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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $974 in Mecca versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,454 in Mecca versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,935 in Mecca versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Mecca costs roughly 30% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mecca is 29% below, Ubud, Bali is 2% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mecca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63 SAR 17.38
$3.37 Rp 59.9K
37.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.73 SAR 100
$38.59 Rp 685.5K
-30.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.72 SAR 25.23
$5.52 Rp 98.1K
21.74%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.52 SAR 5.71
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 SAR 5.72
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.62 SAR 9.83
$2.64 Rp 47.0K
-0.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 SAR 2.53
$1.67 Rp 29.7K
-59.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 SAR 0.86
$0.77 Rp 13.7K
-70.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.63 Rp 46.8K
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.28 Rp 76.1K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mecca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 SAR 6.71
$1.55 Rp 27.5K
15.48%
White Bread (500g)
$0.94 SAR 3.51
$2.22 Rp 39.5K
-57.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.19 SAR 8.22
$1.13 Rp 20.0K
93.81%
Eggs
$2.39 SAR 8.98
$2.09 Rp 37.1K
14.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.20 SAR 23.27
$17.39 Rp 309.0K
-64.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.26 SAR 31.03
$3.87 Rp 68.7K
113.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.60 SAR 47.31
$12.55 Rp 222.9K
0.40%
Apples (1kg)
$1.98 SAR 7.43
$3.62 Rp 64.2K
-45.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 SAR 6.27
$1.56 Rp 27.7K
7.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.49 SAR 5.59
$2.35 Rp 41.8K
-36.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.68 SAR 6.29
$2.06 Rp 36.5K
-18.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.15 SAR 4.32
$1.90 Rp 33.7K
-39.47%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 SAR 5.10
$2.34 Rp 41.5K
-41.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 SAR 3.86
$1.03 Rp 18.3K
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 SAR 1.89
$0.55 Rp 9,854
-9.09%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$4.07 SAR 15.29
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 SAR 6.69
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 SAR 8.14
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.66 SAR 25.01
$2.25 Rp 40.0K
196.00%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$23.81 Rp 422.9K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.31 Rp 41.1K
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.80 Rp 49.8K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mecca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.34 SAR 5.04
$0.27 Rp 4,839
396.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.66 Rp 153.9K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.81 SAR 6.81
$0.48 Rp 8,554
277.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.75 SAR 6.56
$0.45 Rp 7,924
288.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.42 SAR 50.4
$5.72 Rp 101.6K
134.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.60 SAR 2.27
$0.76 Rp 13.5K
-21.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$47.0K SAR 176.3K
$24.5K Rp 434.9M
91.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.4K SAR 80.3K
$32.1K Rp 570.6M
-33.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mecca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$75.9 SAR 285
$83.6 Rp 1.5M
-9.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.20 SAR 132
$6.46 Rp 114.7K
444.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.6 SAR 254
$18.99 Rp 337.4K
256.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mecca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$78.5 SAR 295
$56.0 Rp 994.4K
40.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.37 SAR 129
$18.62 Rp 330.7K
84.59%
Cinema Ticket
$12.08 SAR 45.37
$4.28 Rp 76.1K
182.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mecca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$391 SAR 1,467
$487 Rp 8.6M
-19.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,570 SAR 17.2K
$5,856 Rp 104.0M
-21.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mecca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.43 SAR 84.2
$45.56 Rp 809.3K
-50.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.6 SAR 220
$36.38 Rp 646.3K
61.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$48.48 SAR 182
$82.0 Rp 1.5M
-40.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.9 SAR 191
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
-36.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mecca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$576 SAR 2,161
$1,117 Rp 19.8M
-48.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$319 SAR 1,198
$701 Rp 12.5M
-54.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,512 SAR 5,676
$3,537 Rp 62.8M
-57.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$507 SAR 1,904
$1,762 Rp 31.3M
-71.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,435 SAR 24.2K
$2,826 Rp 50.2M
127.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,299 SAR 8,632
$2,292 Rp 40.7M
0.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mecca
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,082 SAR 4,062
$170 Rp 3.0M
537.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.25
13.78
-61.90%

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

Last update for Mecca: August 30, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $576 in Mecca and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mecca pays 537% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $27.00 in Mecca vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $194 vs $293 per month, with Mecca 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
Mecca vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Mecca?
Mecca is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear. The 43% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mecca or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 537% 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: $576 in Mecca versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Mecca and in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 51% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Mecca and in Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $974 per month in Mecca versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mecca or in Ubud, Bali?
At $974 in Mecca versus $1,396 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 43% 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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