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 $826 per month in Merida vs $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,423 per month in Merida vs $2,327 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,020 per month in Merida vs $3,275 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Merida is about 40% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Merida sits 40% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.16 VES 10.2K

$3.33 Rp 58.8K

265.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.8 VES 50.3K

$35.82 Rp 631.6K

67.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.07 VES 9,300

$5.63 Rp 99.3K

96.63%

Cappuccino

$2.44 VES 2,050

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

-13.48%

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

$2.14 VES 1,799

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

22.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 VES 1,137

$0.80 Rp 14.1K

68.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 VES 1,665

$3.04 Rp 53.7K

-34.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.97 VES 2,494

$4.30 Rp 75.8K

-30.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.04 VES 1,717

$1.61 Rp 28.4K

26.71%

White Bread (500g)

$3.16 VES 2,657

$2.27 Rp 40.0K

39.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.02 VES 1,700

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

72.65%

Eggs

$2.52 VES 2,114

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

16.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.60 VES 5,544

$17.63 Rp 310.9K

-62.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.98 VES 6,707

$4.05 Rp 71.5K

97.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.54 VES 6,335

$12.18 Rp 214.8K

-38.10%

Apples (1kg)

$5.03 VES 4,222

$3.62 Rp 63.8K

38.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 VES 1,177

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

-14.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.87 VES 2,409

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

24.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.32 VES 1,952

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

18.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.00 VES 1,682

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

8.70%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 VES 1,102

$2.37 Rp 41.8K

-44.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.54 VES 1,297

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

46.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 VES 2,206

$0.54 Rp 9,573

387.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.66 VES 3,075

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

59.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.96 VES 9,211

$23.08 Rp 406.9K

-52.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 VES 1,202

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

-38.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 VES 1,866

$3.07 Rp 54.1K

-27.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 VES 244

$0.25 Rp 4,371

16.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 166.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.91 VES 3,288

$0.49 Rp 8,643

697.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 VES 1,235

$0.47 Rp 8,360

212.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.98 VES 5,021

$5.60 Rp 98.8K

6.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 VES 591

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

-13.58%

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

$45.9K VES 38.5M

$25.0K Rp 440.9M

83.45%

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

$49.5K VES 41.6M

$31.1K Rp 547.7M

59.26%

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

$12.68 VES 10.7K

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

-84.67%

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

$10.50 VES 8,818

$6.49 Rp 114.4K

61.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.25 VES 25.4K

$18.79 Rp 331.3K

60.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.24 VES 25.4K

$55.2 Rp 974.0K

-45.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.16 VES 12.7K

$18.21 Rp 321.1K

-16.75%

Cinema Ticket

$4.96 VES 4,169

$4.30 Rp 75.8K

15.35%

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

$89.7 VES 75.3K

$494 Rp 8.7M

-81.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,355 VES 2.0M

$5,917 Rp 104.3M

-60.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.5 VES 62.6K

$46.28 Rp 815.9K

61.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.48 VES 34.8K

$36.44 Rp 642.5K

13.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.4 VES 82.7K

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

21.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.7 VES 82.1K

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

24.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$136 VES 114.0K

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

-87.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$94.8 VES 79.6K

$693 Rp 12.2M

-86.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$227 VES 190.6K

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

-93.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$193 VES 162.3K

$1,712 Rp 30.2M

-88.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,182 VES 993.4K

$2,761 Rp 48.7M

-57.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,212 VES 1.0M

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

-47.14%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$288 VES 242.2K

$167 Rp 2.9M

72.58%

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: September 5, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $136 in Merida versus $1,114 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 $60.0 in Merida versus $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $289 in Merida vs $294 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 67% 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 $1,239 per month in Merida and $2,067 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 $826 in Merida and $1,378 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $89.7 per month in Merida and $494 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 $826, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,378. 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 $826 versus $1,378 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.