😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,842 in Mandal versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,323 in Mandal versus $2,327 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,805 in Mandal versus $3,275 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Mandal is roughly 106% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mandal106% above, Ubud, Bali0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mandal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.74NOK 239
$3.33Rp 58.7K
672.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.0NOK 919
$35.82Rp 630.7K
176.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.23NOK 151
$5.63Rp 99.1K
188.28%
Cappuccino
$6.42NOK 59.7
$2.82Rp 49.7K
127.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.36NOK 49.79
$1.75Rp 30.8K
206.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.35NOK 40.37
$0.80Rp 14.0K
443.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$13.73NOK 128
$3.04Rp 53.6K
351.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$12.09NOK 112
$4.30Rp 75.7K
181.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mandal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.25NOK 20.88
$1.61Rp 28.3K
39.75%
White Bread(500g)
$3.72NOK 34.54
$2.27Rp 39.9K
63.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.81NOK 35.42
$1.17Rp 20.6K
225.64%
Eggs
$3.27NOK 30.38
$2.17Rp 38.2K
50.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.93NOK 129
$17.63Rp 310.5K
-20.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$17.21NOK 160
$4.05Rp 71.4K
324.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$35.53NOK 330
$12.18Rp 214.5K
191.71%
Apples(1kg)
$3.56NOK 33.04
$3.62Rp 63.7K
-1.66%
Banana(1kg)
$2.77NOK 25.77
$1.64Rp 28.8K
68.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.59NOK 33.35
$2.31Rp 40.6K
55.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.83NOK 44.89
$1.96Rp 34.5K
146.43%
Potato(1kg)
$2.58NOK 23.93
$1.84Rp 32.5K
40.22%
Onion(1kg)
$3.16NOK 29.35
$2.37Rp 41.7K
33.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.57NOK 14.57
$1.05Rp 18.5K
49.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.32NOK 21.57
$0.54Rp 9,560
329.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.60NOK 164
$2.30Rp 40.6K
665.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.97NOK 176
$23.08Rp 406.4K
-17.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.17NOK 29.44
$2.34Rp 41.2K
35.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07NOK 28.53
$3.07Rp 54.0K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mandal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.85NOK 45.03
$0.25Rp 4,365
1840.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$84.9NOK 789
$9.42Rp 165.9K
801.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.06NOK 56.3
$0.49Rp 8,631
1136.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.25NOK 11.63
$0.47Rp 8,349
165.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$104NOK 970
$5.60Rp 98.6K
1765.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.27NOK 21.13
$0.81Rp 14.2K
180.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.8KNOK 462.5K
$25.0KRp 440.3M
99.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.5KNOK 394.6K
$31.1KRp 547.0M
36.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mandal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$243NOK 2,258
$82.7Rp 1.5M
193.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.78NOK 323
$6.49Rp 114.2K
435.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$84.7NOK 787
$18.79Rp 330.8K
350.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mandal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.5NOK 478
$55.2Rp 972.6K
-6.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.11NOK 345
$18.21Rp 320.6K
103.79%
Cinema Ticket
$22.10NOK 205
$4.30Rp 75.7K
413.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mandal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$321NOK 2,980
$494Rp 8.7M
-35.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.3KNOK 132.7K
$5,917Rp 104.2M
141.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mandal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$129NOK 1,198
$46.28Rp 814.8K
178.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.1NOK 577
$36.44Rp 641.6K
70.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$156NOK 1,453
$80.7Rp 1.4M
93.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$203NOK 1,888
$78.8Rp 1.4M
157.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mandal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,229NOK 11.4K
$1,114Rp 19.6M
10.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,038NOK 9,645
$693Rp 12.2M
49.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,050NOK 19.0K
$3,639Rp 64.1M
-43.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,702NOK 15.8K
$1,712Rp 30.1M
-0.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,369NOK 59.2K
$2,761Rp 48.6M
130.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,272NOK 39.7K
$2,293Rp 40.4M
86.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mandal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,365NOK 40.5K
$167Rp 2.9M
2512.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.27
13.78
-61.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mandal: September 8, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,229 in Mandal and $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mandal pays 2512% 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: $99.0 in Mandal vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $503 vs $294 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 106% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mandal or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 2512% 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: $1,229 in Mandal versus $1,114 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 $2,842 per month in Mandal versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali – a 106% 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 801% 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 $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,842 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 106% less than in Mandal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.