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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $681 in Maseru versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,098 in Maseru versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,515 in Maseru versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Maseru costs roughly 52% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Maseru is 49% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.24 LSL 183
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
215.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.79 LSL 404
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
-24.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.96 LSL 179
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
121.41%
Cappuccino
$1.76 LSL 28.62
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
-35.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 LSL 21.60
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
-1.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 LSL 12.21
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
7.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.95 LSL 31.73
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
-33.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 LSL 36.13
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
-43.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 LSL 16.19
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
-45.30%
White Bread (500g)
$0.71 LSL 11.61
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
-71.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.18 LSL 35.55
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
87.93%
Eggs
$1.37 LSL 22.41
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
-44.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.17 LSL 117
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
-51.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.56 LSL 90.6
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
28.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.71 LSL 93.0
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
-52.97%
Apples (1kg)
$1.66 LSL 27.14
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
-56.77%
Banana (1kg)
$2.10 LSL 34.27
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
34.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.53 LSL 41.31
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
-10.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 LSL 35.52
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
-6.44%
Potato (1kg)
$1.49 LSL 24.23
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
-21.99%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 LSL 24.67
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
-31.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.37 LSL 22.26
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
35.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 LSL 12.77
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.85 LSL 79.1
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
46.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.26 LSL 118
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
-69.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 LSL 15.70
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
-65.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 LSL 23.44
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
-49.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.70 LSL 11.37
$0.27 Rp 4,800
159.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$28.09 LSL 458
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
249.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.64 LSL 10.51
$0.46 Rp 8,150
39.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.61 LSL 10.01
$0.45 Rp 8,037
35.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.04 LSL 164
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
64.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 LSL 18.63
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
44.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.0K LSL 325.5K
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
-23.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.3K LSL 249.8K
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
-52.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.60 LSL 222
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
234.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.41 LSL 512
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
33.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.63 LSL 353
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-78.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$48.66 LSL 793
$304 Rp 5.4M
-83.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,124 LSL 18.3K
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
-83.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.80 LSL 714
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
-21.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.16 LSL 638
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
2.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.9 LSL 1,611
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
11.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139 LSL 2,268
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
78.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$140 LSL 2,279
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
-86.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$72.5 LSL 1,181
$675 Rp 12.1M
-89.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$396 LSL 6,458
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
-88.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$157 LSL 2,561
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
-92.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$386 LSL 6,296
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
-86.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$528 LSL 8,605
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
-76.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$643 LSL 10.5K
$165 Rp 3.0M
288.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.5
13.28
-35.99%

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

Last update for Maseru: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $140 in Maseru and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Maseru pays 289% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 vs $302 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 Ubud, Bali?
Maseru and Ubud, Bali differ by about 109% in total monthly costs ($681 vs $1,419 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?
Maseru pays 289% more on average, 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 Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $140 in Maseru versus $1,006 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 $33.00 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 $681 per month in Maseru versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – a 109% 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 $681 in Maseru versus $1,419 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 109% 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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