Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Macao

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,368 a month against $2,114 in Macao, rent and utilities included – about $9,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,368
/mo nomad
Macao
🇲🇴 Macao (China)
$2,114
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Macao

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 Macao actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,114 in Macao.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,368
  • Macao $2,114

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,314 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,990 in Macao.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,314
  • Macao $2,990

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,260 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,866 in Macao.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,260
  • Macao $3,866

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 35% less than in Macao, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 1% above, Macao 57% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Macao
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33 Rp 59.9K
$6.26 MOP 50.6
-46.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.18 Rp 633.2K
$56.2 MOP 454
-37.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.80 Rp 104.5K
$6.02 MOP 48.66
-3.65%
Cappuccino
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$5.06 MOP 40.87
-46.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 Rp 29.5K
$1.05 MOP 8.48
56.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
$0.85 MOP 6.88
-2.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.70 Rp 48.6K
$5.62 MOP 45.46
-51.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 Rp 77.4K
$7.33 MOP 59.2
-41.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Macao
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 Rp 27.1K
$3.26 MOP 26.34
-53.99%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 Rp 41.4K
$1.70 MOP 13.72
35.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
$1.66 MOP 13.38
-28.92%
Eggs
$2.14 Rp 38.6K
$3.50 MOP 28.30
-38.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.48 Rp 314.6K
$16.22 MOP 131
7.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.03 Rp 72.5K
$19.56 MOP 158
-79.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.23 Rp 220.1K
$28.45 MOP 230
-57.01%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 Rp 63.9K
$2.59 MOP 20.96
37.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$2.86 MOP 23.13
-45.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
$1.89 MOP 15.27
18.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.93 Rp 34.7K
$2.36 MOP 19.04
-18.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.88 Rp 33.9K
$3.84 MOP 31.03
-51.04%
Onion (1kg)
$2.29 Rp 41.3K
$2.84 MOP 22.92
-19.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 17.9K
$0.62 MOP 5.04
59.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 Rp 9,475
$1.15 MOP 9.32
-53.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
$6.64 MOP 53.6
-65.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.01 Rp 414.2K
$12.30 MOP 99.4
87.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 Rp 42.2K
$1.79 MOP 14.43
30.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 Rp 52.4K
$2.30 MOP 18.61
26.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Macao
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 Rp 4,315
$0.73 MOP 5.88
-67.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.82 Rp 158.7K
$22.47 MOP 182
-60.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,684
$2.63 MOP 21.26
-81.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,233
$1.29 MOP 10.40
-64.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 Rp 98.2K
$14.68 MOP 119
-62.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 Rp 15.9K
$1.78 MOP 14.38
-50.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K Rp 442.2M
$30.5K MOP 246.6K
-19.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2K Rp 561.4M
$30.9K MOP 249.8K
0.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Macao
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 Rp 1.5M
$120 MOP 972
-30.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 116.0K
$23.50 MOP 190
-72.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.57 Rp 334.2K
$37.25 MOP 301
-50.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Macao
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.8 Rp 1.0M
$63.8 MOP 515
-12.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.11 Rp 326.0K
$3.81 MOP 30.82
375.33%
Cinema Ticket
$4.38 Rp 78.9K
$14.71 MOP 119
-70.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Macao
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$493 Rp 8.9M
$1,231 MOP 9,951
-59.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,754 Rp 103.6M
$18.7K MOP 151.3K
-69.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Macao
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.19 Rp 831.4K
$68.7 MOP 555
-32.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.33 Rp 636.0K
$33.15 MOP 268
6.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$91.9 MOP 743
-13.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$135 MOP 1,091
-41.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Macao
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,142 Rp 20.6M
$1,103 MOP 8,913
3.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$676 Rp 12.2M
$1,055 MOP 8,528
-35.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,503 Rp 63.1M
$2,111 MOP 17.1K
65.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,700 Rp 30.6M
$1,433 MOP 11.6K
18.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 Rp 50.1M
$8,352 MOP 67.5K
-66.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
$5,490 MOP 44.4K
-59.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Macao
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$2,041 MOP 16.5K
-91.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
3
359.33%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 11, 2026

Last update for Macao: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$676
Macao
$1.1K 56.2% $379
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$290
Macao
$423 45.7% $133
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$109
Macao
$179 64.8% $70
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$108
Macao
$181 67.6% $73
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Macao
$148 37.5% $40
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$65
Macao
$93 44.3% $29
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$13
Macao
$34 175% $22

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,142 in Ubud, Bali and $1,103 in Macao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Macao pays 1140% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $35.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $56.0 in Macao for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $290 vs $423 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇲🇴 Macao
🕒 Local time
08:15 8:15 AM
08:15 8:15 AM
Same time as Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
622,567 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MOP, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Macanese Pataca exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 8.08 MOP (1 MOP = 0.124 USD). 1 EUR = 9.09 MOP (1 MOP = 0.11 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Macao 3,420 km ≈ 4 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Macao

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 Macao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Macao?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 55% lower than in Macao. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or in Macao?
On paper, salaries run 1140% lower in Macao. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali compared to Macao?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,142 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,103 in Macao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Macao?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $56.0 in Macao. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Macao?
All in, you'll spend $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $2,114 in Macao – a 55% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Macao?
At $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,114 in Macao, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Macao. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Macao?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,368 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Macao?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Macao are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Macao. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

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