Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Machala Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Machala

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $644 in Machala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,540 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,017 in Machala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,389 in Machala.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 120% more expensive than Machala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 6% above, Machala is 52% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.9K

$2.46 $2.46

44.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 586.8K

$24.80 $24.80

31.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.7K

$6.71 $6.71

-26.23%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.6K

$2.53 $2.53

7.11%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 Rp 24.1K

$0.73 $0.73

83.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.52 $0.52

34.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.3K

$1.96 $1.96

48.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.9K

$4.56 $4.56

-13.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

$1.05 $1.05

72.38%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.1K

$1.08 $1.08

133.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.8K

$0.91 $0.91

27.47%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$1.51 $1.51

62.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 263.7K

$3.21 $3.21

358.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.4K

$3.99 $3.99

8.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 217.5K

$4.72 $4.72

157.20%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.8K

$2.13 $2.13

80.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.9K

$1.09 $1.09

43.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.8K

$0.76 $0.76

272.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.7K

$1.03 $1.03

126.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.3K

$0.42 $0.42

354.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.5K

$0.52 $0.52

323.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.2K

$0.37 $0.37

172.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

$1.03 $1.03

-24.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.4K

$4.30 $4.30

-22.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 425.5K

$7.66 $7.66

209.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 50.0K

$1.55 $1.55

80.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.3K

$2.12 $2.12

34.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,819

$0.33 $0.33

-18.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.9K

$24.00 $24.00

-66.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,181

$1.52 $1.52

-69.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,068

$1.01 $1.01

-55.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 109.3K

$7.94 $7.94

-23.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$0.60 $0.60

31.67%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.1K Rp 468.8M

$18.2K $18.2K

43.41%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.1K Rp 575.8M

$22.4K $22.4K

43.46%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$37.11 $37.11

115.41%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.06 Rp 72.9K

$13.67 $13.67

-70.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 421.6K

$26.63 $26.63

-11.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$42.17 $42.17

134.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.8K

$14.38 $14.38

-53.89%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.3K

$4.97 $4.97

-16.50%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$304 Rp 5.4M

$138 $138

121.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.5M

$5,862 $5,862

12.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 995.6K

$51.7 $51.7

7.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 686.7K

$42.56 $42.56

-9.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$79.8 $79.8

11.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$67.7 $67.7

14.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$190 $190

428.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$132 $132

412.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.7M

$350 $350

882.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.6M

$255 $255

699.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.9M

$1,365 $1,365

108.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.6M

$709 $709

219.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$457 $457

-63.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

165.60%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Machala: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali and $190 in Machala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Machala pays 176% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $25.00 in Machala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $302 vs $144 per month, with Machala cheaper across the board.

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 Machala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Machala is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Eating Out. The 120% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Machala earns 176% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $190 in Machala. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Machala – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $644 in Machala – a 120% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $644 in Machala versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Machala but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Machala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Machala is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Machala are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Machala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 120% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.