Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Muscat and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,368 a month against $1,556 in Muscat, rent and utilities included – about $2,300 less a year. The total is higher in Muscat despite lower rent and utilities.

Muscat
🇴🇲 Oman
$1,556
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,368
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Muscat and in Ubud, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Muscat and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,556 in Muscat versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Muscat $1,556
  • Ubud, Bali $1,368

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,299 in Muscat versus $2,314 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Muscat $2,299
  • Ubud, Bali $2,314

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,042 in Muscat versus $3,260 in Ubud, Bali.

  • Muscat $3,042
  • Ubud, Bali $3,260

Living in Muscat is roughly 14% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Muscat 15% above, Ubud, Bali 1% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Muscat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.33 OMR 2.05
$3.33 Rp 59.9K
60.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.12 OMR 15.06
$35.18 Rp 633.2K
11.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.76 OMR 2.99
$5.80 Rp 104.5K
33.79%
Cappuccino
$4.93 OMR 1.90
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
80.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 OMR 0.33
$1.64 Rp 29.5K
-48.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 OMR 0.10
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
-67.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.87 OMR 4.95
$2.70 Rp 48.6K
376.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$13.07 OMR 5.03
$4.30 Rp 77.4K
203.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Muscat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.31 OMR 0.89
$1.50 Rp 27.1K
54.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 OMR 0.48
$2.30 Rp 41.4K
-46.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.87 OMR 0.72
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
58.47%
Eggs
$3.02 OMR 1.16
$2.14 Rp 38.6K
41.12%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.23 OMR 2.78
$17.48 Rp 314.6K
-58.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.91 OMR 2.66
$4.03 Rp 72.5K
71.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.57 OMR 4.07
$12.23 Rp 220.1K
-13.57%
Apples (1kg)
$3.51 OMR 1.35
$3.55 Rp 63.9K
-1.13%
Banana (1kg)
$2.01 OMR 0.77
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
28.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 OMR 0.90
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
4.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.26 OMR 0.49
$1.93 Rp 34.7K
-34.72%
Potato (1kg)
$1.16 OMR 0.44
$1.88 Rp 33.9K
-38.30%
Onion (1kg)
$1.28 OMR 0.49
$2.29 Rp 41.3K
-44.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.79 OMR 0.69
$0.99 Rp 17.9K
80.81%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 OMR 0.26
$0.53 Rp 9,475
28.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.62 OMR 2.55
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
190.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.83 OMR 6.09
$23.01 Rp 414.2K
-31.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$6.03 OMR 2.32
$2.34 Rp 42.2K
157.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.33 OMR 3.98
$2.91 Rp 52.4K
254.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Muscat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.33 OMR 0.51
$0.24 Rp 4,315
454.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.9 OMR 30.00
$8.82 Rp 158.7K
783.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.18 OMR 1.23
$0.48 Rp 8,684
562.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.62 OMR 1.01
$0.46 Rp 8,233
469.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.83 OMR 3.01
$5.45 Rp 98.2K
43.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.60 OMR 0.23
$0.88 Rp 15.9K
-31.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.9K OMR 9,986
$24.6K Rp 442.2M
5.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K OMR 8,624
$31.2K Rp 561.4M
-28.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Muscat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$176 OMR 67.9
$83.0 Rp 1.5M
112.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.30 OMR 10.90
$6.45 Rp 116.0K
338.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.9 OMR 27.28
$18.57 Rp 334.2K
281.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Muscat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.7 OMR 24.14
$55.8 Rp 1.0M
12.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.94 OMR 11.53
$18.11 Rp 326.0K
65.32%
Cinema Ticket
$10.52 OMR 4.05
$4.38 Rp 78.9K
140.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Muscat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$283 OMR 109
$493 Rp 8.9M
-42.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K OMR 4,070
$5,754 Rp 103.6M
83.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Muscat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.6 OMR 21.79
$46.19 Rp 831.4K
22.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.33 OMR 16.68
$35.33 Rp 636.0K
22.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.1 OMR 35.08
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
15.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4 OMR 33.28
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
10.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Muscat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$674 OMR 260
$1,142 Rp 20.6M
-40.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$461 OMR 177
$676 Rp 12.2M
-31.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,324 OMR 510
$3,503 Rp 63.1M
-62.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$813 OMR 313
$1,700 Rp 30.6M
-52.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,871 OMR 1,105
$2,784 Rp 50.1M
3.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,614 OMR 621
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
-27.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Muscat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,650 OMR 635
$165 Rp 3.0M
902.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.25
13.78
-61.90%

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

Last update for Muscat: October 11, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Muscat
$461
Ubud, Bali
$676 46.7% $215
Groceries & Markets
Muscat
$292
Ubud, Bali
$290 0.6% $1.7
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Muscat
$275
Ubud, Bali
$108 60.8% $167
Eating Out
Muscat
$220
Ubud, Bali
$109 50.6% $111
Clothing & Footwear
Muscat
$125
Ubud, Bali
$108 13.9% $17
Getting Around
Muscat
$100
Ubud, Bali
$13 87.4% $87
Sport & Entertainment
Muscat
$84
Ubud, Bali
$65 22.9% $19

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $674 in Muscat and $1,142 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Muscat pays 902% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $39.00 in Muscat vs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $290 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇴🇲 Muscat
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
12:42 12:42 PM
16:42 4:42 PM
4 h ahead of Muscat
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,090,797 Capital
74,800
💱 Currency
Omani Rial OMR ر.ع.
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to OMR – Omani Rial Converter

Omani Rial exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.385 OMR (1 OMR = 2.6 USD). 1 EUR = 0.433 OMR (1 OMR = 2.31 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Muscat Ubud, Bali 7,130 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Muscat
  • Ubud, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Muscat vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Muscat and in Ubud, Bali?
Muscat and Ubud, Bali differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($1,556 vs $1,368 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Muscat or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 902% higher in Muscat, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Muscat and in Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $674 in Muscat versus $1,142 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $39.00 in Muscat. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Muscat or Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $1,556 per month in Muscat versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,556 in Muscat, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Muscat. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Muscat and Ubud, Bali?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Muscat or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Muscat 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.
Where should expats move: Muscat or Ubud, Bali?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Muscat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Muscat vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?