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 $728 per month in Merida vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,239 per month in Merida vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,750 per month in Merida vs $3,763 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Merida is about 48% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Merida sits 45% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.91 VES 7,241

$3.45 Rp 61.8K

187.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.60 VES 32.6K

$32.34 Rp 578.5K

37.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.82 VES 7,174

$4.84 Rp 86.7K

102.89%

Cappuccino

$1.57 VES 1,148

$2.75 Rp 49.1K

-42.91%

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

$1.15 VES 839

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

-16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 VES 593

$0.75 Rp 13.4K

8.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.14 VES 832

$2.99 Rp 53.5K

-61.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 VES 1,083

$3.85 Rp 68.9K

-61.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.11 VES 1,540

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

21.26%

White Bread (500g)

$2.42 VES 1,766

$2.46 Rp 44.0K

-1.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 VES 1,208

$1.17 Rp 20.9K

41.03%

Eggs

$2.10 VES 1,537

$2.43 Rp 43.5K

-13.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.51 VES 4,029

$14.50 Rp 259.5K

-62.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.44 VES 4,708

$4.35 Rp 77.8K

48.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.35 VES 5,372

$11.98 Rp 214.3K

-38.65%

Apples (1kg)

$4.95 VES 3,620

$3.72 Rp 66.5K

33.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 VES 780

$1.63 Rp 29.1K

-34.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.72 VES 1,255

$2.74 Rp 49.1K

-37.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 VES 761

$2.24 Rp 40.1K

-53.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.91 VES 663

$1.92 Rp 34.3K

-52.60%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 VES 866

$2.28 Rp 40.7K

-47.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 VES 930

$1.06 Rp 19.0K

19.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 VES 1,323

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

151.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.10 VES 2,998

$3.29 Rp 58.8K

24.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.94 VES 7,995

$23.19 Rp 414.9K

-52.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 VES 855

$2.78 Rp 49.7K

-57.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 VES 1,001

$2.73 Rp 48.9K

-49.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 VES 196

$0.27 Rp 4,765

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.93 VES 2,871

$0.48 Rp 8,636

718.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.45 VES 1,789

$0.42 Rp 7,511

483.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.3K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 VES 350

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

-40.74%

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

$45.4K VES 33.2M

$26.6K Rp 476.1M

70.61%

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

$37.5K VES 27.4M

$32.2K Rp 575.9M

16.48%

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

$13.23 VES 9,668

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

-83.11%

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

$10.11 VES 7,383

$4.07 Rp 72.8K

148.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.46 VES 27.4K

$24.33 Rp 435.2K

53.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.06 VES 18.3K

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

-74.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.86 VES 10.9K

$6.34 Rp 113.3K

134.38%

Cinema Ticket

$7.19 VES 5,253

$3.99 Rp 71.3K

80.20%

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

$57.7 VES 42.1K

$305 Rp 5.5M

-81.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 118.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.4 VES 65.3K

$54.1 Rp 968.6K

65.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.33 VES 28.7K

$37.81 Rp 676.3K

4.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 VES 62.7K

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

-1.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.9 VES 46.7K

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

-16.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$115 VES 83.8K

$992 Rp 17.7M

-88.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$89.0 VES 65.0K

$673 Rp 12.0M

-86.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$209 VES 152.3K

$3,375 Rp 60.4M

-93.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$191 VES 139.7K

$2,050 Rp 36.7M

-90.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,171 VES 855.9K

$2,805 Rp 50.2M

-58.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 VES 893.3K

$2,227 Rp 39.8M

-45.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$290 VES 211.9K

$167 Rp 3.0M

73.69%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $115 in Merida versus $992 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 74% 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 $45.00 in Merida versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $237 in Merida vs $297 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 93% 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 $1,092 per month in Merida and $2,112 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 $728 in Merida and $1,408 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $57.7 per month in Merida and $305 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 $728, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. 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 $728 versus $1,408 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.