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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,831 in Mahe versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,484 in Mahe versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,138 in Mahe versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Mahe is roughly 30% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mahe 37% above, Ubud, Bali 5% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$15.62 SCR 224

$3.45 Rp 62.1K

352.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$70.1 SCR 1,004

$32.34 Rp 581.1K

116.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 SCR 112

$4.84 Rp 87.1K

61.57%

Cappuccino

$4.34 SCR 62.3

$2.75 Rp 49.4K

57.82%

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

$2.29 SCR 32.85

$1.38 Rp 24.9K

65.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 SCR 25.10

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

133.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.43 SCR 121

$2.99 Rp 53.8K

181.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.26 SCR 75.3

$3.85 Rp 69.2K

36.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.53 SCR 21.95

$1.74 Rp 31.2K

-12.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 SCR 14.87

$2.46 Rp 44.2K

-57.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 SCR 25.31

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

51.28%

Eggs

$4.09 SCR 58.6

$2.43 Rp 43.7K

68.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.62 SCR 224

$14.50 Rp 260.6K

7.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.82 SCR 112

$4.35 Rp 78.2K

79.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.50 SCR 179

$11.98 Rp 215.3K

4.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.02 SCR 28.94

$3.72 Rp 66.8K

-45.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

Oranges (1kg)

$2.24 SCR 32.15

$2.74 Rp 49.3K

-18.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.08 SCR 72.8

$2.24 Rp 40.3K

126.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.99 SCR 14.24

$1.92 Rp 34.5K

-48.44%

Onion (1kg)

$0.94 SCR 13.44

$2.28 Rp 40.9K

-58.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 SCR 14.71

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

-2.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.97 SCR 172

$3.29 Rp 59.0K

263.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.8K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 SCR 29.01

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

-27.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 SCR 29.36

$2.73 Rp 49.1K

-24.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 SCR 12.18

$0.27 Rp 4,786

214.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$24.36 SCR 349

$8.11 Rp 145.7K

200.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$10.51 SCR 151

$0.48 Rp 8,675

2089.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.17 SCR 45.40

$0.42 Rp 7,545

654.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.43 SCR 149

$6.22 Rp 111.8K

67.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 SCR 22.42

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

93.83%

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

$26.6K Rp 478.2M

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

$32.2K Rp 578.5M

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

$83.0 SCR 1,189

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

5.87%

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

$20.78 SCR 298

$4.07 Rp 73.1K

410.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$159 SCR 2,276

$24.33 Rp 437.1K

552.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.9 SCR 744

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

-47.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.9K

Cinema Ticket

$6.28 SCR 90.0

$3.99 Rp 71.6K

57.39%

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

$305 Rp 5.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.08 SCR 388

$54.1 Rp 972.9K

-49.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$10.80 SCR 155

$37.81 Rp 679.4K

-71.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.76 SCR 627

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

-49.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.5 SCR 794

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

-27.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$844 SCR 12.1K

$992 Rp 17.8M

-14.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$862 SCR 12.3K

$673 Rp 12.1M

28.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,717 SCR 24.6K

$3,375 Rp 60.7M

-49.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,038 SCR 14.9K

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

-49.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 40.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$886 SCR 12.7K

$167 Rp 3.0M

430.41%

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 Mahe: July 14, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $844 in Mahe and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mahe pays 430% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $70.0 in Mahe vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $240 vs $297, with Mahe cheaper for home cooking.

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

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

Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 30% lower than in Mahe. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 430% higher in Mahe, 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: $844 in Mahe versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Mahe pay roughly 24% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,831 per month in Mahe versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,831 in Mahe, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Mahe. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,408 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Mahe 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 Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Mahe. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.