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