Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Chennai (Madras) Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Chennai (Madras)

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $475 in Chennai (Madras), rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $741 in Chennai (Madras), rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,007 in Chennai (Madras), rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 196% more than Chennai (Madras), driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Chennai (Madras) is 64% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.1K

$2.30 ₹222

50.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 581.1K

$11.59 ₹1,118

179.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 87.1K

$4.10 ₹396

18.05%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.4K

$2.16 ₹209

27.31%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 Rp 24.9K

$0.49 ₹47.25

181.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

$0.17 ₹16.48

341.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.8K

$2.07 ₹200

44.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.2K

$4.08 ₹394

-5.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.2K

$0.59 ₹56.5

194.92%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.2K

$0.50 ₹47.84

392.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

$0.77 ₹74.7

51.95%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.7K

$0.87 ₹84.2

179.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 260.6K

$7.08 ₹682

104.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 78.2K

$3.57 ₹345

21.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 215.3K

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.8K

$2.84 ₹273

30.99%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$0.86 ₹82.9

89.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.3K

$1.27 ₹123

115.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.3K

$0.48 ₹46.42

366.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.5K

$0.55 ₹53.1

249.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.9K

$0.54 ₹51.8

322.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.55 ₹52.8

92.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$0.33 ₹31.53

118.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 59.0K

$4.06 ₹392

-18.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.8K

$7.14 ₹689

224.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$1.81 ₹175

53.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.1K

$3.49 ₹336

-21.78%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$6.08 ₹586

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,786

$0.34 ₹32.62

-20.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.7K

$11.59 ₹1,117

-30.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,675

$1.54 ₹149

-68.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,545

$0.30 ₹29.23

40.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.8K

$1.70 ₹164

265.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$1.18 ₹113

-31.36%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.6K Rp 478.2M

$17.3K ₹1.7M

54.23%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.2K Rp 578.5M

$23.8K ₹2.3M

35.49%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$47.66 ₹4,596

64.39%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.07 Rp 73.1K

$4.90 ₹472

-16.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 437.1K

$9.78 ₹943

148.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$17.77 ₹1,713

454.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.9K

$7.12 ₹687

-10.96%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.6K

$2.87 ₹277

39.02%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$305 Rp 5.5M

$79.5 ₹7,666

283.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.4M

$1,738 ₹167.6K

282.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 972.9K

$26.12 ₹2,519

107.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 679.4K

$23.16 ₹2,233

63.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

$49.19 ₹4,744

76.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

$36.39 ₹3,510

109.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.8M

$195 ₹18.8K

408.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.1M

$115 ₹11.1K

484.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.7M

$441 ₹42.5K

665.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

$260 ₹25.1K

688.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.4M

$1,817 ₹175.2K

54.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 40.0M

$793 ₹76.5K

180.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$754 ₹72.7K

-77.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

9.42

40.98%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Chennai (Madras): July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $195 in Chennai (Madras). 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 352% higher in Chennai (Madras), which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $12.00 in Chennai (Madras). Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $122 – making Chennai (Madras) 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

Ubud, Bali vs Chennai (Madras): Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 196% more than Chennai (Madras), with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $712 in Chennai (Madras). That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chennai (Madras), especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,408 in Ubud, Bali and $475 in Chennai (Madras). The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 43% less in Chennai (Madras). For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chennai (Madras), where all-in costs run around $475, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In Chennai (Madras) it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chennai (Madras) costs $475 versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Chennai (Madras). If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.