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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,440 per month in Merida vs $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,314 per month in Merida vs $2,334 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,189 per month in Merida vs $3,273 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Merida costs about 3% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Merida and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Merida by 5%, Ubud, Bali by 2%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$14.58 MX$248

$3.37 Rp 59.9K

332.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.4 MX$992

$38.59 Rp 685.5K

51.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.72 MX$148

$5.52 Rp 98.1K

57.97%

Cappuccino

$4.21 MX$71.5

$2.64 Rp 47.0K

59.47%

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

$1.22 MX$20.66

$1.67 Rp 29.7K

-26.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 MX$19.97

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

53.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.03 MX$51.4

$2.63 Rp 46.8K

15.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.98 MX$67.6

$4.28 Rp 76.1K

-7.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 MX$29.56

$1.55 Rp 27.5K

12.26%

White Bread (500g)

$2.95 MX$50.2

$2.22 Rp 39.5K

32.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 MX$31.87

$1.13 Rp 20.0K

66.37%

Eggs

$2.02 MX$34.27

$2.09 Rp 37.1K

-3.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.97 MX$186

$17.39 Rp 309.0K

-36.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.08 MX$137

$3.87 Rp 68.7K

108.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.54 MX$230

$12.55 Rp 222.9K

7.89%

Apples (1kg)

$3.06 MX$51.9

$3.62 Rp 64.2K

-15.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 MX$26.24

$1.56 Rp 27.7K

-1.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 MX$39.08

$2.35 Rp 41.8K

-2.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.21 MX$37.53

$2.06 Rp 36.5K

7.28%

Potato (1kg)

$2.48 MX$42.20

$1.90 Rp 33.7K

30.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.91 MX$32.43

$2.34 Rp 41.5K

-18.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.59 MX$27.00

$1.03 Rp 18.3K

54.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 MX$20.76

$0.55 Rp 9,854

121.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.90 MX$83.2

$2.25 Rp 40.0K

117.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.78 MX$200

$23.81 Rp 422.9K

-50.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 MX$26.54

$2.31 Rp 41.1K

-32.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 MX$46.29

$2.80 Rp 49.8K

-2.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 MX$11.60

$0.27 Rp 4,839

151.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.26 MX$361

$8.66 Rp 153.9K

145.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 MX$50.4

$0.48 Rp 8,554

518.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.04 MX$68.7

$0.45 Rp 7,924

797.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.45 MX$161

$5.72 Rp 101.6K

65.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.60 MX$27.24

$0.76 Rp 13.5K

110.53%

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

$22.8K MX$387.4K

$24.5K Rp 434.9M

-6.82%

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

$25.6K MX$434.7K

$32.1K Rp 570.6M

-20.33%

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

$119 MX$2,017

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

42.14%

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

$22.87 MX$388

$6.46 Rp 114.7K

254.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.46 MX$636

$18.99 Rp 337.4K

97.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.09 MX$528

$56.0 Rp 994.4K

-44.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.82 MX$218

$18.62 Rp 330.7K

-31.15%

Cinema Ticket

$8.12 MX$138

$4.28 Rp 76.1K

89.72%

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

$276 MX$4,691

$487 Rp 8.6M

-43.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,856 MX$65.5K

$5,856 Rp 104.0M

-34.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.2 MX$988

$45.56 Rp 809.3K

27.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.0 MX$968

$36.38 Rp 646.3K

56.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 MX$1,825

$82.0 Rp 1.5M

31.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 MX$1,510

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

10.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$685 MX$11.6K

$1,117 Rp 19.8M

-38.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$486 MX$8,261

$701 Rp 12.5M

-30.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,343 MX$22.8K

$3,537 Rp 62.8M

-62.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,037 MX$17.6K

$1,762 Rp 31.3M

-41.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,422 MX$41.1K

$2,826 Rp 50.2M

-14.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,342 MX$22.8K

$2,292 Rp 40.7M

-41.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$627 MX$10.6K

$170 Rp 3.0M

269.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.64

13.78

-15.53%

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

Last update for Merida: August 30, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $685 in Merida versus $1,117 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 269% higher in Merida, 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 $58.0 in Merida versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $290 in Merida vs $293 in Ubud, Bali – so Merida wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

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

Yes – Merida is pricier by about 3%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,159 per month in Merida and $2,095 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 $276 per month in Merida and $487 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 1% cheaper in Merida – 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 $1,396, than in Merida at $1,440. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Merida it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ubud, Bali – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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, Merida makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.