Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and El Medano Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and El Medano

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,344 in El Medano, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,642 in El Medano, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,939 in El Medano, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 6% more than El Medano, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and El Medano sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 6%, El Medano by 0%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
El Medano
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
$17.33 €14.91
-79.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
$58.1 €49.99
-43.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
$10.58 €9.10
-53.21%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
$2.01 €1.73
34.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
$1.84 €1.59
-27.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
$1.01 €0.87
-30.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
$2.94 €2.53
-0.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
$3.32 €2.86
19.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
El Medano
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
$1.29 €1.11
40.31%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
$1.71 €1.47
47.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
$1.45 €1.25
-20.00%
Eggs
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
$3.17 €2.73
-22.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
$14.98 €12.89
-1.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
$8.28 €7.12
-47.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
$14.40 €12.38
-15.69%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
$2.44 €2.10
57.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
$1.76 €1.51
-11.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
$1.65 €1.42
71.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
$2.60 €2.24
-10.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
$1.57 €1.35
21.66%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
$1.76 €1.51
25.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
$1.48 €1.28
-31.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
$0.66 €0.56
18.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
$5.12 €4.41
-35.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
$7.99 €6.87
197.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
$1.54 €1.32
81.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
$1.37 €1.18
108.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
El Medano
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,800
$1.70 €1.46
-84.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
$17.12 €14.72
-53.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,150
$4.67 €4.01
-90.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,037
$1.34 €1.15
-66.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
$17.17 €14.77
-64.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$1.31 €1.12
-39.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
$28.1K €24.2K
-6.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
$29.8K €25.7K
7.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
El Medano
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$89.3 €76.8
-10.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
$21.72 €18.68
-81.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
$30.73 €26.43
-23.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
El Medano
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
$45.78 €39.38
115.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
$14.96 €12.87
-55.68%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
$9.58 €8.24
-56.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
El Medano
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$342 €295
-11.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
$8,321 €7,158
-20.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
El Medano
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
$83.4 €71.8
-33.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
$33.89 €29.15
13.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
$84.6 €72.7
4.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$69.7 €59.9
11.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
El Medano
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
$1,062 €913
-5.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$675 Rp 12.1M
$487 €419
38.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
$1,886 €1,622
82.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
$1,824 €1,569
11.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
$3,431 €2,951
-17.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
$2,368 €2,037
-4.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
El Medano
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
3.5
279.43%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for El Medano: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,062 in El Medano. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $58.0 in El Medano. Groceries tell a different story – $302 in Ubud, Bali vs $269 in El Medano – so El Medano wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 El Medano: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Ubud, Bali and El Medano compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, $1,344 in El Medano – roughly 6% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Ubud, Bali compared to El Medano?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $2,017 in El Medano. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Ubud, Bali and El Medano?
Rent is clearly cheaper in El Medano, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ubud, Bali and El Medano?
Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $342 in El Medano. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 12% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in El Medano, where all-in costs run around $1,344, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In El Medano it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and El Medano?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,344 in El Medano to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Ubud, Bali or El Medano safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Ubud, Bali and El Medano?
If budget matters most, go with El Medano. 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.

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