🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,006 in Middelburg versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,566 in Middelburg versus $2,549 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,127 in Middelburg versus $3,694 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Middelburg costs roughly 28% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Middelburg is 25% below, Ubud, Bali is 4% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Middelburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.52R 138
$3.57Rp 64.0K
138.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.73R 545
$32.50Rp 582.3K
3.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.80R 77.5
$4.86Rp 87.1K
-1.23%
Cappuccino
$1.22R 19.70
$2.75Rp 49.2K
-55.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76R 12.22
$1.32Rp 23.7K
-42.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57R 9.15
$0.70Rp 12.6K
-18.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.10R 17.72
$2.91Rp 52.2K
-62.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42R 23.02
$3.79Rp 68.0K
-62.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Middelburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.16R 18.79
$1.71Rp 30.6K
-32.16%
White Bread(500g)
$0.95R 15.42
$2.47Rp 44.3K
-61.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38R 22.29
$1.20Rp 21.5K
15.00%
Eggs
$1.60R 25.94
$2.44Rp 43.8K
-34.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.60R 90.5
$14.38Rp 257.7K
-61.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.73R 76.5
$4.31Rp 77.1K
9.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.04R 97.6
$12.21Rp 218.7K
-50.53%
Apples(1kg)
$1.49R 24.08
$3.68Rp 66.0K
-59.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.02R 16.46
$1.55Rp 27.8K
-34.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.08R 17.53
$2.79Rp 49.9K
-61.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.20R 19.48
$2.33Rp 41.8K
-48.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.62R 26.12
$1.97Rp 35.3K
-17.77%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12R 18.06
$2.31Rp 41.4K
-51.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13R 18.24
$1.06Rp 19.1K
6.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95R 15.39
$0.73Rp 13.1K
30.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.26R 36.49
$3.28Rp 58.8K
-31.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.82R 78.0
$22.79Rp 408.4K
-78.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72R 27.88
$2.81Rp 50.3K
-38.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95R 31.45
$2.78Rp 49.9K
-29.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Middelburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.30R 21.06
$0.29Rp 5,217
348.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.62R 624
$8.06Rp 144.4K
379.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.10R 17.81
$0.45Rp 8,047
144.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.95R 15.40
$0.45Rp 8,094
111.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.91R 63.3
$6.24Rp 111.7K
-37.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28R 20.75
$0.85Rp 15.2K
50.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1KR 341.8K
$26.0KRp 465.4M
-18.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KR 382.6K
$31.7KRp 567.2M
-25.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Middelburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$116R 1,879
$80.8Rp 1.4M
43.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.90R 564
$4.06Rp 72.7K
759.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.11R 681
$24.42Rp 437.6K
72.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Middelburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.87R 499
$97.7Rp 1.7M
-68.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.45Rp 115.5K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.73R 109
$4.04Rp 72.4K
66.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Middelburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$198R 3,204
$304Rp 5.4M
-34.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,306R 69.6K
$6,621Rp 118.6M
-34.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Middelburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.47R 800
$54.2Rp 971.7K
-8.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.96R 517
$38.78Rp 694.7K
-17.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.1R 1,424
$86.1Rp 1.5M
2.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.1R 1,294
$76.7Rp 1.4M
4.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Middelburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$359R 5,802
$986Rp 17.7M
-63.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$339R 5,484
$658Rp 11.8M
-48.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$682R 11.0K
$3,369Rp 60.4M
-79.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$678R 11.0K
$2,066Rp 37.0M
-67.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$896R 14.5K
$2,741Rp 49.1M
-67.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$696R 11.2K
$2,228Rp 39.9M
-68.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Middelburg
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,167R 18.9K
$163Rp 2.9M
613.82%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $359 in Middelburg and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Middelburg pays 614% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $161 vs $297, 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 40% 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 Ubud, Bali?
Middelburg pays 614% more on average, 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 vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $359 in Middelburg versus $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Middelburg vs Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Middelburg runs roughly 379% 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 Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $198 in Middelburg versus $304 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 Ubud, Bali?
At $1,006 in Middelburg versus $1,404 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 $1,006 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 40% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Middelburg vs other spots: cost of living compared