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: $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
$9.28 LSL 149
$3.37 Rp 59.7K
175.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.64 LSL 395
$38.59 Rp 682.4K
-36.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.65 LSL 139
$5.52 Rp 97.6K
56.70%
Cappuccino
$2.12 LSL 33.93
$2.64 Rp 46.8K
-19.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 LSL 17.36
$1.67 Rp 29.6K
-35.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 LSL 13.68
$0.77 Rp 13.6K
10.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.92 LSL 30.72
$2.63 Rp 46.6K
-27.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 LSL 40.63
$4.28 Rp 75.7K
-40.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 LSL 19.51
$1.55 Rp 27.3K
-21.29%
White Bread (500g)
$0.82 LSL 13.11
$2.22 Rp 39.3K
-63.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.84 LSL 29.52
$1.13 Rp 19.9K
62.83%
Eggs
$1.61 LSL 25.83
$2.09 Rp 36.9K
-22.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.03 LSL 113
$17.39 Rp 307.6K
-59.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.22 LSL 99.8
$3.87 Rp 68.4K
60.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.20 LSL 99.4
$12.55 Rp 221.9K
-50.60%
Apples (1kg)
$1.97 LSL 31.60
$3.62 Rp 63.9K
-45.58%
Banana (1kg)
$2.35 LSL 37.67
$1.56 Rp 27.6K
50.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.76 LSL 44.29
$2.35 Rp 41.6K
17.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.42 LSL 38.85
$2.06 Rp 36.4K
17.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.57 LSL 25.12
$1.90 Rp 33.6K
-17.37%
Onion (1kg)
$1.64 LSL 26.25
$2.34 Rp 41.3K
-29.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.53 LSL 24.56
$1.03 Rp 18.2K
48.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84 LSL 13.54
$0.55 Rp 9,809
52.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.35 LSL 85.7
$2.25 Rp 39.8K
137.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.42 LSL 119
$23.81 Rp 421.0K
-68.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 LSL 17.99
$2.31 Rp 40.9K
-51.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 LSL 25.46
$2.80 Rp 49.5K
-43.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 LSL 13.41
$0.27 Rp 4,816
211.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.97 LSL 497
$8.66 Rp 153.2K
257.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.72 LSL 11.60
$0.48 Rp 8,515
50.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.66 LSL 10.57
$0.45 Rp 7,887
46.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.77 LSL 60.5
$5.72 Rp 101.1K
-34.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 LSL 21.22
$0.76 Rp 13.4K
73.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K LSL 350.4K
$24.5K Rp 433.0M
-10.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.0K LSL 272.2K
$32.1K Rp 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)
-
$83.6 Rp 1.5M
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.02 LSL 241
$6.46 Rp 114.2K
132.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.11 LSL 627
$18.99 Rp 335.9K
105.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.99 LSL 385
$56.0 Rp 989.8K
-57.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.62 Rp 329.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.28 Rp 75.7K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$53.2 LSL 854
$487 Rp 8.6M
-89.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,216 LSL 19.5K
$5,856 Rp 103.6M
-79.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.93 LSL 753
$45.56 Rp 805.6K
3.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.9 LSL 912
$36.38 Rp 643.3K
56.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 LSL 1,723
$82.0 Rp 1.4M
31.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$154 LSL 2,462
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
90.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$94.6 LSL 1,518
$1,117 Rp 19.7M
-91.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$56.3 LSL 904
$701 Rp 12.4M
-91.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$452 LSL 7,245
$3,537 Rp 62.5M
-87.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$178 LSL 2,851
$1,762 Rp 31.2M
-89.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$395 LSL 6,338
$2,826 Rp 50.0M
-86.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$537 LSL 8,605
$2,292 Rp 40.5M
-76.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$647 LSL 10.4K
$170 Rp 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.

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