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 $410 per month in Manakara vs $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $629 per month in Manakara vs $2,327 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $848 per month in Manakara vs $3,275 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Manakara is about 70% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Manakara sits 70% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.26 MGA 9,807

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

-32.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.04 MGA 65.2K

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

-58.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.67 MGA 15.9K

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

-34.81%

Cappuccino

$1.26 MGA 5,478

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

-55.32%

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

$0.59 MGA 2,552

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

-66.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 MGA 2,598

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

-25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.25 MGA 5,424

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

-58.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 MGA 6,568

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

-64.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 MGA 8,201

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

17.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 MGA 4,600

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

-53.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.70 MGA 3,050

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

-40.17%

Eggs

$2.35 MGA 10.2K

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

8.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.90 MGA 29.9K

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

-60.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.60 MGA 15.6K

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

-11.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.60 MGA 15.6K

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

-70.44%

Apples (1kg)

$1.00 MGA 4,321

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

-72.38%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 MGA 3,241

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

-54.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.36 MGA 1,566

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

-84.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 MGA 3,270

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

-61.73%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 MGA 2,673

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

-66.30%

Onion (1kg)

$0.79 MGA 3,403

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

-66.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 MGA 1,472

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

-67.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 MGA 3,101

$0.54 Rp 9,560

33.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.47 MGA 6,348

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

-36.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.70 MGA 20.4K

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

-79.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MGA 4,869

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

-52.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 MGA 5,824

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

-56.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 MGA 953

$0.25 Rp 4,365

-12.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.40 MGA 157.7K

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

286.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 MGA 5,083

$0.49 Rp 8,631

138.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.36 MGA 10.2K

$0.47 Rp 8,349

402.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.55 MGA 15.4K

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

-36.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.19 MGA 5,172

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

46.91%

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

$16.1K MGA 69.9M

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

-35.51%

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

$21.5K MGA 93.1M

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

-30.83%

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

$44.88 MGA 194.4K

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

-45.74%

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

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.8 MGA 242.0K

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

197.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.07 MGA 52.3K

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

-78.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

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

$22.71 MGA 98.4K

$494 Rp 8.7M

-95.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.15 MGA 74.3K

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

-62.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.34 MGA 92.5K

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

-41.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.43 MGA 209.9K

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

-39.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.11 MGA 199.8K

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

-41.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$693 Rp 12.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$120 MGA 521.5K

$167 Rp 2.9M

-27.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

74.17%

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

Last update for Manakara: September 6, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 39% 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $137 vs $294 – 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 236%, 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 $615 per month in Manakara and $2,067 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Kindergarten costs $22.71 per month in Manakara and $494 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 114% 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 $410, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,378. 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.