🙂A single person spends $580 per month in Manado vs $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $887 per month in Manado vs $2,557 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,194 per month in Manado vs $3,723 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
🙂Manado is about 58% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Manado sits 56% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Manado
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.19Rp 21.6K
$3.57Rp 64.6K
-66.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.03Rp 163.3K
$32.32Rp 584.4K
-72.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.08Rp 55.8K
$5.01Rp 90.5K
-38.52%
Cappuccino
$1.68Rp 30.4K
$2.82Rp 51.1K
-40.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32Rp 5,829
$1.35Rp 24.4K
-76.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,707
$0.73Rp 13.2K
-64.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.59Rp 64.9K
$2.93Rp 53.0K
22.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.00Rp 108.4K
$3.94Rp 71.2K
52.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Manado
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18Rp 21.3K
$1.78Rp 32.2K
-33.71%
White Bread(500g)
$0.89Rp 16.2K
$2.45Rp 44.3K
-63.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.78Rp 14.2K
$1.15Rp 20.8K
-32.17%
Eggs
$1.79Rp 32.4K
$2.41Rp 43.7K
-25.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.16Rp 147.5K
$14.33Rp 259.1K
-43.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.15Rp 56.9K
$4.19Rp 75.7K
-24.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.90Rp 142.8K
$12.06Rp 218.1K
-34.49%
Apples(1kg)
$2.74Rp 49.6K
$3.64Rp 65.8K
-24.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46Rp 26.3K
$1.57Rp 28.3K
-7.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89Rp 34.2K
$2.79Rp 50.4K
-32.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.34Rp 24.2K
$2.24Rp 40.5K
-40.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.39Rp 25.1K
$1.98Rp 35.8K
-29.80%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89Rp 34.2K
$2.28Rp 41.2K
-17.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97Rp 17.5K
$1.05Rp 19.1K
-7.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44Rp 8,000
$0.79Rp 14.2K
-44.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.38Rp 43.0K
$3.19Rp 57.7K
-25.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.43Rp 369.3K
$23.49Rp 424.8K
-13.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77Rp 32.0K
$2.90Rp 52.4K
-38.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18Rp 57.5K
$2.76Rp 49.8K
15.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Manado
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35Rp 6,412
$0.27Rp 4,821
29.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.73Rp 175.9K
$8.37Rp 151.3K
16.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.53Rp 9,514
$0.45Rp 8,180
17.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37Rp 6,717
$0.46Rp 8,311
-19.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.90Rp 52.5K
$6.07Rp 109.7K
-52.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83Rp 15.0K
$0.86Rp 15.6K
-3.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5KRp 443.1M
$26.6KRp 480.7M
-7.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0KRp 506.1M
$32.5KRp 588.6M
-14.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manado
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$24.74Rp 447.4K
$79.0Rp 1.4M
-68.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.38Rp 79.1K
$4.09Rp 74.0K
7.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.31Rp 403.4K
$23.85Rp 431.2K
-6.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Manado
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.33Rp 331.5K
$98.8Rp 1.8M
-81.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.11Rp 110.4K
$6.35Rp 114.9K
-3.78%
Cinema Ticket
$2.62Rp 47.4K
$4.01Rp 72.5K
-34.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manado
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.9Rp 1.7M
$297Rp 5.4M
-68.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,231Rp 94.6M
$6,602Rp 119.4M
-20.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Manado
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.2Rp 1.1M
$53.4Rp 966.0K
14.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.26Rp 438.7K
$38.11Rp 689.2K
-36.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.1Rp 1.7M
$88.7Rp 1.6M
7.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3Rp 1.3M
$76.6Rp 1.4M
-4.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manado
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$324Rp 5.9M
$1,020Rp 18.4M
-68.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$99.8Rp 1.8M
$680Rp 12.3M
-85.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$333Rp 6.0M
$3,469Rp 62.7M
-90.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$191Rp 3.4M
$2,090Rp 37.8M
-90.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,132Rp 20.5M
$2,729Rp 49.3M
-58.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$698Rp 12.6M
$2,295Rp 41.5M
-69.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Manado
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$210Rp 3.8M
$164Rp 3.0M
28.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10
13.28
-24.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Manado: July 25, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $324 in Manado versus $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 28% higher in Manado, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Manado versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $298 – making Manado the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Manado vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Manado?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 140%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $871 per month in Manado and $2,088 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Manado, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 16% less in Manado. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $94.9 per month in Manado and $297 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Manado or in Ubud, Bali?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Manado, where all-in costs run around $580, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. In Manado it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Manado or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Manado – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Manado or Ubud, Bali?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Manado. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.