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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $544 in Malda versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $684 in Malda versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $824 in Malda versus $3,732 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Malda costs roughly 62% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Malda is 59% below, Ubud, Bali is 7% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.26 ₹309
$3.57 Rp 61.9K
-8.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.62 ₹1,103
$32.58 Rp 564.7K
-64.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.52 ₹334
$5.07 Rp 87.8K
-30.57%
Cappuccino
$1.79 ₹170
$2.83 Rp 49.0K
-36.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 ₹38.23
$1.34 Rp 23.2K
-70.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15 ₹14.12
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
-78.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 ₹163
$2.99 Rp 51.8K
-42.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 ₹273
$3.85 Rp 66.7K
-25.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.63 ₹59.5
$1.74 Rp 30.2K
-63.79%
White Bread (500g)
$0.43 ₹40.75
$2.54 Rp 44.0K
-83.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.49 ₹46.59
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
-58.82%
Eggs
$0.80 ₹76.4
$2.43 Rp 42.0K
-67.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.41 ₹514
$14.66 Rp 254.1K
-63.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.53 ₹240
$4.18 Rp 72.4K
-39.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$11.94 Rp 206.9K
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.51 ₹238
$3.69 Rp 63.9K
-31.98%
Banana (1kg)
$0.79 ₹75.3
$1.61 Rp 27.8K
-50.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 ₹121
$2.69 Rp 46.5K
-52.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.65 ₹61.6
$2.33 Rp 40.4K
-72.10%
Potato (1kg)
$0.28 ₹26.35
$1.91 Rp 33.0K
-85.34%
Onion (1kg)
$0.33 ₹31.73
$2.19 Rp 37.9K
-84.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.42 ₹39.47
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
-60.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.17 ₹16.31
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
-76.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.86 ₹367
$3.13 Rp 54.3K
23.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.81 ₹931
$23.49 Rp 407.1K
-58.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 ₹160
$2.74 Rp 47.5K
-38.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 ₹236
$2.88 Rp 49.9K
-13.89%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$2.50 ₹238
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Malda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 ₹28.53
$0.29 Rp 5,029
3.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.64 ₹820
$8.17 Rp 141.6K
5.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.55 ₹52.4
$0.45 Rp 7,863
22.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 ₹26.29
$0.42 Rp 7,305
-33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.08 ₹197
$6.16 Rp 106.7K
-66.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 ₹118
$0.84 Rp 14.6K
47.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.9K ₹1.5M
$26.2K Rp 454.9M
-39.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.9K ₹2.2M
$32.5K Rp 562.9M
-29.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.19 ₹3,911
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
-47.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.85 ₹365
$3.95 Rp 68.5K
-2.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.78 ₹549
$24.40 Rp 423.0K
-76.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.15 ₹1,533
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
-83.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.99 ₹664
$6.35 Rp 110.0K
10.08%
Cinema Ticket
$4.02 ₹382
$4.04 Rp 70.0K
-0.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$43.03 ₹4,085
$303 Rp 5.2M
-85.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,600 ₹151.9K
$6,523 Rp 113.1M
-75.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$8.06 ₹765
$53.8 Rp 933.1K
-85.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$8.03 ₹762
$37.98 Rp 658.3K
-78.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$48.87 ₹4,640
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
-43.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$9.14 ₹868
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
-88.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$289 ₹27.5K
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
-71.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$231 ₹21.9K
$674 Rp 11.7M
-65.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$411 ₹39.0K
$3,390 Rp 58.8M
-87.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$182 ₹17.3K
$2,098 Rp 36.4M
-91.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,985 Rp 51.7M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,339 Rp 40.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malda
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$378 ₹35.9K
$173 Rp 3.0M
118.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.9
13.28
-25.45%

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

Last update for Malda: April 26, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $289 in Malda and $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Malda pays 118% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $12.00 in Malda vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $109 vs $298 per month, with Malda 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
Malda vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Malda?
Malda is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 165% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Malda or Ubud, Bali?
Malda pays 118% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Malda and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $289 in Malda versus $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Malda and Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 174% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Malda or Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Malda – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Malda or Ubud, Bali?
At $544 in Malda versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Malda but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Malda the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Malda or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Malda 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.
Which city is safer, Malda or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Malda 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Malda gentler on the wallet – expenses run 165% 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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