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: $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $639 in Machala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,015 in Machala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,275 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,391 in Machala.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 116% more expensive than in Machala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Machala is 54% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

$2.77 $2.77

20.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

$24.62 $24.62

45.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

$5.23 $5.23

7.65%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

$2.60 $2.60

8.46%

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

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

$0.83 $0.83

110.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

$0.67 $0.67

19.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

$2.03 $2.03

49.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$3.71 $3.71

15.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

$1.10 $1.10

46.36%

White Bread (500g)

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

$1.10 $1.10

106.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

$0.90 $0.90

30.00%

Eggs

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

$1.46 $1.46

48.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

$3.30 $3.30

434.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

$4.17 $4.17

-2.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

$4.62 $4.62

163.64%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

$1.46 $1.46

147.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

$0.59 $0.59

177.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

$0.74 $0.74

212.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

$0.53 $0.53

269.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

$0.42 $0.42

338.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

$0.52 $0.52

355.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

$0.36 $0.36

191.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 Rp 9,560

$0.99 $0.99

-45.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

$4.28 $4.28

-46.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

$7.53 $7.53

206.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

$1.57 $1.57

49.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

$2.12 $2.12

44.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,365

$0.36 $0.36

-30.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

$20.56 $20.56

-54.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,631

$1.23 $1.23

-60.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 Rp 8,349

$1.78 $1.78

-73.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

$8.17 $8.17

-31.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

$0.59 $0.59

37.29%

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

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

$17.8K $17.8K

40.71%

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

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

$22.0K $22.0K

40.90%

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

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

$36.01 $36.01

129.71%

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

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

$14.70 $14.70

-55.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

$25.08 $25.08

-25.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

$43.06 $43.06

28.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

$16.40 $16.40

11.04%

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$5.12 $5.12

-16.02%

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

$494 Rp 8.7M

$137 $137

260.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

$6,139 $6,139

-3.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

$65.2 $65.2

-29.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

$40.11 $40.11

-9.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

$78.6 $78.6

2.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

$67.6 $67.6

16.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

$193 $193

478.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$693 Rp 12.2M

$135 $135

411.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

$354 $354

928.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

$261 $261

555.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

$1,197 $1,197

130.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

$772 $772

196.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 2.9M

$443 $443

-62.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

175.60%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Last update for Machala: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali and $193 in Machala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Machala pays 165% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $25.00 in Machala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $294 vs $135 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, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 116% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 165% lower in Machala. 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: $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $193 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $639 in Machala – a 116% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $639 in Machala versus $1,378 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 116% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.