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 $735 per month in Mbabane vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,154 per month in Mbabane vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,572 per month in Mbabane vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Mbabane is about 48% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mbabane sits 45% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.97 SZL 48.22

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

-16.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.32 SZL 460

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

-13.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.25 SZL 36.55

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

-54.55%

Cappuccino

$1.97 SZL 32.07

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

-27.31%

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

$0.92 SZL 14.95

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

-31.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.58 SZL 9.47

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

-17.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.73 SZL 28.06

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

-40.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 SZL 28.02

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

-56.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.07 SZL 17.36

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

-40.88%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 SZL 12.00

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

-70.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 SZL 19.81

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

5.17%

Eggs

$1.71 SZL 27.72

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

-30.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.95 SZL 145

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

-39.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.87 SZL 79.1

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

12.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.32 SZL 86.4

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

-56.18%

Apples (1kg)

$1.47 SZL 23.83

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

-61.72%

Banana (1kg)

$0.75 SZL 12.19

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

-51.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.95 SZL 15.36

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

-66.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 SZL 23.03

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

-39.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 SZL 17.18

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

-44.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 SZL 20.50

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

-42.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 SZL 8.48

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

-48.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 SZL 11.76

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

-7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.56 SZL 41.64

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

-22.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.99 SZL 97.3

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

-74.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 SZL 23.53

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

-48.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 SZL 23.24

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

-50.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 SZL 17.78

$0.27 Rp 4,800

307.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.05 SZL 472

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

261.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.33 SZL 54.1

$0.46 Rp 8,150

623.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.64 SZL 42.89

$0.45 Rp 8,037

486.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.41 SZL 55.3

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

-44.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.13 SZL 18.30

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

43.04%

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

$16.8K SZL 273.5K

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

-35.60%

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

$21.1K SZL 342.3K

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

-34.38%

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

$75.4 SZL 1,224

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

-5.73%

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

$35.62 SZL 578

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

777.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.46 SZL 446

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

16.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.82 SZL 452

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

-71.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.13 SZL 83.4

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

-22.62%

Cinema Ticket

$3.58 SZL 58.2

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

-13.73%

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

$106 SZL 1,713

$304 Rp 5.4M

-65.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,619 SZL 75.0K

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

-30.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.99 SZL 731

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

-19.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.48 SZL 381

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

-38.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.1 SZL 1,171

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

-18.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.1 SZL 1,332

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

5.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$264 SZL 4,283

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

-73.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$186 SZL 3,014

$675 Rp 12.1M

-72.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$496 SZL 8,061

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

-85.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 SZL 5,959

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

-82.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$492 SZL 7,997

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

-82.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$362 SZL 5,871

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

-84.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$687 SZL 11.1K

$165 Rp 3.0M

315.52%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $264 in Mbabane versus $1,006 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 316% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $158 vs $302 – 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 93% 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 $1,103 per month in Mbabane and $2,129 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 262% less in Mbabane. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $106 per month in Mbabane and $304 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 $735, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. 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 $735 versus $1,419 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.