Cost of Living Comparison Between Mandal and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Mandal and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

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: Mandal 86% above, Ubud, Bali 7% above.

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

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