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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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