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 $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $753 in La Marsa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,361 in La Marsa, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,968 in La Marsa, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 91% more than La Marsa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 7% above the global median, while La Marsa is 44% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
La Marsa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 61.9K
$3.31 TND 9.56
7.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58 Rp 564.7K
$21.85 TND 63.2
49.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 Rp 87.8K
$4.17 TND 12.04
21.58%
Cappuccino
$2.83 Rp 49.0K
$0.71 TND 2.06
298.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 23.2K
$0.64 TND 1.85
109.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
$0.23 TND 0.66
200.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 51.8K
$1.49 TND 4.31
100.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 66.7K
$2.51 TND 7.26
53.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
La Marsa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 30.2K
$0.50 TND 1.45
248.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.54 Rp 44.0K
$0.18 TND 0.53
1311.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
$1.50 TND 4.34
-20.67%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 42.0K
$1.63 TND 4.70
49.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.66 Rp 254.1K
$11.19 TND 32.35
31.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.18 Rp 72.4K
$5.83 TND 16.85
-28.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 Rp 206.9K
$13.33 TND 38.52
-10.43%
Apples (1kg)
$3.69 Rp 63.9K
$1.88 TND 5.43
96.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.8K
$2.95 TND 8.52
-45.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 Rp 46.5K
$1.06 TND 3.05
153.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 40.4K
$0.69 TND 1.98
237.68%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.0K
$0.65 TND 1.87
193.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 37.9K
$0.47 TND 1.36
365.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
$0.36 TND 1.05
194.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
$0.25 TND 0.72
188.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 Rp 54.3K
$3.44 TND 9.95
-9.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 407.1K
$6.74 TND 19.47
248.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 Rp 47.5K
$1.14 TND 3.31
140.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 Rp 49.9K
$1.06 TND 3.06
171.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
La Marsa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,029
$0.36 TND 1.03
-19.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 141.6K
$6.69 TND 19.33
22.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 7,863
$0.31 TND 0.91
45.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,305
$0.22 TND 0.64
90.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.16 Rp 106.7K
$4.02 TND 11.62
53.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 14.6K
$0.89 TND 2.56
-5.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K Rp 454.9M
$34.4K TND 99.3K
-23.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 562.9M
$27.2K TND 78.5K
19.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
La Marsa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$34.35 TND 99.3
128.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95 Rp 68.5K
$9.48 TND 27.39
-58.33%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40 Rp 423.0K
$14.92 TND 43.11
63.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
La Marsa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
$45.19 TND 131
113.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 110.0K
$7.53 TND 21.75
-15.67%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 70.0K
$4.52 TND 13.08
-10.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
La Marsa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 Rp 5.2M
$86.2 TND 249
251.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,523 Rp 113.1M
$2,347 TND 6,782
177.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
La Marsa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 Rp 933.1K
$45.18 TND 131
19.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98 Rp 658.3K
$44.52 TND 129
-14.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
$90.3 TND 261
-3.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
$66.1 TND 191
19.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
La Marsa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
$354 TND 1,023
185.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 Rp 11.7M
$282 TND 816
138.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,390 Rp 58.8M
$775 TND 2,239
337.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,098 Rp 36.4M
$808 TND 2,335
159.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,985 Rp 51.7M
$1,891 TND 5,465
57.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,339 Rp 40.5M
$1,061 TND 3,066
120.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
La Marsa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$173 Rp 3.0M
$339 TND 981
-48.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
13.6
-2.35%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Last update for La Marsa: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $354 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 96% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $22.00 in La Marsa. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $185 – 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 91%, 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 $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,129 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 vs La Marsa?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,438 in Ubud, Bali and $753 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 22% less in La Marsa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or La Marsa?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in La Marsa, where all-in costs run around $753, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. 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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