Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Al Muharraq Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Al Muharraq

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,219 in Al Muharraq.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,752 in Al Muharraq.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,284 in Al Muharraq.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 15% more expensive than in Al Muharraq, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Al Muharraq is 9% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Al Muharraq
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45 Rp 62.1K
$4.09 BHD 1.54
-15.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 Rp 581.1K
$26.83 BHD 10.11
20.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.84 Rp 87.1K
$5.29 BHD 1.99
-8.51%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
$4.07 BHD 1.53
-32.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 24.9K
$0.85 BHD 0.32
62.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
$0.36 BHD 0.14
108.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 53.8K
$5.36 BHD 2.02
-44.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 69.2K
$7.82 BHD 2.95
-50.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Al Muharraq
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 31.2K
$1.30 BHD 0.49
33.85%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 44.2K
$0.52 BHD 0.20
373.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
$2.32 BHD 0.87
-49.57%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 43.7K
$2.33 BHD 0.88
4.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 Rp 260.6K
$4.62 BHD 1.74
213.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.35 Rp 78.2K
$5.15 BHD 1.94
-15.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.98 Rp 215.3K
$7.93 BHD 2.99
51.07%
Apples (1kg)
$3.72 Rp 66.8K
$1.20 BHD 0.45
210.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
$1.59 BHD 0.60
2.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.74 Rp 49.3K
$1.07 BHD 0.40
156.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
$1.22 BHD 0.46
83.61%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 Rp 34.5K
$0.76 BHD 0.29
152.63%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.9K
$0.52 BHD 0.20
338.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$1.16 BHD 0.44
-8.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
$0.51 BHD 0.19
41.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29 Rp 59.0K
$5.27 BHD 1.99
-37.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.19 Rp 416.8K
$18.78 BHD 7.08
23.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$3.35 BHD 1.26
-17.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$3.16 BHD 1.19
-13.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Al Muharraq
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,786
$0.83 BHD 0.31
-67.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.11 Rp 145.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,675
$4.70 BHD 1.77
-89.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,545
$2.69 BHD 1.01
-84.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.22 Rp 111.8K
$5.23 BHD 1.97
18.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$0.44 BHD 0.17
84.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 478.2M
$37.0K BHD 14.0K
-28.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K Rp 578.5M
$15.6K BHD 5,896
105.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Al Muharraq
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$105 BHD 39.71
-25.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07 Rp 73.1K
$21.06 BHD 7.94
-80.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33 Rp 437.1K
$39.15 BHD 14.76
-37.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Al Muharraq
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
$52.3 BHD 19.72
88.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34 Rp 113.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.99 Rp 71.6K
$7.15 BHD 2.70
-44.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Al Muharraq
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 Rp 5.5M
$387 BHD 146
-21.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,642 Rp 119.4M
$5,944 BHD 2,240
11.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Al Muharraq
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 Rp 972.9K
$26.95 BHD 10.16
100.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81 Rp 679.4K
$63.9 BHD 24.09
-40.86%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
$83.4 BHD 31.44
4.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
$90.3 BHD 34.02
-15.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Al Muharraq
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$992 Rp 17.8M
$608 BHD 229
63.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$504 BHD 190
33.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,375 Rp 60.7M
$969 BHD 365
248.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
$790 BHD 298
159.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,805 Rp 50.4M
$2,011 BHD 758
39.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,227 Rp 40.0M
$1,612 BHD 608
38.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Al Muharraq
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 3.0M
$1,549 BHD 584
-89.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
8.56
55.14%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Al Muharraq: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Ubud, Bali and $608 in Al Muharraq. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Muharraq pays 827% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $27.00 in Al Muharraq for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $201 per month, with Al Muharraq cheaper across the board.

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
Ubud, Bali vs Al Muharraq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and in Al Muharraq?
Ubud, Bali and Al Muharraq differ by about 15% in total monthly costs ($1,408 vs $1,219 including rent). Al Muharraq is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 827% lower in Al Muharraq. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Al Muharraq?
Rent for a central apartment: $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $608 in Al Muharraq. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 48% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Al Muharraq?
All in, you'll spend $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,219 in Al Muharraq – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,219 in Al Muharraq versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Al Muharraq but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Al Muharraq the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Al Muharraq?
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 Ubud, Bali or Al Muharraq safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Al Muharraq 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: Ubud, Bali or Al Muharraq?
Expats usually find Al Muharraq gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% 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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