Cost of Living Comparison Between Merced, CA and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Merced, CA and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,467 in Merced, CA versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,652 in Merced, CA versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,836 in Merced, CA versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Merced, CA is roughly 75% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Merced, CA 85% above, Ubud, Bali 5% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.30 $20.30

$3.45 Rp 61.8K

488.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.25 $40.25

$32.34 Rp 578.5K

24.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.63 $11.63

$4.84 Rp 86.7K

140.29%

Cappuccino

$5.95 $5.95

$2.75 Rp 49.1K

116.36%

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

$3.05 $3.05

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

121.01%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.75 Rp 13.4K

170.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.80 $8.80

$2.99 Rp 53.5K

194.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.14 $10.14

$3.85 Rp 68.9K

163.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 $1.17

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

-32.76%

White Bread (500g)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.46 Rp 44.0K

15.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.22 $3.22

$1.17 Rp 20.9K

175.21%

Eggs

$4.96 $4.96

$2.43 Rp 43.5K

104.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.10 $11.10

$14.50 Rp 259.5K

-23.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$15.17 $15.17

$4.35 Rp 77.8K

248.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.78 $17.78

$11.98 Rp 214.3K

48.41%

Apples (1kg)

$5.96 $5.96

$3.72 Rp 66.5K

60.22%

Banana (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.63 Rp 29.1K

51.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.48 $1.48

$2.74 Rp 49.1K

-45.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.47 $4.47

$2.24 Rp 40.1K

99.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.92 Rp 34.3K

9.90%

Onion (1kg)

$3.36 $3.36

$2.28 Rp 40.7K

47.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.06 Rp 19.0K

-7.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 $2.90

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

302.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.20 $10.20

$3.29 Rp 58.8K

210.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.46 $15.46

$23.19 Rp 414.9K

-33.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.28 $2.28

$2.78 Rp 49.7K

-17.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 $3.41

$2.73 Rp 48.9K

24.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.52 $1.52

$0.27 Rp 4,765

462.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.2 $60.2

$8.11 Rp 145.0K

642.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.08 $3.08

$0.48 Rp 8,636

541.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.71 $1.71

$0.42 Rp 7,511

307.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.86 $26.86

$6.22 Rp 111.3K

331.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 $1.23

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

51.85%

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

$29.4K $29.4K

$26.6K Rp 476.1M

10.49%

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

$27.0K $27.0K

$32.2K Rp 575.9M

-16.11%

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

$274 $274

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

250.20%

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

$34.81 $34.81

$4.07 Rp 72.8K

755.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 $66.9

$24.33 Rp 435.2K

175.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.45 $33.45

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

-66.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.79 $13.79

$6.34 Rp 113.3K

117.51%

Cinema Ticket

$15.68 $15.68

$3.99 Rp 71.3K

292.98%

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

$1,979 $1,979

$305 Rp 5.5M

548.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$25.9K $25.9K

$6,642 Rp 118.8M

289.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.1 $53.1

$54.1 Rp 968.6K

-1.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.10 $44.10

$37.81 Rp 676.3K

16.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.1 $89.1

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

2.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$139 $139

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

82.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,652 $1,652

$992 Rp 17.7M

66.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,067 $1,067

$673 Rp 12.0M

58.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,011 $2,011

$3,375 Rp 60.4M

-40.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,878 $1,878

$2,050 Rp 36.7M

-8.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,861 $2,861

$2,805 Rp 50.2M

2.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,942 $2,942

$2,227 Rp 39.8M

32.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,302 $3,302

$167 Rp 3.0M

1877.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.36

13.28

-52.11%

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

Last update for Merced, CA: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,652 in Merced, CA and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Merced, CA pays 1878% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $40.00 in Merced, CA vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $409 vs $297 per month, with Ubud, Bali 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

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

Merced, CA and Ubud, Bali differ by about 75% in total monthly costs ($2,467 vs $1,408 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 1878% higher in Merced, CA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,652 in Merced, CA versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $1,979 in Merced, CA versus $305 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 38% higher in Merced, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,467 in Merced, CA, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Merced, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Merced, CA 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.

Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 75% less than in Merced, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.