🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $699 in Maseru versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,161 in Maseru versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,624 in Maseru versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Maseru costs roughly 50% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Maseru is 49% below, Ubud, Bali is 2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.28LSL 149
$3.37Rp 59.7K
175.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.64LSL 395
$38.59Rp 682.4K
-36.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.65LSL 139
$5.52Rp 97.6K
56.70%
Cappuccino
$2.12LSL 33.93
$2.64Rp 46.8K
-19.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08LSL 17.36
$1.67Rp 29.6K
-35.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85LSL 13.68
$0.77Rp 13.6K
10.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.92LSL 30.72
$2.63Rp 46.6K
-27.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53LSL 40.63
$4.28Rp 75.7K
-40.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22LSL 19.51
$1.55Rp 27.3K
-21.29%
White Bread(500g)
$0.82LSL 13.11
$2.22Rp 39.3K
-63.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.84LSL 29.52
$1.13Rp 19.9K
62.83%
Eggs
$1.61LSL 25.83
$2.09Rp 36.9K
-22.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.03LSL 113
$17.39Rp 307.6K
-59.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.22LSL 99.8
$3.87Rp 68.4K
60.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.20LSL 99.4
$12.55Rp 221.9K
-50.60%
Apples(1kg)
$1.97LSL 31.60
$3.62Rp 63.9K
-45.58%
Banana(1kg)
$2.35LSL 37.67
$1.56Rp 27.6K
50.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.76LSL 44.29
$2.35Rp 41.6K
17.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.42LSL 38.85
$2.06Rp 36.4K
17.48%
Potato(1kg)
$1.57LSL 25.12
$1.90Rp 33.6K
-17.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.64LSL 26.25
$2.34Rp 41.3K
-29.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.53LSL 24.56
$1.03Rp 18.2K
48.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84LSL 13.54
$0.55Rp 9,809
52.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.35LSL 85.7
$2.25Rp 39.8K
137.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.42LSL 119
$23.81Rp 421.0K
-68.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12LSL 17.99
$2.31Rp 40.9K
-51.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59LSL 25.46
$2.80Rp 49.5K
-43.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84LSL 13.41
$0.27Rp 4,816
211.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.97LSL 497
$8.66Rp 153.2K
257.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.72LSL 11.60
$0.48Rp 8,515
50.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.66LSL 10.57
$0.45Rp 7,887
46.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.77LSL 60.5
$5.72Rp 101.1K
-34.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32LSL 21.22
$0.76Rp 13.4K
73.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8KLSL 350.4K
$24.5KRp 433.0M
-10.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.0KLSL 272.2K
$32.1KRp 568.0M
-47.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$83.6Rp 1.5M
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.02LSL 241
$6.46Rp 114.2K
132.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.11LSL 627
$18.99Rp 335.9K
105.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.99LSL 385
$56.0Rp 989.8K
-57.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.62Rp 329.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.28Rp 75.7K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$53.2LSL 854
$487Rp 8.6M
-89.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,216LSL 19.5K
$5,856Rp 103.6M
-79.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.93LSL 753
$45.56Rp 805.6K
3.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.9LSL 912
$36.38Rp 643.3K
56.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107LSL 1,723
$82.0Rp 1.4M
31.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$154LSL 2,462
$80.4Rp 1.4M
90.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$94.6LSL 1,518
$1,117Rp 19.7M
-91.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$56.3LSL 904
$701Rp 12.4M
-91.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$452LSL 7,245
$3,537Rp 62.5M
-87.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$178LSL 2,851
$1,762Rp 31.2M
-89.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$395LSL 6,338
$2,826Rp 50.0M
-86.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$537LSL 8,605
$2,292Rp 40.5M
-76.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$647LSL 10.4K
$170Rp 3.0M
281.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.5
13.78
-38.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Maseru: August 29, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $94.6 in Maseru and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Maseru pays 281% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $25.00 in Maseru vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $200 vs $293 per month, with Maseru 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
Maseru vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Maseru and in Ubud, Bali?
Maseru and Ubud, Bali differ by about 100% in total monthly costs ($699 vs $1,396 including rent). Maseru is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Maseru or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 281% higher in Maseru, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Maseru and in Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $94.6 in Maseru versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Maseru – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Maseru or Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $699 per month in Maseru versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali – a 100% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $699 in Maseru versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Maseru but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Maseru the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Maseru and Ubud, Bali?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Maseru or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Maseru 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.
Where should expats move: Maseru or Ubud, Bali?
Expats usually find Maseru gentler on the wallet – expenses run 100% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.