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 $723 per month in Merida vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,220 per month in Merida vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,717 per month in Merida vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Merida is about 49% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Merida sits 46% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.17 VES 5,669

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

185.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.85 VES 25.5K

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

40.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.13 VES 5,646

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

104.65%

Cappuccino

$1.56 VES 868

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

-42.44%

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

$1.14 VES 633

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

-14.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 VES 461

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

18.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.17 VES 653

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

-59.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 VES 830

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

-62.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.13 VES 1,188

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

17.68%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 VES 1,405

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 VES 891

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

37.93%

Eggs

$2.03 VES 1,132

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

-17.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.59 VES 3,113

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

-62.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.29 VES 3,506

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

45.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.28 VES 4,058

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

-40.03%

Apples (1kg)

$4.94 VES 2,753

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

28.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 VES 595

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

-31.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 VES 922

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

-41.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 VES 579

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

-55.36%

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 VES 546

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

-48.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 VES 659

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

-46.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 VES 693

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

22.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 VES 1,008

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

132.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.11 VES 2,288

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

23.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.96 VES 6,107

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

-53.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 VES 656

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

-57.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 VES 771

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

-51.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 VES 162

$0.27 Rp 4,800

7.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.05 VES 2,259

$0.46 Rp 8,150

780.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.47 VES 1,379

$0.45 Rp 8,037

448.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 VES 285

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

-35.44%

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

$44.3K VES 24.7M

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

69.24%

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

$37.2K VES 20.8M

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

15.96%

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

$13.38 VES 7,454

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

-83.26%

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

$9.94 VES 5,537

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

144.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.89 VES 20.6K

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

56.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.15 VES 14.0K

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

-74.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.07 VES 8,399

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

127.30%

Cinema Ticket

$6.96 VES 3,876

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

67.71%

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

$58.1 VES 32.4K

$304 Rp 5.4M

-80.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$90.5 VES 50.4K

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

63.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.48 VES 22.0K

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

3.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.0 VES 47.3K

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

-4.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.0 VES 36.2K

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

-16.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 VES 65.9K

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

-88.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$89.2 VES 49.7K

$675 Rp 12.1M

-86.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$208 VES 115.9K

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

-93.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$192 VES 106.9K

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

-90.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,155 VES 643.5K

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

-59.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,189 VES 662.7K

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

-47.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$286 VES 159.2K

$165 Rp 3.0M

72.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

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

Last update for Merida: May 30, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $118 in Merida 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 73% 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 $46.00 in Merida versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Merida vs $302 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 96% more than Merida, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,084 per month in Merida 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 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 $723 in Merida and $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $58.1 per month in Merida and $304 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 $723, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. 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 $723 versus $1,419 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.