Last update: Nov 2026

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

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,331 a month against $2,931 in Madison, WI, rent and utilities included – about $19,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Madison, WI, United States
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Madison, WI
🇺🇸 United States
$2,931
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,331
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Madison, WI and in Ubud, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Madison, WI and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,931 per month in Madison, WI vs $1,331 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Madison, WI $2,931
  • Ubud, Bali $1,331

A couple spends around $4,224 per month in Madison, WI vs $2,255 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Madison, WI $4,224
  • Ubud, Bali $2,255

A family of three spends $5,517 per month in Madison, WI vs $3,180 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Madison, WI $5,517
  • Ubud, Bali $3,180

Madison, WI costs about 120% more than Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Madison, WI sits 117% above the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 2% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Madison, WI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.92 $19.92
$3.38 Rp 61.0K
489.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.0 $65.0
$34.65 Rp 626.3K
87.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.17 $13.17
$5.57 Rp 100.7K
136.45%
Cappuccino
$5.66 $5.66
$2.62 Rp 47.3K
116.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 $3.02
$1.54 Rp 27.8K
96.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$0.64 Rp 11.6K
282.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.62 $6.62
$2.67 Rp 48.2K
147.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.72 $7.72
$4.26 Rp 77.1K
81.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Madison, WI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.46 Rp 26.4K
-34.93%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 $3.17
$2.29 Rp 41.4K
38.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.18 $4.18
$1.11 Rp 20.0K
276.58%
Eggs
$3.72 $3.72
$2.10 Rp 38.0K
77.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.49 $14.49
$15.94 Rp 288.1K
-9.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.15 $12.15
$3.88 Rp 70.2K
213.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.36 $20.36
$11.40 Rp 206.1K
78.60%
Apples (1kg)
$4.59 $4.59
$3.55 Rp 64.2K
29.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 $1.62
$1.54 Rp 27.8K
5.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.95 $4.95
$2.23 Rp 40.3K
121.97%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.67 $4.67
$1.97 Rp 35.6K
137.06%
Potato (1kg)
$2.61 $2.61
$1.86 Rp 33.6K
40.32%
Onion (1kg)
$2.83 $2.83
$2.42 Rp 43.7K
16.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.08 $2.08
$1.02 Rp 18.5K
103.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.24 $2.24
$0.52 Rp 9,441
330.77%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.89 $10.89
$2.20 Rp 39.7K
395.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.73 $15.73
$21.79 Rp 393.8K
-27.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.68 $2.68
$2.33 Rp 42.0K
15.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.40 $4.40
$2.97 Rp 53.7K
48.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Madison, WI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.94 $1.94
$0.25 Rp 4,526
676.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.5 $65.5
$8.17 Rp 147.8K
701.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.91 $3.91
$0.44 Rp 7,912
788.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.96 $1.96
$0.47 Rp 8,458
317.02%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$44.61 $44.61
$5.60 Rp 101.2K
696.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.07 $1.07
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
28.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3K $30.3K
$24.4K Rp 441.9M
23.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$31.7K Rp 572.9M
-19.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madison, WI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$266 $266
$77.5 Rp 1.4M
243.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$45.57 $45.57
$6.14 Rp 111.1K
642.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$80.5 $80.5
$18.92 Rp 341.9K
325.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Madison, WI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.6 $51.6
$51.0 Rp 921.7K
1.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.12 $10.12
$18.25 Rp 329.8K
-44.55%
Cinema Ticket
$14.70 $14.70
$4.38 Rp 79.2K
235.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Madison, WI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,594 $1,594
$492 Rp 8.9M
223.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.6K $21.6K
$12.2K Rp 220.9M
76.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Madison, WI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.4 $63.4
$45.16 Rp 816.3K
40.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.65 $46.65
$34.89 Rp 630.6K
33.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 $108
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
37.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 $121
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
55.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Madison, WI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,723 $1,723
$1,078 Rp 19.5M
59.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,465 $1,465
$665 Rp 12.0M
120.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,146 $3,146
$3,510 Rp 63.4M
-10.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,438 $2,438
$1,671 Rp 30.2M
45.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,429 $4,429
$2,340 Rp 42.3M
89.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,478 $2,478
$2,236 Rp 40.4M
10.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Madison, WI
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,430 $4,430
$166 Rp 3.0M
2563.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.81
13.78
-50.58%

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

Last update for Madison, WI: November 2, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Madison, WI
$1.5K
Ubud, Bali
$665 54.6% $800
Groceries & Markets
Madison, WI
$416
Ubud, Bali
$279 32.9% $137
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Madison, WI
$392
Ubud, Bali
$103 73.8% $289
Eating Out
Madison, WI
$337
Ubud, Bali
$106 68.6% $231
Clothing & Footwear
Madison, WI
$152
Ubud, Bali
$106 30.3% $46
Getting Around
Madison, WI
$87
Ubud, Bali
$12 86.3% $75
Sport & Entertainment
Madison, WI
$81
Ubud, Bali
$60 26.2% $21

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,723 in Madison, WI versus $1,078 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 in Madison, WI are about 27 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $65 in Madison, WI versus $35 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $416 vs $279 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Madison, WI
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
08:43 8:43 AM
22:43 10:43 PM
14 h ahead of Madison, WI
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
248,951
74,800
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 18,075 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.53 USD). 1 EUR = 20,311 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.92 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Madison, WI Ubud, Bali 15,480 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Madison, WI
  • Ubud, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
How do living costs in Madison, WI and in Ubud, Bali compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,931 in Madison, WI, $1,331 in Ubud, Bali – Ubud, Bali comes out roughly 55% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Madison, WI compared to Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,396 per month in Madison, WI and $1,996 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Madison, WI and Ubud, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,078 there versus $1,723 in Madison, WI.
How do commuting costs compare in Madison, WI and in Ubud, Bali?
Public transport costs about 88% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Madison, WI and Ubud, Bali?
Kindergarten costs $1,594 per month in Madison, WI and $492 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is feasible on a $1,000 budget?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,931 in Madison, WI and $1,331 in Ubud, Bali. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Where should digital nomads live: Madison, WI or Ubud, Bali?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,331 versus $2,931 in Madison, WI. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Is Madison, WI or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
How do I decide between Madison, WI and Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Madison, WI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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