Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and La Marsa Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and La Marsa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $792 in La Marsa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,318 in La Marsa, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,843 in La Marsa, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 73% more than La Marsa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while La Marsa is 42% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
La Marsa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44 Rp 60.9K
$3.33 TND 9.65
3.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.31 Rp 643.0K
$20.55 TND 59.6
76.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.71 Rp 101.0K
$5.42 TND 15.71
5.35%
Cappuccino
$2.67 Rp 47.3K
$1.28 TND 3.72
108.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 Rp 31.0K
$0.58 TND 1.68
201.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 Rp 15.4K
$0.26 TND 0.75
234.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 Rp 52.3K
$1.51 TND 4.37
95.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52 Rp 80.0K
$2.11 TND 6.11
114.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
La Marsa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
$0.52 TND 1.50
211.54%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
$0.32 TND 0.94
628.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 19.6K
$2.34 TND 6.78
-52.56%
Eggs
$2.20 Rp 39.0K
$1.90 TND 5.50
15.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.69 Rp 313.3K
$10.13 TND 29.39
74.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.10 Rp 72.5K
$6.85 TND 19.88
-40.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.18 Rp 215.6K
$13.35 TND 38.71
-8.76%
Apples (1kg)
$3.71 Rp 65.6K
$2.04 TND 5.91
81.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.1K
$3.71 TND 10.75
-57.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.4K
$1.49 TND 4.32
53.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.95 Rp 34.6K
$0.64 TND 1.87
204.69%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.7K
$0.56 TND 1.62
241.07%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
$0.63 TND 1.83
269.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 17.8K
$0.42 TND 1.22
140.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 9,773
$0.31 TND 0.91
77.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 Rp 39.5K
$3.85 TND 11.15
-42.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.07 Rp 408.6K
$6.92 TND 20.09
233.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 Rp 42.8K
$1.29 TND 3.74
87.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 Rp 53.1K
$1.66 TND 4.81
80.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
La Marsa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,814
$0.33 TND 0.95
-18.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.98 Rp 159.1K
$7.30 TND 21.17
23.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,566
$0.32 TND 0.94
50.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,679
$0.43 TND 1.25
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.64 Rp 99.9K
$4.03 TND 11.70
39.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
$0.88 TND 2.56
-9.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K Rp 441.7M
$38.5K TND 111.7K
-35.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 561.5M
$32.2K TND 93.3K
-1.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
La Marsa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
$35.46 TND 103
129.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49 Rp 115.0K
$12.86 TND 37.30
-49.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.77 Rp 332.4K
$18.48 TND 53.6
1.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
La Marsa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.9 Rp 1.0M
$42.76 TND 124
33.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.73 Rp 331.7K
$7.25 TND 21.02
158.34%
Cinema Ticket
$4.54 Rp 80.4K
$5.55 TND 16.11
-18.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
La Marsa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$481 Rp 8.5M
$60.7 TND 176
691.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,711 Rp 101.1M
$2,657 TND 7,708
114.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
La Marsa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.52 Rp 806.0K
$65.2 TND 189
-30.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.88 Rp 635.4K
$72.8 TND 211
-50.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
$91.7 TND 266
-12.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
$94.0 TND 273
-16.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
La Marsa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,115 Rp 19.7M
$290 TND 842
284.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$698 Rp 12.4M
$240 TND 697
190.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,637 Rp 64.4M
$710 TND 2,060
412.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,737 Rp 30.8M
$579 TND 1,680
199.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 Rp 49.3M
$1,864 TND 5,406
49.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,290 Rp 40.5M
$1,034 TND 3,000
121.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
La Marsa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$168 Rp 3.0M
$340 TND 987
-50.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
14
-1.57%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for La Marsa: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $290 in La Marsa. 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 102% higher in La Marsa, 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $21.00 in La Marsa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $204 – making La Marsa 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 La Marsa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is La Marsa cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 73%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,052 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,188 in La Marsa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in La Marsa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali and in La Marsa?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,368 in Ubud, Bali and $792 in La Marsa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 23% less in La Marsa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in La Marsa?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in La Marsa, where all-in costs run around $792, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. In La Marsa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ubud, Bali or La Marsa more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward La Marsa – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or La Marsa?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with La Marsa. 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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