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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,024 in Middelburg versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,579 in Middelburg versus $2,557 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,133 in Middelburg versus $3,723 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Middelburg costs roughly 26% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Middelburg is 23% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Middelburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.34 R 137
$3.57 Rp 64.5K
133.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.54 R 552
$32.32 Rp 583.4K
3.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.83 R 79.4
$5.01 Rp 90.4K
-3.59%
Cappuccino
$1.20 R 19.83
$2.82 Rp 51.0K
-57.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 R 13.29
$1.35 Rp 24.4K
-40.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 R 9.30
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
-23.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.14 R 18.77
$2.93 Rp 53.0K
-61.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 R 23.41
$3.94 Rp 71.1K
-63.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Middelburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 R 19.03
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
-34.83%
White Bread (500g)
$0.96 R 15.88
$2.45 Rp 44.2K
-60.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 R 22.78
$1.15 Rp 20.7K
20.00%
Eggs
$1.53 R 25.23
$2.41 Rp 43.6K
-36.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.55 R 91.3
$14.33 Rp 258.7K
-61.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.55 R 74.9
$4.19 Rp 75.6K
8.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.09 R 100
$12.06 Rp 217.7K
-49.50%
Apples (1kg)
$1.53 R 25.23
$3.64 Rp 65.7K
-57.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.01 R 16.59
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
-35.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.03 R 16.96
$2.79 Rp 50.3K
-63.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.20 R 19.70
$2.24 Rp 40.5K
-46.43%
Potato (1kg)
$1.54 R 25.28
$1.98 Rp 35.7K
-22.22%
Onion (1kg)
$1.11 R 18.20
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
-51.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.16 R 19.07
$1.05 Rp 19.0K
10.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 R 15.87
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
21.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 R 36.59
$3.19 Rp 57.6K
-30.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.81 R 79.2
$23.49 Rp 424.1K
-79.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 R 28.17
$2.90 Rp 52.3K
-41.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 R 31.88
$2.76 Rp 49.7K
-29.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Middelburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.35 R 22.17
$0.27 Rp 4,813
400.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.57 R 635
$8.37 Rp 151.1K
360.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.10 R 18.18
$0.45 Rp 8,167
144.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.96 R 15.84
$0.46 Rp 8,298
108.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.06 R 66.8
$6.07 Rp 109.6K
-33.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 R 20.99
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
47.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9K R 344.8K
$26.6K Rp 480.0M
-21.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K R 391.5K
$32.5K Rp 587.6M
-26.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Middelburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$119 R 1,953
$79.0 Rp 1.4M
50.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.63 R 587
$4.09 Rp 73.9K
771.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.63 R 685
$23.85 Rp 430.5K
74.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Middelburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.60 R 520
$98.8 Rp 1.8M
-68.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.35 Rp 114.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.57 R 108
$4.01 Rp 72.3K
63.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Middelburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$198 R 3,256
$297 Rp 5.4M
-33.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,305 R 70.9K
$6,602 Rp 119.2M
-34.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Middelburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.97 R 823
$53.4 Rp 964.5K
-6.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.86 R 524
$38.11 Rp 688.1K
-16.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.4 R 1,488
$88.7 Rp 1.6M
1.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4 R 1,306
$76.6 Rp 1.4M
3.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Middelburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$370 R 6,093
$1,020 Rp 18.4M
-63.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$337 R 5,551
$680 Rp 12.3M
-50.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$679 R 11.2K
$3,469 Rp 62.6M
-80.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$698 R 11.5K
$2,090 Rp 37.7M
-66.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$874 R 14.4K
$2,729 Rp 49.3M
-67.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$636 R 10.5K
$2,295 Rp 41.4M
-72.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Middelburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,181 R 19.4K
$164 Rp 3.0M
621.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.51
13.28
-13.33%

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

Last update for Middelburg: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $370 in Middelburg and $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Middelburg pays 621% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $34.00 in Middelburg vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $159 vs $298, with Middelburg cheaper for home cooking.

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
Middelburg vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Middelburg or Ubud, Bali?
Middelburg wins on cost – living expenses run 36% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Middelburg the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Middelburg or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 621% higher in Middelburg, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Middelburg compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $370 in Middelburg versus $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Middelburg compared to Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Middelburg runs roughly 361% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Middelburg and in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $198 in Middelburg versus $297 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Middelburg or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,024 in Middelburg versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Middelburg but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Middelburg the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Middelburg or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Middelburg delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,024 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Middelburg hard to pass up.
How safe is Middelburg compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Middelburg and Ubud, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Middelburg gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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