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: $670 in Maseru versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,115 in Maseru versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,561 in Maseru versus $3,763 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 50% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.12 LSL 182
$3.45 Rp 62.1K
222.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.74 LSL 406
$32.34 Rp 581.1K
-23.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.04 LSL 181
$4.84 Rp 87.1K
128.10%
Cappuccino
$1.80 LSL 29.47
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
-34.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 LSL 20.90
$1.38 Rp 24.9K
-7.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 LSL 13.07
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
6.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.99 LSL 32.62
$2.99 Rp 53.8K
-33.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 LSL 36.23
$3.85 Rp 69.2K
-42.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 LSL 16.16
$1.74 Rp 31.2K
-43.10%
White Bread (500g)
$0.76 LSL 12.47
$2.46 Rp 44.2K
-69.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.20 LSL 36.09
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
88.03%
Eggs
$1.35 LSL 22.18
$2.43 Rp 43.7K
-44.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.93 LSL 114
$14.50 Rp 260.6K
-52.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.64 LSL 92.6
$4.35 Rp 78.2K
29.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.54 LSL 90.8
$11.98 Rp 215.3K
-53.76%
Apples (1kg)
$1.61 LSL 26.41
$3.72 Rp 66.8K
-56.72%
Banana (1kg)
$2.05 LSL 33.64
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
25.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.47 LSL 40.58
$2.74 Rp 49.3K
-9.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 LSL 36.30
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
-1.34%
Potato (1kg)
$1.42 LSL 23.36
$1.92 Rp 34.5K
-26.04%
Onion (1kg)
$1.47 LSL 24.12
$2.28 Rp 40.9K
-35.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.32 LSL 21.61
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
24.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 LSL 13.90
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
18.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.89 LSL 80.3
$3.29 Rp 59.0K
48.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.08 LSL 116
$23.19 Rp 416.8K
-69.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 LSL 16.62
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
-63.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 LSL 22.54
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
-49.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.71 LSL 11.60
$0.27 Rp 4,786
162.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.72 LSL 455
$8.11 Rp 145.7K
241.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.64 LSL 10.49
$0.48 Rp 8,675
33.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.63 LSL 10.30
$0.42 Rp 7,545
50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.12 LSL 166
$6.22 Rp 111.8K
62.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.14 LSL 18.77
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
40.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.9K LSL 325.9K
$26.6K Rp 478.2M
-25.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.3K LSL 251.2K
$32.2K Rp 578.5M
-52.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.53 LSL 222
$4.07 Rp 73.1K
232.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.63 LSL 519
$24.33 Rp 437.1K
30.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.63 LSL 355
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
-78.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.34 Rp 113.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$3.99 Rp 71.6K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$47.85 LSL 785
$305 Rp 5.5M
-84.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,104 LSL 18.1K
$6,642 Rp 119.4M
-83.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.18 LSL 692
$54.1 Rp 972.9K
-22.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.98 LSL 639
$37.81 Rp 679.4K
3.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.7 LSL 1,602
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
12.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138 LSL 2,266
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
80.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$143 LSL 2,338
$992 Rp 17.8M
-85.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$71.6 LSL 1,174
$673 Rp 12.1M
-89.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$402 LSL 6,586
$3,375 Rp 60.7M
-88.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$159 LSL 2,603
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
-92.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$391 LSL 6,415
$2,805 Rp 50.4M
-86.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$533 LSL 8,733
$2,227 Rp 40.0M
-76.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maseru
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$631 LSL 10.3K
$167 Rp 3.0M
277.85%
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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $143 in Maseru and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Maseru pays 278% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $297 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 110% in total monthly costs ($670 vs $1,408 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 278% 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: $143 in Maseru versus $992 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 $32.00 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 $670 per month in Maseru versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali – a 110% 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 $670 in Maseru versus $1,408 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 110% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Maseru vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities