😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,489 in Mandal versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,859 in Mandal versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,229 in Mandal versus $3,732 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Living in Mandal is roughly 73% more expensive than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mandal86% above, Ubud, Bali7% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mandal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.16NOK 234
$3.57Rp 61.9K
604.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$120NOK 1,119
$32.58Rp 564.7K
268.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.03NOK 140
$5.07Rp 87.8K
196.45%
Cappuccino
$5.07NOK 47.23
$2.83Rp 49.0K
79.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.88NOK 36.12
$1.34Rp 23.2K
189.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39NOK 31.60
$0.69Rp 12.0K
391.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.09NOK 103
$2.99Rp 51.8K
270.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.14NOK 94.5
$3.85Rp 66.7K
163.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mandal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.09NOK 19.49
$1.74Rp 30.2K
20.11%
White Bread(500g)
$3.15NOK 29.34
$2.54Rp 44.0K
24.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.46NOK 41.54
$1.19Rp 20.6K
274.79%
Eggs
$2.99NOK 27.90
$2.43Rp 42.0K
23.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.32NOK 124
$14.66Rp 254.1K
-9.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$15.78NOK 147
$4.18Rp 72.4K
277.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$26.97NOK 251
$11.94Rp 206.9K
125.88%
Apples(1kg)
$3.42NOK 31.92
$3.69Rp 63.9K
-7.32%
Banana(1kg)
$2.62NOK 24.39
$1.61Rp 27.8K
62.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.00NOK 27.93
$2.69Rp 46.5K
11.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.64NOK 43.23
$2.33Rp 40.4K
99.14%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06NOK 19.23
$1.91Rp 33.0K
7.85%
Onion(1kg)
$2.95NOK 27.48
$2.19Rp 37.9K
34.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48NOK 13.76
$1.06Rp 18.3K
39.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.84NOK 17.15
$0.72Rp 12.5K
155.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$15.40NOK 143
$3.13Rp 54.3K
392.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.20NOK 179
$23.49Rp 407.1K
-18.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.11NOK 28.96
$2.74Rp 47.5K
13.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93NOK 27.27
$2.88Rp 49.9K
1.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Mandal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.13NOK 38.47
$0.29Rp 5,029
1324.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$72.6NOK 677
$8.17Rp 141.6K
788.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.70NOK 53.1
$0.45Rp 7,863
1166.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.05NOK 9.80
$0.42Rp 7,305
150.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$99.6NOK 928
$6.16Rp 106.7K
1516.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.10NOK 19.61
$0.84Rp 14.6K
150.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7KNOK 323.2K
$26.2KRp 454.9M
32.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1KNOK 299.6K
$32.5KRp 562.9M
-1.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mandal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$194NOK 1,805
$78.4Rp 1.4M
147.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.72NOK 305
$3.95Rp 68.5K
728.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$80.7NOK 752
$24.40Rp 423.0K
230.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mandal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.72NOK 454
$96.5Rp 1.7M
-49.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.29NOK 329
$6.35Rp 110.0K
455.75%
Cinema Ticket
$18.92NOK 176
$4.04Rp 70.0K
368.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mandal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$320NOK 2,985
$303Rp 5.2M
5.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.0KNOK 120.9K
$6,523Rp 113.1M
98.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mandal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$116NOK 1,079
$53.8Rp 933.1K
115.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.0NOK 559
$37.98Rp 658.3K
58.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104NOK 969
$86.8Rp 1.5M
19.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$161NOK 1,499
$78.9Rp 1.4M
103.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mandal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,210NOK 11.3K
$1,012Rp 17.5M
19.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$888NOK 8,280
$674Rp 11.7M
31.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,805NOK 16.8K
$3,390Rp 58.8M
-46.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,551NOK 14.5K
$2,098Rp 36.4M
-26.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,484NOK 51.1K
$2,985Rp 51.7M
83.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,627NOK 43.1K
$2,339Rp 40.5M
97.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mandal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,425NOK 41.2K
$173Rp 3.0M
2455.95%
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: April 28, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,210 in Mandal and $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mandal pays 2456% 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: $120 in Mandal vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $450 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?
Mandal pays 2456% more on average, 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: $1,210 in Mandal versus $1,012 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 vs Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $2,489 per month in Mandal versus $1,438 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 789% 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 Mandal or Ubud, Bali?
At $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,489 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.