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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,478 per month in Medina vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,848 per month in Medina vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,219 per month in Medina vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Medina costs about 4% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Medina and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Medina by 10%, Ubud, Bali by 6%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.48 SAR 20.55

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

53.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.47 SAR 118

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

-3.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.18 SAR 30.68

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

65.25%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.64 SAR 6.17

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 SAR 6.62

Cappuccino

$2.55 SAR 9.56

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

-5.90%

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

$0.82 SAR 3.07

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

-38.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 SAR 1.45

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

-44.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 SAR 6.11

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

-9.94%

White Bread (500g)

$0.98 SAR 3.68

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

-61.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.37 SAR 8.88

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

104.31%

Eggs

$2.12 SAR 7.97

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

-13.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.49 SAR 24.35

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

-55.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.96 SAR 26.13

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

61.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.64 SAR 47.44

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

4.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.41 SAR 9.05

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

-37.24%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 SAR 7.94

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

35.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 SAR 8.49

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

-20.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 SAR 6.14

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

-29.61%

Potato (1kg)

$1.37 SAR 5.15

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

-28.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 SAR 5.45

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

-34.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 SAR 3.70

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

-1.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 SAR 3.27

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

11.54%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.31 SAR 4.91

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 SAR 6.43

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.65 SAR 6.18

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.58 SAR 28.44

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

128.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 SAR 3.93

$0.27 Rp 4,800

288.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.18 SAR 140

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

363.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 SAR 4.91

$0.46 Rp 8,150

184.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.64 SAR 6.16

$0.45 Rp 8,037

264.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.46 SAR 20.48

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

-10.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 SAR 2.41

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

-18.99%

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

$21.1K SAR 79.3K

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

-19.17%

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

$21.1K SAR 79.3K

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

-34.19%

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

$199 SAR 748

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

149.17%

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

$33.10 SAR 124

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

715.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$104 SAR 392

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

344.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$75.4 SAR 283

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

-23.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.01 SAR 33.80

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

35.90%

Cinema Ticket

$13.16 SAR 49.38

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

217.11%

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

$290 SAR 1,088

$304 Rp 5.4M

-4.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,586 SAR 28.5K

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

14.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.12 SAR 139

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

-33.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.3 SAR 196

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

36.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.8 SAR 247

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

-25.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.7 SAR 363

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

24.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 SAR 1,591

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

-57.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$556 SAR 2,085

$675 Rp 12.1M

-17.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$711 SAR 2,670

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

-79.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$412 SAR 1,547

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

-79.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,340 SAR 8,782

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

-17.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,313 SAR 4,929

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

-41.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,316 SAR 4,940

$165 Rp 3.0M

696.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

-77.41%

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

Last update for Medina: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in Medina 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 697% higher in Medina, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Medina versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $200 vs $302 – making Medina 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

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

Medina costs about 4% more than Ubud, Bali, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,217 per month in Medina 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 Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $290 per month in Medina and $304 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 51% cheaper in Medina – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,419, than in Medina at $1,478. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medina it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,419 versus $1,478 in Medina. 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 Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medina makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.