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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $998 per month in Managua vs $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,576 per month in Managua vs $2,334 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,154 per month in Managua vs $3,273 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Managua is about 29% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Managua sits 27% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Managua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.91 NIO 363
$3.37 Rp 59.7K
194.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.90 NIO 1,351
$38.59 Rp 682.4K
-4.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.40 NIO 271
$5.52 Rp 97.6K
34.06%
Cappuccino
$2.49 NIO 91.3
$2.64 Rp 46.8K
-5.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 NIO 30.78
$1.67 Rp 29.6K
-49.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 NIO 24.75
$0.77 Rp 13.6K
-11.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.45 NIO 53.3
$2.63 Rp 46.6K
-44.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 NIO 74.5
$4.28 Rp 75.7K
-52.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Managua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.30 NIO 47.46
$1.55 Rp 27.3K
-16.13%
White Bread (500g)
$2.40 NIO 87.7
$2.22 Rp 39.3K
8.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 NIO 65.0
$1.13 Rp 19.9K
56.64%
Eggs
$2.29 NIO 84.0
$2.09 Rp 36.9K
9.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.71 NIO 429
$17.39 Rp 307.6K
-32.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.70 NIO 246
$3.87 Rp 68.4K
73.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.07 NIO 259
$12.55 Rp 221.9K
-43.67%
Apples (1kg)
$3.76 NIO 138
$3.62 Rp 63.9K
3.87%
Banana (1kg)
$0.57 NIO 21.03
$1.56 Rp 27.6K
-63.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.77 NIO 65.0
$2.35 Rp 41.6K
-24.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 NIO 79.9
$2.06 Rp 36.4K
5.83%
Potato (1kg)
$3.82 NIO 140
$1.90 Rp 33.6K
101.05%
Onion (1kg)
$2.16 NIO 79.2
$2.34 Rp 41.3K
-7.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 NIO 36.31
$1.03 Rp 18.2K
-3.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 NIO 37.65
$0.55 Rp 9,809
87.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.69 NIO 98.5
$2.25 Rp 39.8K
19.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.82 NIO 543
$23.81 Rp 421.0K
-37.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.48 NIO 54.2
$2.31 Rp 40.9K
-35.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 NIO 84.8
$2.80 Rp 49.5K
-17.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Managua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.15 NIO 5.64
$0.27 Rp 4,816
-44.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.15 NIO 225
$8.66 Rp 153.2K
-28.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.66 NIO 60.8
$0.48 Rp 8,515
245.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.67 NIO 61.0
$0.45 Rp 7,887
271.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.61 NIO 242
$5.72 Rp 101.1K
15.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 NIO 49.89
$0.76 Rp 13.4K
78.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2K NIO 851.4K
$24.5K Rp 433.0M
-5.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K NIO 947.5K
$32.1K Rp 568.0M
-19.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Managua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$117 NIO 4,282
$83.6 Rp 1.5M
39.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.96 NIO 621
$6.46 Rp 114.2K
162.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.52 NIO 1,338
$18.99 Rp 335.9K
92.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Managua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.97 NIO 1,208
$56.0 Rp 989.8K
-41.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.06 NIO 552
$18.62 Rp 329.2K
-19.12%
Cinema Ticket
$8.54 NIO 313
$4.28 Rp 75.7K
99.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Managua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$234 NIO 8,562
$487 Rp 8.6M
-51.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,050 NIO 221.6K
$5,856 Rp 103.6M
3.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Managua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.0 NIO 2,563
$45.56 Rp 805.6K
53.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$73.4 NIO 2,687
$36.38 Rp 643.3K
101.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$133 NIO 4,881
$82.0 Rp 1.4M
62.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 NIO 4,009
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
36.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Managua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$255 NIO 9,341
$1,117 Rp 19.7M
-77.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$191 NIO 7,009
$701 Rp 12.4M
-72.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$439 NIO 16.1K
$3,537 Rp 62.5M
-87.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$366 NIO 13.4K
$1,762 Rp 31.2M
-79.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,192 NIO 43.7K
$2,826 Rp 50.0M
-57.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$642 NIO 23.5K
$2,292 Rp 40.5M
-71.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Managua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$357 NIO 13.1K
$170 Rp 3.0M
110.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.25
13.78
-25.62%

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

Last update for Managua: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $255 in Managua versus $1,117 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 110% higher in Managua, 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 $37.00 in Managua versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $257 vs $293 – making Managua 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
Managua vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Managua and in Ubud, Bali compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $998 in Managua, $1,396 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 40% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Managua compared to Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,497 per month in Managua and $2,095 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Managua and Ubud, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Managua, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Managua and in Ubud, Bali?
Public transport costs about 41% less in Managua. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Managua and Ubud, Bali?
Kindergarten costs $234 per month in Managua and $487 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Managua, where all-in costs run around $998, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. In Managua it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Managua and Ubud, Bali?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $998 in Managua to $1,396 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Managua or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Managua and Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Managua. 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.

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