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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $389 per month in Manakara vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $583 per month in Manakara vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $776 per month in Manakara vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Manakara is about 73% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Manakara sits 71% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.16 MGA 9,041

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

-39.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.90 MGA 62.5K

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

-54.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.53 MGA 14.8K

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

-28.69%

Cappuccino

$1.19 MGA 5,009

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

-56.09%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 MGA 2,571

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

-54.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.55 MGA 2,286

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

-21.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 MGA 5,001

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

-59.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 MGA 5,963

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

-64.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 MGA 7,611

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

0.55%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 MGA 4,123

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

-61.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.73 MGA 3,075

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

-37.07%

Eggs

$2.23 MGA 9,330

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

-9.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.32 MGA 26.5K

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

-57.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.36 MGA 14.1K

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

-22.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.52 MGA 14.8K

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

-71.00%

Apples (1kg)

$0.95 MGA 3,977

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

-75.26%

Banana (1kg)

$0.73 MGA 3,075

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

-53.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.35 MGA 1,453

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

-87.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 MGA 3,064

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

-68.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.54 MGA 2,266

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

-71.73%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 MGA 3,191

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

-65.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.31 MGA 1,315

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

-69.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 MGA 2,915

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

-10.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.41 MGA 5,900

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

-57.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.71 MGA 19.8K

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

-80.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MGA 4,468

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

-61.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 MGA 5,517

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

-53.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 MGA 877

$0.27 Rp 4,800

-22.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.46 MGA 73.2K

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

117.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.13 MGA 4,720

$0.46 Rp 8,150

145.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.18 MGA 9,140

$0.45 Rp 8,037

384.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 MGA 14.3K

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

-43.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 MGA 4,992

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

50.63%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$15.4K MGA 64.6M

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

-41.10%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.4K MGA 85.6M

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

-36.45%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$42.44 MGA 177.9K

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

-46.91%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.1 MGA 222.8K

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

125.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$11.41 MGA 47.8K

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

-88.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$21.80 MGA 91.4K

$304 Rp 5.4M

-92.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.48 MGA 69.1K

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

-70.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.25 MGA 84.9K

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

-47.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.64 MGA 191.4K

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

-48.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.89 MGA 188.2K

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

-42.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$125 MGA 525.4K

$165 Rp 3.0M

-24.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

80.72%

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

Last update for Manakara: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 32% higher in Ubud, Bali, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Manakara versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $130 vs $302 – making Manakara 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

Manakara vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 265%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $584 per month in Manakara and $2,129 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $21.80 per month in Manakara and $304 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 131% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Manakara, where all-in costs run around $389, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Manakara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Manakara – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Manakara. 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.