison, WI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.