🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $577 in Mataram versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $888 in Mataram versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,200 in Mataram versus $3,732 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Mataram costs roughly 60% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mataram is 57% below, Ubud, Bali is 7% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mataram
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.05Rp 18.3K
$3.57Rp 61.9K
-70.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.02Rp 190.9K
$32.58Rp 564.7K
-66.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.25Rp 39.0K
$5.07Rp 87.8K
-55.62%
Cappuccino
$1.87Rp 32.4K
$2.83Rp 49.0K
-33.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 9,529
$1.34Rp 23.2K
-58.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36Rp 6,243
$0.69Rp 12.0K
-47.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.63Rp 45.6K
$2.99Rp 51.8K
-12.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78Rp 65.6K
$3.85Rp 66.7K
-1.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mataram
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.56Rp 27.0K
$1.74Rp 30.2K
-10.34%
White Bread(500g)
$1.68Rp 29.1K
$2.54Rp 44.0K
-33.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.83Rp 14.4K
$1.19Rp 20.6K
-30.25%
Eggs
$1.36Rp 23.6K
$2.43Rp 42.0K
-44.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.32Rp 57.5K
$14.66Rp 254.1K
-77.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.53Rp 61.2K
$4.18Rp 72.4K
-15.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.29Rp 109.1K
$11.94Rp 206.9K
-47.32%
Apples(1kg)
$1.70Rp 29.5K
$3.69Rp 63.9K
-53.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21Rp 21.0K
$1.61Rp 27.8K
-24.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86Rp 32.3K
$2.69Rp 46.5K
-30.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.79Rp 13.7K
$2.33Rp 40.4K
-66.09%
Potato(1kg)
$0.79Rp 13.7K
$1.91Rp 33.0K
-58.64%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89Rp 32.8K
$2.19Rp 37.9K
-13.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.47Rp 8,180
$1.06Rp 18.3K
-55.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31Rp 5,443
$0.72Rp 12.5K
-56.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.79Rp 31.1K
$3.13Rp 54.3K
-42.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.27Rp 282.1K
$23.49Rp 407.1K
-30.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.46Rp 42.6K
$2.74Rp 47.5K
-10.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80Rp 65.9K
$2.88Rp 49.9K
31.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Mataram
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.63Rp 10.9K
$0.29Rp 5,029
117.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.37Rp 318.5K
$8.17Rp 141.6K
124.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,285
$0.45Rp 7,863
6.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29Rp 5,024
$0.42Rp 7,305
-30.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.16Rp 54.7K
$6.16Rp 106.7K
-48.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.65Rp 11.2K
$0.84Rp 14.6K
-22.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4KRp 405.9M
$26.2KRp 454.9M
-10.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0KRp 485.3M
$32.5KRp 562.9M
-13.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mataram
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.2Rp 870.0K
$78.4Rp 1.4M
-35.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.39Rp 76.2K
$3.95Rp 68.5K
11.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.07Rp 330.6K
$24.40Rp 423.0K
-21.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mataram
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.67Rp 462.3K
$96.5Rp 1.7M
-72.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.66Rp 132.7K
$6.35Rp 110.0K
20.63%
Cinema Ticket
$2.10Rp 36.3K
$4.04Rp 70.0K
-48.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mataram
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$90.8Rp 1.6M
$303Rp 5.2M
-70.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,319Rp 74.9M
$6,523Rp 113.1M
-33.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mataram
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.80Rp 637.8K
$53.8Rp 933.1K
-31.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.84Rp 430.6K
$37.98Rp 658.3K
-34.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.1Rp 1.1M
$86.8Rp 1.5M
-29.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.16Rp 696.1K
$78.9Rp 1.4M
-49.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mataram
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$76.9Rp 1.3M
$1,012Rp 17.5M
-92.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$128Rp 2.2M
$674Rp 11.7M
-80.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$156Rp 2.7M
$3,390Rp 58.8M
-95.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$265Rp 4.6M
$2,098Rp 36.4M
-87.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,199Rp 20.8M
$2,985Rp 51.7M
-59.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$783Rp 13.6M
$2,339Rp 40.5M
-66.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mataram
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$202Rp 3.5M
$173Rp 3.0M
16.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9
13.28
-32.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mataram: April 27, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $76.9 in Mataram and $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mataram pays 17% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $11.00 in Mataram vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $179 vs $298 per month, with Mataram 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
Mataram vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mataram and Ubud, Bali?
Mataram and Ubud, Bali differ by about 149% in total monthly costs ($577 vs $1,438 including rent). Mataram is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mataram or Ubud, Bali?
Mataram pays 17% 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 Mataram and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $76.9 in Mataram versus $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 66% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Mataram – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $577 in Mataram versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mataram but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Mataram the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mataram 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 Mataram or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mataram 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: Mataram or Ubud, Bali?
Expats usually find Mataram gentler on the wallet – expenses run 149% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.