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 $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $484 in Chennai (Madras), rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $754 in Chennai (Madras), rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,024 in Chennai (Madras), rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 193% more than Chennai (Madras), driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Chennai (Madras) is 64% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.9K

$2.23 ₹213

59.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 586.8K

$11.73 ₹1,123

179.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.7K

$3.96 ₹379

25.00%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.6K

$2.11 ₹202

28.44%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.1K

$0.49 ₹47.10

173.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.19 ₹18.36

268.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.3K

$2.08 ₹199

40.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.9K

$4.18 ₹400

-5.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

$0.63 ₹60.1

187.30%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.1K

$0.50 ₹47.37

404.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.8K

$0.77 ₹73.4

50.65%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$0.87 ₹83.5

182.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 263.7K

$6.99 ₹669

110.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.4K

$3.45 ₹330

25.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 217.5K

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.8K

$2.94 ₹281

30.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.9K

$0.82 ₹78.1

90.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.8K

$1.34 ₹128

111.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.7K

$0.45 ₹42.92

417.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.3K

$0.55 ₹52.3

247.27%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.5K

$0.54 ₹51.5

307.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.2K

$0.55 ₹52.3

83.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

$0.33 ₹31.42

136.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.4K

$4.00 ₹383

-17.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 425.5K

$7.68 ₹735

209.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 50.0K

$1.91 ₹183

46.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.3K

$3.49 ₹334

-18.05%

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

$6.12 ₹585

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,819

$0.34 ₹32.26

-20.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.9K

$11.49 ₹1,100

-30.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,181

$1.53 ₹147

-69.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,068

$0.30 ₹28.77

50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 109.3K

$1.76 ₹169

246.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$1.16 ₹111

-31.90%

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

$26.1K Rp 468.8M

$17.2K ₹1.6M

51.89%

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

$32.1K Rp 575.8M

$24.5K ₹2.3M

31.18%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$47.37 ₹4,533

68.76%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.9K

$4.73 ₹453

-14.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 421.6K

$9.77 ₹935

140.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$17.53 ₹1,677

463.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.8K

$7.26 ₹694

-8.68%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.3K

$2.84 ₹272

46.13%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$80.3 ₹7,686

278.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.5M

$1,756 ₹168.0K

276.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 995.6K

$25.19 ₹2,410

120.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 686.7K

$23.56 ₹2,254

62.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$49.44 ₹4,731

79.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$35.35 ₹3,382

120.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$190 ₹18.2K

428.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$117 ₹11.2K

477.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.7M

$435 ₹41.6K

691.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.6M

$263 ₹25.2K

675.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.9M

$1,736 ₹166.1K

63.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.6M

$724 ₹69.3K

212.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$718 ₹68.7K

-76.98%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Chennai (Madras): June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $190 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 334% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $12.00 in Chennai (Madras). Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $124 – 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 193% 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 $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $726 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 $1,419 in Ubud, Bali and $484 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 $484, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. 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 $484 versus $1,419 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.