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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $598 per month in Matara vs $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $867 per month in Matara vs $2,327 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,136 per month in Matara vs $3,275 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Matara is about 57% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Matara sits 57% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.32 LKR 1,421

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

29.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.06 LKR 8,564

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

-27.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.79 LKR 2,560

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

38.37%

Cappuccino

$2.48 LKR 816

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

-12.06%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 LKR 227

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

-60.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 LKR 89.1

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

-66.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.28 LKR 748

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

-25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.09 LKR 1,015

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

-28.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 LKR 514

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

-3.11%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 LKR 172

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

-77.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.79 LKR 260

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

-32.48%

Eggs

$1.46 LKR 480

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

-32.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.18 LKR 4,331

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

-25.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 LKR 1,708

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

28.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.26 LKR 2,384

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

-40.39%

Apples (1kg)

$6.95 LKR 2,285

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

91.99%

Banana (1kg)

$0.44 LKR 144

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

-73.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.30 LKR 1,413

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

86.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.86 LKR 283

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

-56.12%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 LKR 321

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

-46.74%

Onion (1kg)

$0.62 LKR 204

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

-73.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 LKR 299

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

-13.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 LKR 149

$0.54 Rp 9,560

-16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.70 LKR 3,186

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

321.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.99 LKR 4,597

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

-39.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 LKR 591

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

-23.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 LKR 962

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

-4.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 LKR 94.8

$0.25 Rp 4,365

16.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.38 LKR 126

$0.49 Rp 8,631

-22.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 LKR 117

$0.47 Rp 8,349

-23.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 LKR 285

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

-84.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 LKR 419

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

58.02%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.4K LKR 10.0M

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

21.60%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$42.1K LKR 13.8M

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

35.61%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$45.58 LKR 15.0K

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

-44.90%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.12 LKR 1,355

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

-36.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.35 LKR 7,016

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

13.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

Cinema Ticket

$4.47 LKR 1,469

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

3.95%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$38.10 LKR 12.5K

$494 Rp 8.7M

-92.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,210 LKR 397.5K

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

-79.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.00 LKR 6,571

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

-56.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.05 LKR 5,602

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

-53.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 LKR 26.1K

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

-1.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.56 LKR 14.0K

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

-45.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$180 LKR 59.3K

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

-83.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.6 LKR 30.4K

$693 Rp 12.2M

-86.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$105 LKR 34.4K

$167 Rp 2.9M

-37.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.69

13.78

-7.91%

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

Last update for Matara: September 5, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $180 in Matara versus $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 60% higher in Ubud, Bali, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Matara versus $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $294 – making Matara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Matara vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 130%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $898 per month in Matara and $2,067 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Matara, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $598 in Matara and $1,378 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $38.10 per month in Matara and $494 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Matara, where all-in costs run around $598, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,378. In Matara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Matara – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Matara. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.