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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $739 per month in Mbabane vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,171 per month in Mbabane vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,604 per month in Mbabane vs $3,763 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Mbabane is about 47% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mbabane sits 45% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.06 SZL 50.4

$3.45 Rp 61.8K

-11.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.45 SZL 468

$32.34 Rp 578.5K

-12.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.23 SZL 36.75

$4.84 Rp 86.7K

-53.93%

Cappuccino

$1.90 SZL 31.31

$2.75 Rp 49.1K

-30.91%

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

$0.93 SZL 15.25

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

-32.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.55 SZL 9.10

$0.75 Rp 13.4K

-26.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.70 SZL 27.94

$2.99 Rp 53.5K

-43.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 SZL 28.19

$3.85 Rp 68.9K

-55.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 SZL 17.02

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

-40.80%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 SZL 11.97

$2.46 Rp 44.0K

-70.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 SZL 20.14

$1.17 Rp 20.9K

4.27%

Eggs

$1.71 SZL 28.09

$2.43 Rp 43.5K

-29.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.18 SZL 151

$14.50 Rp 259.5K

-36.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.86 SZL 80.1

$4.35 Rp 77.8K

11.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.26 SZL 86.6

$11.98 Rp 214.3K

-56.09%

Apples (1kg)

$1.50 SZL 24.64

$3.72 Rp 66.5K

-59.68%

Banana (1kg)

$0.71 SZL 11.75

$1.63 Rp 29.1K

-56.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.96 SZL 15.79

$2.74 Rp 49.1K

-64.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 SZL 22.49

$2.24 Rp 40.1K

-38.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 SZL 16.64

$1.92 Rp 34.3K

-47.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.28 SZL 21.10

$2.28 Rp 40.7K

-43.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.53 SZL 8.70

$1.06 Rp 19.0K

-50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 SZL 12.54

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

5.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.58 SZL 42.53

$3.29 Rp 58.8K

-21.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.92 SZL 97.6

$23.19 Rp 414.9K

-74.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 SZL 24.51

$2.78 Rp 49.7K

-46.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 SZL 22.76

$2.73 Rp 48.9K

-49.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.13 SZL 18.67

$0.27 Rp 4,765

318.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.44 SZL 485

$8.11 Rp 145.0K

263.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.39 SZL 55.8

$0.48 Rp 8,636

606.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.66 SZL 43.85

$0.42 Rp 7,511

533.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.40 SZL 56.0

$6.22 Rp 111.3K

-45.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 SZL 18.56

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

39.51%

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

$16.9K SZL 278.3K

$26.6K Rp 476.1M

-36.48%

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

$21.3K SZL 350.0K

$32.2K Rp 575.9M

-33.97%

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

$75.8 SZL 1,248

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

-3.28%

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

$34.48 SZL 568

$4.07 Rp 72.8K

747.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.09 SZL 463

$24.33 Rp 435.2K

15.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.68 SZL 456

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

-71.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.00 SZL 82.4

$6.34 Rp 113.3K

-21.14%

Cinema Ticket

$3.53 SZL 58.2

$3.99 Rp 71.3K

-11.53%

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

$109 SZL 1,787

$305 Rp 5.5M

-64.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,599 SZL 75.7K

$6,642 Rp 118.8M

-30.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.28 SZL 746

$54.1 Rp 968.6K

-16.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.57 SZL 388

$37.81 Rp 676.3K

-37.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.5 SZL 1,178

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

-17.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.7 SZL 1,378

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

9.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$263 SZL 4,325

$992 Rp 17.7M

-73.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 SZL 2,965

$673 Rp 12.0M

-73.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$502 SZL 8,273

$3,375 Rp 60.4M

-85.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$377 SZL 6,211

$2,050 Rp 36.7M

-81.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$486 SZL 8,007

$2,805 Rp 50.2M

-82.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$365 SZL 6,006

$2,227 Rp 39.8M

-83.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$673 SZL 11.1K

$167 Rp 3.0M

303.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.62

13.28

-12.50%

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

Last update for Mbabane: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $263 in Mbabane versus $992 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 303% higher in Mbabane, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Mbabane versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $158 vs $297 – making Mbabane 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

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

Ubud, Bali costs about 90% more than Mbabane, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,109 per month in Mbabane and $2,112 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 263% less in Mbabane. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $109 per month in Mbabane and $305 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mbabane, where all-in costs run around $739, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In Mbabane it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mbabane costs $739 versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Mbabane. 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.