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 $2,864 per month in Madison, WI vs $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,134 per month in Madison, WI vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,405 per month in Madison, WI vs $3,732 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Madison, WI costs about 99% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Madison, WI and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Madison, WI by 114%, Ubud, Bali by 7%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.24 $15.24

$3.57 Rp 61.9K

326.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.3 $76.3

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

134.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.92 $10.92

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

115.38%

Cappuccino

$5.24 $5.24

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

85.16%

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

$2.61 $2.61

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

94.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.34 $2.34

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

239.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.18 $6.18

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

106.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.82 $6.82

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

77.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 $0.89

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

-48.85%

White Bread (500g)

$3.72 $3.72

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

46.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.10 $5.10

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

328.57%

Eggs

$3.98 $3.98

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

63.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.79 $13.79

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

-5.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.39 $13.39

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

220.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.57 $16.57

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

38.78%

Apples (1kg)

$4.46 $4.46

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

20.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 $1.52

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

-5.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.86 $5.86

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

117.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.66 $4.66

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

100.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 $2.61

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

36.65%

Onion (1kg)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

31.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.03 $2.03

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

91.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 $1.95

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

170.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.96 $9.96

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

218.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.75 $15.75

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

-32.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

-16.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.83 $4.83

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

67.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.29 Rp 5,029

575.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.1 $63.1

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

672.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.52 $4.52

$0.45 Rp 7,863

904.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.23 $2.23

$0.42 Rp 7,305

430.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$42.40 $42.40

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

588.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 $0.85

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

1.19%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

-3.27%

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

$25.8K $25.8K

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

-20.65%

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

$216 $216

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

175.02%

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

$50.2 $50.2

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

1170.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$74.4 $74.4

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

204.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$63.6 $63.6

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

-34.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.07 $30.07

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

373.54%

Cinema Ticket

$14.83 $14.83

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

267.08%

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

$1,656 $1,656

$303 Rp 5.2M

447.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.0K $25.0K

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

283.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.7 $67.7

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

25.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.64 $47.64

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

25.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.4 $99.4

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

14.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$134 $134

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

70.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,701 $1,701

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

68.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,438 $1,438

$674 Rp 11.7M

113.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,068 $3,068

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

-9.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,446 $2,446

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

16.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,392 $4,392

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

47.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,563 $2,563

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

9.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,331 $4,331

$173 Rp 3.0M

2401.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

13.28

-50.68%

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

Last update for Madison, WI: April 27, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,701 in Madison, WI versus $1,012 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 2402% 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 $76.0 in Madison, WI versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $416 vs $298 – 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: $2,864 in Madison, WI, $1,438 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 99% apart. Madison, WI costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,296 per month in Madison, WI and $2,158 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 673% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,656 per month in Madison, WI and $303 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 $1,438, than in Madison, WI at $2,864. 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 $1,438 in Ubud, Bali to $2,864 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.