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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,237 in Mahboula versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,003 in Mahboula versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,768 in Mahboula versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Mahboula costs roughly 13% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mahboula is 8% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.35 KWD 1.95

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

78.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.37 KWD 8.09

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

-19.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.93 KWD 2.74

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

80.40%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.59 KWD 0.49

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 KWD 1.02

Cappuccino

$6.09 KWD 1.87

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

124.72%

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

$0.51 KWD 0.16

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

-61.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 KWD 0.05

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

-78.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 KWD 0.49

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

-11.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 KWD 0.30

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

-60.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 KWD 0.52

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

46.55%

Eggs

$1.28 KWD 0.39

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

-47.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.11 KWD 1.57

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

-65.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.61 KWD 2.03

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

53.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.29 KWD 3.16

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

-15.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.44 KWD 0.75

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

-36.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 KWD 0.61

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

26.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 KWD 0.55

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

-36.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.15 KWD 0.35

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

-50.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.26 KWD 0.39

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

-34.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 KWD 0.36

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

-46.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.62 KWD 0.50

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

60.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 KWD 0.14

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

-41.03%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.24 KWD 1.00

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 KWD 0.31

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 KWD 0.42

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.65 KWD 0.51

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

-50.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 KWD 0.26

$0.27 Rp 4,800

211.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.37 KWD 15.14

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

514.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.68 KWD 0.51

$0.46 Rp 8,150

265.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.66 KWD 0.51

$0.45 Rp 8,037

268.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.68 KWD 1.74

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

-6.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.16 KWD 0.05

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

-79.75%

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

$19.7K KWD 6,055

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

-24.51%

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

$17.7K KWD 5,439

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

-44.78%

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

$61.8 KWD 18.95

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

-22.70%

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

$16.14 KWD 4.95

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

297.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.77 KWD 7.90

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

9.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.6 KWD 29.33

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

-3.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.51 KWD 14.26

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

601.51%

Cinema Ticket

$11.48 KWD 3.52

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

176.63%

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

$385 KWD 118

$304 Rp 5.4M

26.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,504 KWD 1,995

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

-1.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.85 KWD 12.83

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

-24.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.12 KWD 12.92

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

9.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.9 KWD 27.27

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

0.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.5 KWD 24.70

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

3.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$731 KWD 224

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

-27.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$503 KWD 154

$675 Rp 12.1M

-25.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,781 KWD 546

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

-48.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,128 KWD 346

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

-44.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,282 KWD 393

$165 Rp 3.0M

675.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.14

13.28

-46.23%

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

Last update for Mahboula: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $731 in Mahboula and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mahboula pays 676% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $26.00 in Mahboula vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $172 vs $302 per month, with Mahboula cheaper across the board.

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

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

Mahboula is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Mahboula pays 676% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $731 in Mahboula versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Mahboula – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,237 per month in Mahboula versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,237 in Mahboula versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mahboula but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Mahboula the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Mahboula is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Mahboula and Ubud, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Mahboula gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.