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 $806 per month in Merida vs $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,397 per month in Merida vs $2,334 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,987 per month in Merida vs $3,273 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Merida is about 42% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Merida sits 41% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.18 VES 9,774

$3.37 Rp 59.9K

261.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.8 VES 48.8K

$38.59 Rp 685.5K

57.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.19 VES 8,981

$5.52 Rp 98.1K

102.72%

Cappuccino

$2.57 VES 2,061

$2.64 Rp 47.0K

-2.65%

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

$2.13 VES 1,710

$1.67 Rp 29.7K

27.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 VES 1,082

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

75.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 VES 1,573

$2.63 Rp 46.8K

-25.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 VES 2,343

$4.28 Rp 76.1K

-31.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 VES 1,562

$1.55 Rp 27.5K

25.81%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 VES 2,547

$2.22 Rp 39.5K

42.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.01 VES 1,610

$1.13 Rp 20.0K

77.88%

Eggs

$2.55 VES 2,045

$2.09 Rp 37.1K

22.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.74 VES 5,412

$17.39 Rp 309.0K

-61.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.74 VES 6,212

$3.87 Rp 68.7K

100.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.49 VES 6,013

$12.55 Rp 222.9K

-40.32%

Apples (1kg)

$4.95 VES 3,976

$3.62 Rp 64.2K

36.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 VES 1,117

$1.56 Rp 27.7K

-10.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.86 VES 2,294

$2.35 Rp 41.8K

21.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.34 VES 1,879

$2.06 Rp 36.5K

13.59%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 VES 1,642

$1.90 Rp 33.7K

7.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 VES 1,056

$2.34 Rp 41.5K

-43.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.49 VES 1,194

$1.03 Rp 18.3K

44.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.64 VES 2,117

$0.55 Rp 9,854

380.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.64 VES 2,924

$2.25 Rp 40.0K

61.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.97 VES 8,806

$23.81 Rp 422.9K

-53.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 VES 1,161

$2.31 Rp 41.1K

-37.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 VES 1,787

$2.80 Rp 49.8K

-20.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 VES 230

$0.27 Rp 4,839

7.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.66 Rp 153.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.88 VES 3,117

$0.48 Rp 8,554

708.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 VES 1,231

$0.45 Rp 7,924

240.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 VES 4,895

$5.72 Rp 101.6K

6.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.71 VES 572

$0.76 Rp 13.5K

-6.58%

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

$45.3K VES 36.3M

$24.5K Rp 434.9M

84.94%

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

$50.1K VES 40.2M

$32.1K Rp 570.6M

56.07%

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

$12.70 VES 10.2K

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

-84.80%

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

$10.37 VES 8,324

$6.46 Rp 114.7K

60.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.45 VES 24.4K

$18.99 Rp 337.4K

60.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.23 VES 24.3K

$56.0 Rp 994.4K

-45.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.27 VES 12.3K

$18.62 Rp 330.7K

-17.99%

Cinema Ticket

$5.12 VES 4,113

$4.28 Rp 76.1K

19.63%

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

$87.4 VES 70.2K

$487 Rp 8.6M

-82.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,439 VES 2.0M

$5,856 Rp 104.0M

-58.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.4 VES 59.7K

$45.56 Rp 809.3K

63.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.04 VES 32.9K

$36.38 Rp 646.3K

12.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.8 VES 76.9K

$82.0 Rp 1.5M

16.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.0 VES 77.9K

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

20.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$134 VES 107.8K

$1,117 Rp 19.8M

-87.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$94.6 VES 76.0K

$701 Rp 12.5M

-86.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$227 VES 182.0K

$3,537 Rp 62.8M

-93.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$190 VES 152.2K

$1,762 Rp 31.3M

-89.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,168 VES 937.9K

$2,826 Rp 50.2M

-58.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,186 VES 952.1K

$2,292 Rp 40.7M

-48.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$286 VES 229.8K

$170 Rp 3.0M

68.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

81.42%

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 $134 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 69% higher in Merida, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $61.0 in Merida versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $287 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

Ubud, Bali costs about 73% more than Merida, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,209 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 Merida, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $806 in Merida and $1,396 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $87.4 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Merida, where all-in costs run around $806, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. In Merida it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Merida costs $806 versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali. 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 Merida. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.