🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $558 in Mataram versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $861 in Mataram versus $2,557 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,163 in Mataram versus $3,723 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 58% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mataram
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.11Rp 20.1K
$3.57Rp 64.5K
-68.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.00Rp 198.5K
$32.32Rp 583.4K
-65.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.28Rp 41.1K
$5.01Rp 90.4K
-54.49%
Cappuccino
$1.80Rp 32.5K
$2.82Rp 51.0K
-36.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 9,869
$1.35Rp 24.4K
-59.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36Rp 6,535
$0.73Rp 13.2K
-50.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.63Rp 47.5K
$2.93Rp 53.0K
-10.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67Rp 66.2K
$3.94Rp 71.1K
-6.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mataram
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.53Rp 27.7K
$1.78Rp 32.1K
-14.04%
White Bread(500g)
$1.61Rp 29.1K
$2.45Rp 44.2K
-34.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.76Rp 13.8K
$1.15Rp 20.7K
-33.91%
Eggs
$1.37Rp 24.8K
$2.41Rp 43.6K
-43.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.31Rp 59.7K
$14.33Rp 258.7K
-76.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.59Rp 64.8K
$4.19Rp 75.6K
-14.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.99Rp 108.2K
$12.06Rp 217.7K
-50.33%
Apples(1kg)
$1.72Rp 31.0K
$3.64Rp 65.7K
-52.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22Rp 22.0K
$1.57Rp 28.3K
-22.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89Rp 34.1K
$2.79Rp 50.3K
-32.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.75Rp 13.5K
$2.24Rp 40.5K
-66.52%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84Rp 15.2K
$1.98Rp 35.7K
-57.58%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80Rp 32.5K
$2.28Rp 41.1K
-21.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.48Rp 8,639
$1.05Rp 19.0K
-54.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32Rp 5,695
$0.79Rp 14.2K
-59.49%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.78Rp 32.1K
$3.19Rp 57.6K
-44.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.33Rp 276.7K
$23.49Rp 424.1K
-34.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.36Rp 42.6K
$2.90Rp 52.3K
-18.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58Rp 64.6K
$2.76Rp 49.7K
29.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Mataram
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.63Rp 11.5K
$0.27Rp 4,813
133.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.41Rp 332.4K
$8.37Rp 151.1K
119.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.51Rp 9,185
$0.45Rp 8,167
13.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,661
$0.46Rp 8,298
-32.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.08Rp 55.7K
$6.07Rp 109.6K
-49.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.69Rp 12.4K
$0.86Rp 15.6K
-19.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3KRp 420.7M
$26.6KRp 480.0M
-12.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5KRp 496.7M
$32.5KRp 587.6M
-15.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mataram
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.4Rp 909.6K
$79.0Rp 1.4M
-36.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.32Rp 78.1K
$4.09Rp 73.9K
5.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.37Rp 349.8K
$23.85Rp 430.5K
-18.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mataram
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.95Rp 486.5K
$98.8Rp 1.8M
-72.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.48Rp 135.0K
$6.35Rp 114.7K
17.80%
Cinema Ticket
$2.10Rp 38.0K
$4.01Rp 72.3K
-47.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mataram
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$91.5Rp 1.7M
$297Rp 5.4M
-69.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,217Rp 76.1M
$6,602Rp 119.2M
-36.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mataram
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.84Rp 665.2K
$53.4Rp 964.5K
-31.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.43Rp 441.0K
$38.11Rp 688.1K
-35.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.5Rp 1.1M
$88.7Rp 1.6M
-30.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.48Rp 730.8K
$76.6Rp 1.4M
-47.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mataram
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$76.8Rp 1.4M
$1,020Rp 18.4M
-92.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$128Rp 2.3M
$680Rp 12.3M
-81.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$153Rp 2.8M
$3,469Rp 62.6M
-95.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$259Rp 4.7M
$2,090Rp 37.7M
-87.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,155Rp 20.8M
$2,729Rp 49.3M
-57.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$679Rp 12.3M
$2,295Rp 41.4M
-70.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mataram
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$192Rp 3.5M
$164Rp 3.0M
17.38%
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $76.8 in Mataram and $1,020 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $174 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Mataram and Ubud, Bali differ by about 150% in total monthly costs ($558 vs $1,392 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?
Average pay runs 17% higher in Mataram, 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $76.8 in Mataram versus $1,020 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 71% 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 $32.00 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 $558 in Mataram versus $1,392 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 150% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.