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 $583 per month in Matara vs $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $928 per month in Matara vs $2,549 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,272 per month in Matara vs $3,694 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Matara is about 58% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Matara sits 57% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Matara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.47 LKR 825
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
-30.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.67 LKR 8,231
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
-24.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.45 LKR 2,817
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
73.87%
Cappuccino
$2.77 LKR 923
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
0.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 LKR 232
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
-47.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 LKR 125
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
-45.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.38 LKR 794
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
-18.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 LKR 1,104
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
-12.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Matara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 LKR 577
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
1.17%
White Bread (500g)
$0.55 LKR 185
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
-77.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.86 LKR 287
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
-28.33%
Eggs
$2.13 LKR 711
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
-12.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.00 LKR 4,670
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
-2.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.55 LKR 1,517
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
5.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.88 LKR 2,628
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
-35.46%
Apples (1kg)
$7.65 LKR 2,553
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
107.88%
Banana (1kg)
$0.53 LKR 176
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
-65.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.88 LKR 1,962
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
110.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.65 LKR 217
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
-72.10%
Potato (1kg)
$0.83 LKR 276
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
-57.87%
Onion (1kg)
$0.49 LKR 162
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
-78.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 LKR 384
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
8.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 LKR 190
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
-21.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.01 LKR 3,340
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
205.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.85 LKR 4,286
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
-43.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10 LKR 702
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
-25.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 LKR 959
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
3.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Matara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.16 LKR 54.7
$0.29 Rp 5,217
-44.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.39 LKR 130
$0.45 Rp 8,047
-13.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 LKR 109
$0.45 Rp 8,094
-26.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$0.57 LKR 191
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
-90.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 LKR 402
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
42.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.8K LKR 8.9M
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
3.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K LKR 11.7M
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
10.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Matara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$25.92 LKR 8,645
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
-67.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.26 LKR 1,423
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
4.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.11 LKR 1,706
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
-79.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Matara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.43 LKR 1,144
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
-15.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Matara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$37.26 LKR 12.4K
$304 Rp 5.4M
-87.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$445 LKR 148.3K
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
-93.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Matara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.74 LKR 9,252
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
-48.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.47 LKR 6,494
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
-49.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.2 LKR 23.4K
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
-18.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.21 LKR 12.7K
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
-50.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Matara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$167 LKR 55.7K
$986 Rp 17.7M
-83.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$119 LKR 39.5K
$658 Rp 11.8M
-81.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$494 LKR 164.7K
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
-85.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$169 LKR 56.5K
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
-91.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Matara
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$106 LKR 35.2K
$163 Rp 2.9M
-35.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.45
13.28
23.87%

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

Last update for Matara: June 7, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $167 in Matara versus $986 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 55% 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 $25.00 in Matara versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $248 vs $297 – 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
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Matara?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 141%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $875 per month in Matara and $2,106 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Matara vs Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $583 in Matara and $1,404 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $37.26 per month in Matara and $304 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Matara or Ubud, Bali?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Matara, where all-in costs run around $583, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. In Matara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Matara or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Matara or Ubud, Bali?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.

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