😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,415 in Mandal versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,779 in Mandal versus $2,557 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,143 in Mandal versus $3,723 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Mandal is roughly 73% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mandal81% above, Ubud, Bali5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mandal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.83NOK 238
$3.57Rp 64.6K
595.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$121NOK 1,164
$32.32Rp 584.4K
275.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.14NOK 145
$5.01Rp 90.5K
202.20%
Cappuccino
$5.17NOK 49.56
$2.82Rp 51.1K
83.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94NOK 37.80
$1.35Rp 24.4K
191.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30NOK 31.66
$0.73Rp 13.2K
352.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.14NOK 107
$2.93Rp 53.0K
280.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.00NOK 96.0
$3.94Rp 71.2K
153.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mandal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.20NOK 21.12
$1.78Rp 32.2K
23.60%
White Bread(500g)
$3.13NOK 30.03
$2.45Rp 44.3K
27.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.65NOK 44.58
$1.15Rp 20.8K
304.35%
Eggs
$3.08NOK 29.57
$2.41Rp 43.7K
27.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.97NOK 124
$14.33Rp 259.1K
-9.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.88NOK 152
$4.19Rp 75.7K
279.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$26.97NOK 259
$12.06Rp 218.1K
123.63%
Apples(1kg)
$3.56NOK 34.18
$3.64Rp 65.8K
-2.20%
Banana(1kg)
$2.61NOK 25.01
$1.57Rp 28.3K
66.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.10NOK 29.72
$2.79Rp 50.4K
11.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.78NOK 45.89
$2.24Rp 40.5K
113.39%
Potato(1kg)
$2.13NOK 20.47
$1.98Rp 35.8K
7.58%
Onion(1kg)
$3.03NOK 29.04
$2.28Rp 41.2K
32.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55NOK 14.91
$1.05Rp 19.1K
47.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.83NOK 17.55
$0.79Rp 14.2K
131.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.00NOK 144
$3.19Rp 57.7K
370.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.44NOK 177
$23.49Rp 424.8K
-21.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.11NOK 29.82
$2.90Rp 52.4K
7.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95NOK 28.31
$2.76Rp 49.8K
6.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Mandal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.32NOK 41.40
$0.27Rp 4,821
1500.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$72.2NOK 692
$8.37Rp 151.3K
762.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.43NOK 52.1
$0.45Rp 8,180
1106.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00NOK 9.60
$0.46Rp 8,311
117.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$100NOK 963
$6.07Rp 109.7K
1553.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.15NOK 20.60
$0.86Rp 15.6K
150.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5KNOK 330.6K
$26.6KRp 480.7M
29.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7KNOK 313.6K
$32.5KRp 588.6M
0.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mandal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$190NOK 1,824
$79.0Rp 1.4M
140.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.73NOK 314
$4.09Rp 74.0K
700.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$83.3NOK 799
$23.85Rp 431.2K
249.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mandal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.46NOK 474
$98.8Rp 1.8M
-49.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.77NOK 334
$6.35Rp 114.9K
447.56%
Cinema Ticket
$19.07NOK 183
$4.01Rp 72.5K
375.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mandal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$324NOK 3,110
$297Rp 5.4M
9.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.9KNOK 123.7K
$6,602Rp 119.4M
95.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mandal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$120NOK 1,153
$53.4Rp 966.0K
124.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.1NOK 577
$38.11Rp 689.2K
57.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104NOK 997
$88.7Rp 1.6M
17.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$161NOK 1,546
$76.6Rp 1.4M
110.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mandal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,230NOK 11.8K
$1,020Rp 18.4M
20.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$892NOK 8,556
$680Rp 12.3M
31.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,855NOK 17.8K
$3,469Rp 62.7M
-46.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,556NOK 14.9K
$2,090Rp 37.8M
-25.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,052NOK 58.1K
$2,729Rp 49.3M
121.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,993NOK 38.3K
$2,295Rp 41.5M
73.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mandal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,304NOK 41.3K
$164Rp 3.0M
2529.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.51
13.28
-66.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mandal: July 27, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,230 in Mandal and $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mandal pays 2529% 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: $121 in Mandal vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $452 vs $298 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.
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
Mandal vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Mandal?
Ubud, Bali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 73% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mandal or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 2529% higher in Mandal, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Mandal and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,230 in Mandal versus $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Mandal and in Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $2,415 per month in Mandal versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali – a 73% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 762% less than in Mandal. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Mandal or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,392 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,415 in Mandal, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Mandal. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mandal or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Ubud, Bali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mandal, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Mandal or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Mandal 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Mandal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.