Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Isla Mujeres

For one person, living is cheaper in Isla Mujeres: $1,103 a month against $1,353 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $3,000 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Ubud, Bali outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,353
/mo nomad
Isla Mujeres
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,103
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Isla Mujeres

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,353 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,103 in Isla Mujeres.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,353
  • Isla Mujeres $1,103

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,760 in Isla Mujeres.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,297
  • Isla Mujeres $1,760

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,241 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,416 in Isla Mujeres.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,241
  • Isla Mujeres $2,416

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 23% more expensive than in Isla Mujeres, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Isla Mujeres is 19% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Isla Mujeres
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.23 Rp 58.1K
$10.59 MX$196
-69.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.88 Rp 627.8K
$39.10 MX$722
-10.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.70 Rp 102.5K
$7.70 MX$142
-25.97%
Cappuccino
$2.62 Rp 47.1K
$3.26 MX$60.2
-19.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 Rp 31.0K
$1.24 MX$22.93
38.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$0.98 MX$18.04
-17.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 47.7K
$2.17 MX$40.08
22.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37 Rp 78.6K
$4.00 MX$73.9
9.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Isla Mujeres
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$1.44 MX$26.58
9.03%
White Bread (500g)
$2.19 Rp 39.5K
$2.52 MX$46.64
-13.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
$1.56 MX$28.75
-24.36%
Eggs
$2.16 Rp 38.8K
$2.33 MX$43.08
-7.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.65 Rp 317.7K
$7.97 MX$147
121.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.78 Rp 68.0K
$8.02 MX$148
-52.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.95 Rp 215.1K
$10.38 MX$192
15.13%
Apples (1kg)
$3.60 Rp 64.8K
$2.60 MX$48.09
38.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.6K
$1.41 MX$26.02
12.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.6K
$1.71 MX$31.68
35.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
$1.70 MX$31.45
12.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
$1.90 MX$35.19
-6.32%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.9K
$1.93 MX$35.63
20.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 Rp 18.0K
$1.26 MX$23.35
-20.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 Rp 9,509
$0.98 MX$18.14
-45.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.29 Rp 41.1K
$4.21 MX$77.7
-45.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.07 Rp 397.3K
$11.00 MX$203
100.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 Rp 42.2K
$1.60 MX$29.54
46.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 Rp 53.6K
$2.77 MX$51.1
7.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Isla Mujeres
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 Rp 4,112
$0.62 MX$11.45
-62.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.90 Rp 160.2K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.47 Rp 8,466
$2.54 MX$46.85
-81.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,737
$1.59 MX$29.42
-72.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.47 Rp 98.4K
$8.47 MX$157
-35.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
$1.26 MX$23.31
-34.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9K Rp 429.8M
$21.4K MX$396.2K
11.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8K Rp 590.1M
$22.1K MX$408.2K
48.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Isla Mujeres
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.0 Rp 1.4M
$56.3 MX$1,041
42.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.56 Rp 118.1K
$22.23 MX$411
-70.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.60 Rp 334.8K
$27.99 MX$517
-33.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Isla Mujeres
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.1 Rp 974.1K
$36.29 MX$671
49.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.28 Rp 329.0K
$16.00 MX$296
14.25%
Cinema Ticket
$4.25 Rp 76.5K
$4.64 MX$85.8
-8.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Isla Mujeres
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$493 Rp 8.9M
$210 MX$3,888
134.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,597 Rp 100.7M
$3,607 MX$66.6K
55.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Isla Mujeres
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.58 Rp 820.4K
$52.0 MX$961
-12.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.96 Rp 629.4K
$40.19 MX$743
-13.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 Rp 1.4M
$90.8 MX$1,678
-14.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.5 Rp 1.4M
$80.7 MX$1,492
-2.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Isla Mujeres
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,131 Rp 20.4M
$505 MX$9,338
123.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$395 MX$7,304
70.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,613 Rp 65.0M
$919 MX$17.0K
292.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,702 Rp 30.6M
$770 MX$14.2K
121.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,717 Rp 48.9M
$1,779 MX$32.9K
52.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
$1,176 MX$21.7K
90.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Isla Mujeres
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
11.48
20.03%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 19, 2026

Last update for Isla Mujeres: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$673
Isla Mujeres
$395 41.3% $278
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$287
Isla Mujeres
$249 13.3% $38
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$107
Isla Mujeres
$119 11.4% $12
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$106
Isla Mujeres
$175 64.1% $68
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$105
Isla Mujeres
$107 1.3% $1.4
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$63
Isla Mujeres
$46 27.2% $17
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$12
Isla Mujeres
$13 * 4.3% $0.5

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,131 in Ubud, Bali and $505 in Isla Mujeres. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $35.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $39.00 in Isla Mujeres. Groceries flip the comparison at $287 vs $249, with Isla Mujeres cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇲🇽 Isla Mujeres
🕒 Local time
13:47 1:47 PM
00:47 12:47 AM
13 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
13,174
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Isla Mujeres 17,270 km ≈ 22 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Isla Mujeres

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
Ubud, Bali vs Isla Mujeres: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and in Isla Mujeres?
Ubud, Bali and Isla Mujeres differ by about 23% in total monthly costs ($1,353 vs $1,103 including rent). Isla Mujeres is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Ubud, Bali compared to Isla Mujeres?
You'd need roughly $2,030 in Ubud, Bali and $1,654 in Isla Mujeres to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Isla Mujeres?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,131 in Ubud, Bali versus $505 in Isla Mujeres. 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 15% 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 Isla Mujeres?
All in, you'll spend $1,353 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,103 in Isla Mujeres – a 23% 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 $1,103 in Isla Mujeres versus $1,353 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Isla Mujeres but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Isla Mujeres the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Isla Mujeres?
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 Isla Mujeres safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Isla Mujeres 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 Isla Mujeres?
Expats usually find Isla Mujeres gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% 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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