Cost of Living Comparison Between Meridian, MS and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Meridian, MS and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,698 per month in Meridian, MS vs $1,397 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,001 per month in Meridian, MS vs $2,588 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,305 per month in Meridian, MS vs $3,778 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Meridian, MS costs about 93% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Meridian, MS and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Meridian, MS by 102%, Ubud, Bali by 5%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Meridian, MS
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.38 $26.38
$3.43 Rp 61.4K
669.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$123 $123
$31.97 Rp 572.3K
285.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.19 $12.19
$5.05 Rp 90.4K
141.39%
Cappuccino
$5.36 $5.36
$2.71 Rp 48.6K
97.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 $1.95
$1.39 Rp 24.9K
40.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 $2.13
$0.74 Rp 13.3K
187.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.93 $5.93
$2.89 Rp 51.8K
105.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.77 $7.77
$3.79 Rp 67.9K
105.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Meridian, MS
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 $0.94
$1.79 Rp 32.1K
-47.49%
White Bread (500g)
$3.99 $3.99
$2.51 Rp 44.9K
58.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.97 $1.97
$1.21 Rp 21.7K
62.81%
Eggs
$3.86 $3.86
$2.37 Rp 42.4K
62.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.75 $14.75
$14.43 Rp 258.4K
2.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.87 $8.87
$4.15 Rp 74.3K
113.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.45 $14.45
$12.11 Rp 216.9K
19.32%
Apples (1kg)
$3.10 $3.10
$3.77 Rp 67.5K
-17.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.13 $1.13
$1.63 Rp 29.1K
-30.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.71 Rp 48.5K
2.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.32 $4.32
$2.26 Rp 40.4K
91.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 $1.96
$1.93 Rp 34.5K
1.55%
Onion (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$2.19 Rp 39.3K
48.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.11 $2.11
$1.02 Rp 18.2K
106.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$0.72 Rp 12.8K
305.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.01 $7.01
$3.18 Rp 57.0K
120.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.91 $16.91
$23.84 Rp 426.8K
-29.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$2.77 Rp 49.7K
-24.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 $3.58
$2.75 Rp 49.3K
30.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Meridian, MS
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.03 $2.03
$0.27 Rp 4,785
651.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.20 Rp 146.7K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.42 $3.42
$0.48 Rp 8,653
612.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.46 $1.46
$0.42 Rp 7,544
247.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$34.92 $34.92
$6.03 Rp 107.9K
479.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.71 $0.71
$0.82 Rp 14.7K
-13.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4K $34.4K
$26.6K Rp 475.6M
29.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.7K $28.7K
$32.2K Rp 576.6M
-10.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Meridian, MS
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$237 $237
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
202.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.4 $58.4
$3.91 Rp 70.0K
1393.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.7 $69.7
$23.91 Rp 428.2K
191.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Meridian, MS
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.71 $43.71
$96.2 Rp 1.7M
-54.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.53 Rp 116.8K
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.14 $13.14
$4.01 Rp 71.8K
227.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Meridian, MS
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$607 $607
$303 Rp 5.4M
100.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.2K $10.2K
$6,551 Rp 117.3M
55.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Meridian, MS
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4 $54.4
$55.3 Rp 990.3K
-1.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.21 $41.21
$38.32 Rp 686.1K
7.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.5 $75.5
$88.5 Rp 1.6M
-14.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
49.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Meridian, MS
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,579 $1,579
$986 Rp 17.6M
60.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,341 $1,341
$682 Rp 12.2M
96.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,676 $2,676
$3,420 Rp 61.2M
-21.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,203 $2,203
$2,075 Rp 37.1M
6.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,342 $2,342
$2,762 Rp 49.5M
-15.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,264 $2,264
$2,243 Rp 40.2M
0.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Meridian, MS
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,141 $4,141
$169 Rp 3.0M
2354.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.57
13.28
-50.53%

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

Last update for Meridian, MS: July 20, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,579 in Meridian, MS versus $986 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 2354% higher in Meridian, MS, 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 $123 in Meridian, MS versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $367 vs $298 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Meridian, MS vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Meridian, MS?
Yes – Meridian, MS is pricier by about 93%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,046 per month in Meridian, MS and $2,096 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Meridian, MS or in Ubud, Bali?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $123 in Meridian, MS and $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Meridian, MS and in Ubud, Bali?
Groceries cost about 23% more in Meridian, MS, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Meridian, MS or in Ubud, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,397, than in Meridian, MS at $2,698. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Meridian, MS it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Meridian, MS or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Meridian, MS or Ubud, Bali?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Meridian, MS makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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