🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $740 in Malaybalay versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,139 in Malaybalay versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,537 in Malaybalay versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Malaybalay costs roughly 47% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Malaybalay is 46% below, Ubud, Bali is 2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malaybalay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.94₱309
$3.37Rp 59.9K
46.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.64₱1,041
$38.59Rp 685.5K
-56.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.64₱228
$5.52Rp 98.1K
-34.06%
Cappuccino
$2.24₱140
$2.64Rp 47.0K
-15.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46₱28.66
$1.67Rp 29.7K
-72.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31₱19.18
$0.77Rp 13.7K
-59.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.15₱72.2
$2.63Rp 46.8K
-56.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91₱120
$4.28Rp 76.1K
-55.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malaybalay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.03₱127
$1.55Rp 27.5K
30.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.13₱70.8
$2.22Rp 39.5K
-49.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.86₱53.8
$1.13Rp 20.0K
-23.89%
Eggs
$1.88₱118
$2.09Rp 37.1K
-10.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.62₱414
$17.39Rp 309.0K
-61.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.32₱270
$3.87Rp 68.7K
11.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.48₱530
$12.55Rp 222.9K
-32.43%
Apples(1kg)
$2.70₱169
$3.62Rp 64.2K
-25.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.12₱70.0
$1.56Rp 27.7K
-28.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.23₱139
$2.35Rp 41.8K
-5.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.16₱72.6
$2.06Rp 36.5K
-43.69%
Potato(1kg)
$2.07₱130
$1.90Rp 33.7K
8.95%
Onion(1kg)
$3.61₱226
$2.34Rp 41.5K
54.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.22₱76.5
$1.03Rp 18.3K
18.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66₱41.35
$0.55Rp 9,854
20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.51₱157
$2.25Rp 40.0K
11.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.02₱502
$23.81Rp 422.9K
-66.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31₱81.6
$2.31Rp 41.1K
-43.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58₱98.5
$2.80Rp 49.8K
-43.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Malaybalay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29₱18.35
$0.27Rp 4,839
7.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.77₱611
$8.66Rp 153.9K
12.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.83₱51.8
$0.48Rp 8,554
72.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.25₱15.73
$0.45Rp 7,924
-44.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.90₱119
$5.72Rp 101.6K
-66.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14₱71.5
$0.76Rp 13.5K
50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K₱1.3M
$24.5KRp 434.9M
-13.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.6K₱1.2M
$32.1KRp 570.6M
-42.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malaybalay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$110₱6,881
$83.6Rp 1.5M
31.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.06₱1,192
$6.46Rp 114.7K
195.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.68₱1,981
$18.99Rp 337.4K
66.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malaybalay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$28.91₱1,808
$56.0Rp 994.4K
-48.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.35₱335
$18.62Rp 330.7K
-71.27%
Cinema Ticket
$4.69₱293
$4.28Rp 76.1K
9.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malaybalay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$109₱6,823
$487Rp 8.6M
-77.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,551₱472.2K
$5,856Rp 104.0M
28.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malaybalay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.95₱1,998
$45.56Rp 809.3K
-29.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.00₱1,251
$36.38Rp 646.3K
-45.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.6₱4,542
$82.0Rp 1.5M
-11.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.8₱3,929
$80.4Rp 1.4M
-21.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malaybalay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$267₱16.7K
$1,117Rp 19.8M
-76.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$174₱10.9K
$701Rp 12.5M
-75.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$432₱27.0K
$3,537Rp 62.8M
-87.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$394₱24.6K
$1,762Rp 31.3M
-77.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,800₱175.1K
$2,826Rp 50.2M
-0.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,036₱64.8K
$2,292Rp 40.7M
-54.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malaybalay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$170Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.31
13.78
-39.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Malaybalay: August 31, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $267 in Malaybalay and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $17.00 in Malaybalay vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $196 vs $293 per month, with Malaybalay 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
Malaybalay vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Malaybalay and in Ubud, Bali?
Malaybalay and Ubud, Bali differ by about 89% in total monthly costs ($740 vs $1,396 including rent). Malaybalay is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Malaybalay compared to Ubud, Bali?
You'd need roughly $1,110 in Malaybalay and $2,095 in Ubud, Bali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Malaybalay and in Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $267 in Malaybalay versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 49% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Malaybalay – a meal for two runs $17.00 versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $740 in Malaybalay versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Malaybalay but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Malaybalay the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Malaybalay and Ubud, Bali?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Malaybalay or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Malaybalay 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.
Where should expats move: Malaybalay or Ubud, Bali?
Expats usually find Malaybalay gentler on the wallet – expenses run 89% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Malaybalay vs other spots: cost of living compared