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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $905 in Mandaue versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,369 in Mandaue versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,833 in Mandaue versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Mandaue costs roughly 36% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mandaue is 32% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mandaue
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.40 ₱271
$3.45 Rp 61.8K
27.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.85 ₱1,468
$32.34 Rp 578.5K
-26.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.37 ₱269
$4.84 Rp 86.7K
-9.71%
Cappuccino
$2.55 ₱157
$2.75 Rp 49.1K
-7.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 ₱48.26
$1.38 Rp 24.8K
-43.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 ₱26.31
$0.75 Rp 13.4K
-42.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.52 ₱93.8
$2.99 Rp 53.5K
-49.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15 ₱132
$3.85 Rp 68.9K
-44.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mandaue
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.12 ₱130
$1.74 Rp 31.1K
21.84%
White Bread (500g)
$0.80 ₱49.37
$2.46 Rp 44.0K
-67.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.98 ₱60.5
$1.17 Rp 20.9K
-16.24%
Eggs
$2.26 ₱139
$2.43 Rp 43.5K
-7.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.94 ₱797
$14.50 Rp 259.5K
-10.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.18 ₱319
$4.35 Rp 77.8K
19.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.77 ₱478
$11.98 Rp 214.3K
-35.14%
Apples (1kg)
$3.57 ₱220
$3.72 Rp 66.5K
-4.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 ₱94.3
$1.63 Rp 29.1K
-6.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.39 ₱209
$2.74 Rp 49.1K
23.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 ₱139
$2.24 Rp 40.1K
0.89%
Potato (1kg)
$2.55 ₱157
$1.92 Rp 34.3K
32.81%
Onion (1kg)
$2.47 ₱152
$2.28 Rp 40.7K
8.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.94 ₱57.7
$1.06 Rp 19.0K
-11.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 ₱48.55
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
9.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.62 ₱161
$3.29 Rp 58.8K
-20.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.24 ₱384
$23.19 Rp 414.9K
-73.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 ₱71.8
$2.78 Rp 49.7K
-57.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 ₱145
$2.73 Rp 48.9K
-13.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Mandaue
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 ₱15.98
$0.27 Rp 4,765
-3.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.11 Rp 145.0K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.87 ₱53.4
$0.48 Rp 8,636
81.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.25 ₱15.48
$0.42 Rp 7,511
-40.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.63 ₱162
$6.22 Rp 111.3K
-57.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ₱67.2
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
34.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K ₱1.9M
$26.6K Rp 476.1M
13.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4K ₱1.7M
$32.2K Rp 575.9M
-14.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mandaue
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.6 ₱5,944
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
23.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.07 ₱1,605
$4.07 Rp 72.8K
540.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.13 ₱1,855
$24.33 Rp 435.2K
23.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mandaue
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.75 ₱3,001
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
-50.56%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.36 ₱268
$6.34 Rp 113.3K
-31.23%
Cinema Ticket
$6.11 ₱376
$3.99 Rp 71.3K
53.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mandaue
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$228 ₱14.1K
$305 Rp 5.5M
-25.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,860 ₱237.6K
$6,642 Rp 118.8M
-41.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mandaue
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.98 ₱2,769
$54.1 Rp 968.6K
-16.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$23.33 ₱1,437
$37.81 Rp 676.3K
-38.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.8 ₱4,667
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
-12.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.5 ₱3,416
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
-27.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mandaue
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$263 ₱16.2K
$992 Rp 17.7M
-73.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$287 ₱17.7K
$673 Rp 12.0M
-57.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$837 ₱51.6K
$3,375 Rp 60.4M
-75.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$442 ₱27.2K
$2,050 Rp 36.7M
-78.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,718 ₱167.3K
$2,805 Rp 50.2M
-3.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$837 ₱51.5K
$2,227 Rp 39.8M
-62.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mandaue
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$246 ₱15.1K
$167 Rp 3.0M
47.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8
13.28
-39.76%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mandaue: July 14, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $263 in Mandaue and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mandaue pays 47% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $24.00 in Mandaue vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $297 per month, with Mandaue 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
Mandaue vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mandaue or Ubud, Bali?
Mandaue wins on cost – living expenses run 56% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mandaue the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mandaue or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 47% higher in Mandaue, 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 Mandaue compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $263 in Mandaue versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Mandaue and in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $228 in Mandaue versus $305 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Mandaue and in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Mandaue – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mandaue or in Ubud, Bali?
At $905 in Mandaue versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mandaue but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Mandaue the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mandaue or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mandaue delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $905 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mandaue hard to pass up.
How safe is Mandaue compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Mandaue 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 Mandaue gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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