😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,496 in Manama versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,408 in Manama versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,319 in Manama versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Living in Manama is roughly 5% more expensive than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Manama12% above, Ubud, Bali6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Manama
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.48BHD 2.44
$3.56Rp 63.7K
82.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5BHD 20.16
$32.73Rp 584.5K
63.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.27BHD 2.74
$4.95Rp 88.4K
46.87%
Cappuccino
$5.34BHD 2.01
$2.71Rp 48.4K
97.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87BHD 0.33
$1.34Rp 24.0K
-35.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36BHD 0.14
$0.70Rp 12.5K
-48.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.09BHD 3.05
$2.92Rp 52.1K
177.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.54BHD 3.97
$3.96Rp 70.7K
166.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Manama
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71BHD 0.64
$1.81Rp 32.3K
-5.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.27BHD 0.48
$2.52Rp 45.0K
-49.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.43BHD 0.91
$1.16Rp 20.7K
109.48%
Eggs
$2.47BHD 0.93
$2.46Rp 43.9K
0.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.59BHD 3.24
$14.71Rp 262.7K
-41.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.74BHD 2.92
$4.32Rp 77.1K
79.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.28BHD 3.88
$12.14Rp 216.7K
-15.32%
Apples(1kg)
$2.36BHD 0.89
$3.84Rp 68.6K
-38.54%
Banana(1kg)
$2.11BHD 0.79
$1.56Rp 27.8K
35.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.77BHD 0.67
$2.83Rp 50.6K
-37.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.18BHD 0.44
$2.33Rp 41.5K
-49.36%
Potato(1kg)
$0.93BHD 0.35
$1.91Rp 34.2K
-51.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.09BHD 0.41
$2.20Rp 39.3K
-50.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46BHD 0.55
$1.01Rp 18.1K
44.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86BHD 0.32
$0.78Rp 13.8K
10.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58BHD 2.48
$3.32Rp 59.2K
98.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.88BHD 7.12
$23.74Rp 423.9K
-20.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.44BHD 1.30
$2.79Rp 49.8K
23.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29BHD 1.24
$2.86Rp 51.1K
15.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Manama
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.83BHD 0.31
$0.27Rp 4,800
207.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.28BHD 11.79
$8.03Rp 143.4K
289.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.58BHD 1.72
$0.46Rp 8,150
895.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.96BHD 1.49
$0.45Rp 8,037
780.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.86BHD 10.13
$6.10Rp 108.9K
340.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.52BHD 0.19
$0.79Rp 14.2K
-34.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.8KBHD 13.9K
$26.1KRp 467.0M
40.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7KBHD 7,796
$32.1KRp 573.6M
-35.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manama
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$121BHD 45.53
$79.9Rp 1.4M
51.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.86BHD 10.13
$4.06Rp 72.6K
561.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.52BHD 14.52
$23.52Rp 420.0K
63.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Manama
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$71.0BHD 26.78
$98.7Rp 1.8M
-28.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$45.13BHD 17.01
$6.63Rp 118.4K
580.69%
Cinema Ticket
$10.78BHD 4.06
$4.15Rp 74.1K
159.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manama
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$382BHD 144
$304Rp 5.4M
25.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,953BHD 3,375
$6,613Rp 118.1M
35.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Manama
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.73BHD 17.62
$55.5Rp 991.8K
-15.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.8BHD 24.03
$38.31Rp 684.1K
66.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.8BHD 31.98
$88.6Rp 1.6M
-4.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.8BHD 33.47
$77.9Rp 1.4M
14.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manama
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$818BHD 308
$1,006Rp 18.0M
-18.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$559BHD 211
$675Rp 12.1M
-17.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,791BHD 675
$3,442Rp 61.5M
-47.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,244BHD 469
$2,039Rp 36.4M
-38.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,629BHD 991
$2,841Rp 50.7M
-7.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,941BHD 732
$2,264Rp 40.4M
-14.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Manama
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,360BHD 890
$165Rp 3.0M
1328.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.56
13.28
-35.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Manama: May 31, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $818 in Manama and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Manama pays 1328% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Manama vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $265 vs $302, with Manama cheaper for home cooking.
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
Manama vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Manama or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Manama. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Manama or Ubud, Bali?
Manama pays 1328% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Manama vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $818 in Manama versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Manama vs Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 290% less than in Manama. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Manama and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $382 in Manama versus $304 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Manama or Ubud, Bali?
At $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,496 in Manama, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Manama. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Manama or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,419 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Manama compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Manama 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Manama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.