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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $778 in Malaybalay versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,211 in Malaybalay versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,644 in Malaybalay versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Malaybalay costs roughly 45% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Malaybalay is 42% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malaybalay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.37 ₱269
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
22.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.17 ₱997
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
-50.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.91 ₱241
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
-21.01%
Cappuccino
$2.07 ₱128
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
-23.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 ₱31.67
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
-61.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ₱22.49
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
-48.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.08 ₱66.7
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
-63.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₱108
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
-55.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malaybalay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 ₱107
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
-3.87%
White Bread (500g)
$1.28 ₱78.7
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
-49.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.99 ₱60.9
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
-14.66%
Eggs
$2.09 ₱129
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
-15.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.98 ₱369
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
-59.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.49 ₱277
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
3.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.21 ₱444
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
-40.61%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 ₱179
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
-24.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.19 ₱73.5
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
-23.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.38 ₱147
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
-15.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.35 ₱83.4
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
-42.06%
Potato (1kg)
$2.30 ₱142
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
20.42%
Onion (1kg)
$3.31 ₱204
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
50.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.32 ₱81.4
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
30.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ₱37.29
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
-23.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.69 ₱166
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
-18.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.91 ₱488
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
-66.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40 ₱86.1
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
-49.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 ₱92.2
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
-47.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Malaybalay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 ₱17.37
$0.27 Rp 4,800
3.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.91 ₱56.2
$0.46 Rp 8,150
97.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.25 ₱15.47
$0.45 Rp 8,037
-44.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.18 ₱134
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
-64.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 ₱70.5
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
44.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.6K ₱1.4M
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
-13.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9K ₱1.3M
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
-34.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malaybalay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 ₱6,357
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
28.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.29 ₱2,053
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
719.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.73 ₱2,265
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
56.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malaybalay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.32 ₱2,116
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-65.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.46 ₱275
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
-32.73%
Cinema Ticket
$4.53 ₱279
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
9.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malaybalay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$119 ₱7,334
$304 Rp 5.4M
-60.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,392 ₱270.8K
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
-33.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malaybalay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.45 ₱2,803
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
-18.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.66 ₱1,890
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
-19.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.1 ₱4,756
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
-12.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1 ₱4,320
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
-10.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malaybalay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$271 ₱16.7K
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
-73.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$178 ₱11.0K
$675 Rp 12.1M
-73.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$576 ₱35.5K
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
-83.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$393 ₱24.2K
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
-80.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,167 ₱133.6K
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
-23.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$905 ₱55.8K
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
-60.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malaybalay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$165 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.56
13.28
-28.01%

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

Last update for Malaybalay: June 2, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $271 in Malaybalay and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $16.00 in Malaybalay vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $194 vs $302 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 Ubud, Bali?
Malaybalay and Ubud, Bali differ by about 83% in total monthly costs ($778 vs $1,419 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 $1,166 in Malaybalay and $2,129 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 Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $271 in Malaybalay versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Malaybalay and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $119 in Malaybalay versus $304 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Malaybalay – a meal for two runs $16.00 versus $33.00 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 $778 in Malaybalay versus $1,419 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 83% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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