Cost of Living Comparison Between Mahajanga and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Mahajanga and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $376 per month in Mahajanga vs $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $713 per month in Mahajanga vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,050 per month in Mahajanga vs $3,732 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Mahajanga is about 74% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mahajanga sits 72% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.98 MGA 8,209

$3.57 Rp 61.9K

-44.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.88 MGA 74.2K

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

-45.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

Cappuccino

$0.66 MGA 2,730

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

-76.68%

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

$0.88 MGA 3,632

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

-34.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 MGA 3,809

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 MGA 4,272

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

-65.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 MGA 6,623

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

-58.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 MGA 4,341

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

-39.66%

White Bread (500g)

$0.59 MGA 2,466

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

-76.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.55 MGA 2,298

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

-53.78%

Eggs

$1.93 MGA 8,017

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

-20.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.83 MGA 28.3K

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

-53.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.26 MGA 21.8K

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

25.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.31 MGA 13.7K

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

-72.28%

Apples (1kg)

$0.94 MGA 3,900

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

-74.53%

Banana (1kg)

$0.54 MGA 2,232

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

-66.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.78 MGA 3,222

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

-71.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 MGA 2,100

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

-78.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 MGA 2,035

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

-74.35%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 MGA 1,856

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

-79.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 MGA 1,623

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

-63.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 MGA 2,592

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

-13.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.14 MGA 4,736

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

-63.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.58 MGA 39.7K

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

-59.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 MGA 3,466

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

-69.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 MGA 4,260

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

-64.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.13 MGA 521

$0.29 Rp 5,029

-55.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.86 MGA 36.8K

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

8.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,863

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,305

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 MGA 4,673

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

34.52%

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

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

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

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

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

$45.23 MGA 187.6K

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

-42.32%

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

$6.57 MGA 27.2K

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

66.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.83 MGA 90.6K

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

-10.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.68 MGA 73.3K

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

-81.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$330 MGA 1.4M

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

-67.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$110 MGA 455.0K

$674 Rp 11.7M

-83.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$660 MGA 2.7M

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

-80.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$441 MGA 1.8M

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

-78.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

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 Mahajanga: April 27, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $330 in Mahajanga 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Mahajanga versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $133 vs $298 – making Mahajanga 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

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

Ubud, Bali costs about 283% more than Mahajanga, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $564 per month in Mahajanga 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 Mahajanga, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $376 in Mahajanga and $1,438 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Mahajanga and $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mahajanga, where all-in costs run around $376, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. In Mahajanga 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. Mahajanga costs $376 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 Mahajanga. 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.