🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,041 in Mecca versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,881 in Mecca versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,721 in Mecca versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Mecca costs roughly 26% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mecca is 22% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mecca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.88SAR 18.32
$3.45Rp 62.0K
41.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.07SAR 150
$32.34Rp 580.1K
23.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.21SAR 34.60
$4.84Rp 86.9K
90.29%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.59SAR 5.95
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58SAR 5.95
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.19SAR 11.98
$2.75Rp 49.3K
16.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91SAR 3.41
$1.38Rp 24.8K
-34.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29SAR 1.08
$0.75Rp 13.5K
-61.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.99Rp 53.7K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.85Rp 69.1K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mecca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67SAR 6.25
$1.74Rp 31.1K
-4.02%
White Bread(500g)
$0.89SAR 3.34
$2.46Rp 44.1K
-63.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.26SAR 8.49
$1.17Rp 21.0K
93.16%
Eggs
$2.97SAR 11.17
$2.43Rp 43.6K
22.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.92SAR 26.00
$14.50Rp 260.2K
-52.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.58SAR 32.23
$4.35Rp 78.0K
97.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.57SAR 51.0
$11.98Rp 214.9K
13.27%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31SAR 8.67
$3.72Rp 66.7K
-37.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57SAR 5.88
$1.63Rp 29.2K
-3.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87SAR 7.02
$2.74Rp 49.2K
-31.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03SAR 7.63
$2.24Rp 40.2K
-9.38%
Potato(1kg)
$1.20SAR 4.49
$1.92Rp 34.4K
-37.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.22SAR 4.57
$2.28Rp 40.8K
-46.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05SAR 3.94
$1.06Rp 19.1K
-0.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66SAR 2.46
$0.72Rp 12.9K
-8.33%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.25SAR 15.95
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00SAR 7.52
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16SAR 8.13
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.94SAR 29.82
$3.29Rp 58.9K
141.34%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$23.19Rp 416.1K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.78Rp 49.8K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.73Rp 49.0K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mecca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.37SAR 5.14
$0.27Rp 4,778
407.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.83SAR 150
$8.11Rp 145.4K
391.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.35SAR 8.83
$0.48Rp 8,659
389.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.83SAR 6.88
$0.42Rp 7,532
335.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.56SAR 39.65
$6.22Rp 111.6K
69.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.59SAR 2.22
$0.81Rp 14.6K
-27.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3KSAR 98.8K
$26.6KRp 477.4M
-1.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9KSAR 78.6K
$32.2KRp 577.4M
-35.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mecca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$77.1SAR 289
$78.4Rp 1.4M
-1.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.21SAR 132
$4.07Rp 73.0K
765.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.3SAR 253
$24.33Rp 436.4K
176.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mecca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$84.8SAR 318
$98.6Rp 1.8M
-14.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.89SAR 131
$6.34Rp 113.7K
450.32%
Cinema Ticket
$18.68SAR 70.1
$3.99Rp 71.5K
368.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mecca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$399SAR 1,500
$305Rp 5.5M
30.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,631SAR 17.4K
$6,642Rp 119.2M
-30.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mecca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.32SAR 83.8
$54.1Rp 971.2K
-58.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.5SAR 239
$37.81Rp 678.2K
68.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.2SAR 222
$86.8Rp 1.6M
-31.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.3SAR 192
$76.4Rp 1.4M
-32.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mecca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$226SAR 849
$992Rp 17.8M
-77.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$290SAR 1,090
$673Rp 12.1M
-56.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$686SAR 2,576
$3,375Rp 60.5M
-79.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,041SAR 3,909
$2,050Rp 36.8M
-49.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,389SAR 24.0K
$2,805Rp 50.3M
127.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,305SAR 8,656
$2,227Rp 39.9M
3.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mecca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,089SAR 4,088
$167Rp 3.0M
552.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.5
13.28
-58.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mecca: July 14, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $226 in Mecca and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mecca pays 552% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $40.00 in Mecca vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $208 vs $297, with Mecca cheaper for home cooking.
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
Mecca vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Mecca?
Mecca is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear. The 35% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mecca or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 552% higher in Mecca, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Mecca and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $226 in Mecca versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Mecca and in Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $1,041 per month in Mecca versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Mecca runs roughly 391% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mecca or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,041 in Mecca versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mecca but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Mecca the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mecca or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Mecca is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Mecca or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Mecca 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Mecca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.