Cost of Living Comparison Between Messina and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Messina and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,409 per month in Messina vs $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,462 per month in Messina vs $2,348 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,515 per month in Messina vs $3,327 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Messina costs about 3% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Messina and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Messina by 3%, Ubud, Bali by 0%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Messina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.85 €13.82
$3.44 Rp 60.9K
360.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.8 €60.9
$36.31 Rp 643.0K
92.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.91 €11.26
$5.71 Rp 101.0K
126.09%
Cappuccino
$2.01 €1.75
$2.67 Rp 47.3K
-24.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 €2.06
$1.75 Rp 31.0K
34.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24 €1.08
$0.87 Rp 15.4K
42.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.54 €3.95
$2.95 Rp 52.3K
53.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 €3.01
$4.52 Rp 80.0K
-23.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Messina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.35 €1.18
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
-16.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.93 €1.68
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
-17.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.92 €2.54
$1.11 Rp 19.6K
163.06%
Eggs
$2.94 €2.56
$2.20 Rp 39.0K
33.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.07 €13.13
$17.69 Rp 313.3K
-14.81%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.68 €9.31
$4.10 Rp 72.5K
160.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.53 €15.28
$12.18 Rp 215.6K
43.92%
Apples (1kg)
$2.99 €2.61
$3.71 Rp 65.6K
-19.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 €1.54
$1.59 Rp 28.1K
11.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.13 €0.99
$2.28 Rp 40.4K
-50.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.57 €3.11
$1.95 Rp 34.6K
83.08%
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 €0.58
$1.91 Rp 33.7K
-64.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 €1.31
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
-35.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.47 €1.28
$1.01 Rp 17.8K
45.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44 €0.39
$0.55 Rp 9,773
-20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.13 €6.22
$2.23 Rp 39.5K
219.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.75 €5.01
$23.07 Rp 408.6K
-75.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 €1.49
$2.42 Rp 42.8K
-29.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 €2.10
$3.00 Rp 53.1K
-19.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Messina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.72 €1.50
$0.27 Rp 4,814
537.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.17 €37.63
$8.98 Rp 159.1K
380.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.61 €4.89
$0.48 Rp 8,566
1068.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.14 €1.00
$0.43 Rp 7,679
165.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.43 €34.37
$5.64 Rp 99.9K
599.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.03 €1.77
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
153.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.1K €31.5K
$24.9K Rp 441.7M
44.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K €29.0K
$31.7K Rp 561.5M
4.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Messina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$180 €157
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
121.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.22 €8.91
$6.49 Rp 115.0K
57.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.42 €23.03
$18.77 Rp 332.4K
40.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Messina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.76 €42.50
$56.9 Rp 1.0M
-14.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.35 €15.12
$18.73 Rp 331.7K
-7.37%
Cinema Ticket
$9.48 €8.26
$4.54 Rp 80.4K
108.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Messina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$350 €305
$481 Rp 8.5M
-27.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$5,711 Rp 101.1M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Messina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.0 €64.5
$45.52 Rp 806.0K
62.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.33 €27.31
$35.88 Rp 635.4K
-12.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.2 €77.8
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
10.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131 €114
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
66.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Messina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$549 €478
$1,115 Rp 19.7M
-50.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$384 €334
$698 Rp 12.4M
-45.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,245 €1,085
$3,637 Rp 64.4M
-65.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,093 €953
$1,737 Rp 30.8M
-37.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,132 €1,859
$2,784 Rp 49.3M
-23.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,688 €1,471
$2,290 Rp 40.5M
-26.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Messina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,746 €1,522
$168 Rp 3.0M
939.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.8
13.78
-72.42%

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

Last update for Messina: September 14, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $549 in Messina versus $1,115 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 939% higher in Messina, 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 $70.0 in Messina versus $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $296 vs $295 – 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
Messina vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Messina or Ubud, Bali?
Messina costs about 3% more than Ubud, Bali, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Messina and in Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,113 per month in Messina and $2,052 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Messina or Ubud, Bali?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Messina and in Ubud, Bali?
Kindergarten costs $350 per month in Messina and $481 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Messina or in Ubud, Bali?
Groceries cost about 0% more in Messina, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Messina or in Ubud, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,368, than in Messina at $1,409. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Messina it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Messina or Ubud, Bali?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,368 versus $1,409 in Messina. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Messina compared to 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.
Should I move to Messina or to Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Messina makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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