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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $566 in Mahajanga, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $841 in Mahajanga, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,116 in Mahajanga, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 142% more than Mahajanga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Mahajanga is 59% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 Rp 61.0K

$2.12 MGA 9,256

62.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.31 Rp 644.5K

$18.29 MGA 79.8K

98.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 Rp 101.3K

Cappuccino

$2.67 Rp 47.4K

$0.70 MGA 3,066

281.43%

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

$1.75 Rp 31.1K

$0.96 MGA 4,192

82.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 Rp 15.5K

$0.91 MGA 3,974

-4.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.4K

$1.02 MGA 4,458

189.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 Rp 80.2K

$1.60 MGA 6,985

182.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$1.42 MGA 6,209

14.08%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 Rp 41.4K

$0.84 MGA 3,680

177.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 Rp 19.7K

$0.67 MGA 2,902

65.67%

Eggs

$2.20 Rp 39.1K

$2.20 MGA 9,595

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.69 Rp 314.0K

$6.75 MGA 29.5K

162.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 Rp 72.7K

$6.79 MGA 29.6K

-39.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 216.1K

$3.64 MGA 15.9K

234.62%

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 Rp 65.8K

$1.13 MGA 4,937

228.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.2K

$0.62 MGA 2,694

156.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.5K

$0.70 MGA 3,066

225.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 Rp 34.7K

$0.71 MGA 3,109

174.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.8K

$0.54 MGA 2,375

253.70%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.4K

$0.56 MGA 2,447

316.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 17.9K

$0.36 MGA 1,584

180.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,795

$0.57 MGA 2,477

-3.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 Rp 39.6K

Wine (Bottle)

$23.07 Rp 409.5K

$9.22 MGA 40.2K

150.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 Rp 42.9K

$0.80 MGA 3,474

202.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.2K

$0.90 MGA 3,912

233.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,825

$0.25 MGA 1,091

8.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.98 Rp 159.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,586

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,697

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.64 Rp 100.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.3K

$1.42 MGA 6,212

-43.66%

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

$24.9K Rp 442.7M

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

$31.7K Rp 562.8M

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

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

$46.40 MGA 202.4K

75.56%

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

$6.49 Rp 115.2K

$7.01 MGA 30.6K

-7.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.77 Rp 333.1K

$22.85 MGA 99.7K

-17.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

$18.54 MGA 80.9K

206.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 Rp 332.4K

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 Rp 80.5K

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

$481 Rp 8.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,711 Rp 101.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.52 Rp 807.9K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 Rp 636.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 Rp 19.8M

$351 MGA 1.5M

217.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$698 Rp 12.4M

$283 MGA 1.2M

146.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,637 Rp 64.5M

$703 MGA 3.1M

417.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

$455 MGA 2.0M

281.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Mahajanga: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $351 in Mahajanga. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $18.00 in Mahajanga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $150 – making Mahajanga 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 Mahajanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 142% more than Mahajanga, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,052 per month in Ubud, Bali and $849 in Mahajanga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mahajanga, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,368 in Ubud, Bali and $566 in Mahajanga. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 96% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mahajanga, where all-in costs run around $566, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. In Mahajanga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mahajanga costs $566 versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Mahajanga. 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.