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 $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $383 in Mahajanga, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $704 in Mahajanga, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,025 in Mahajanga, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 266% more than Mahajanga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% above the global median, while Mahajanga is 71% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

$1.95 MGA 8,196

83.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

$17.57 MGA 73.7K

84.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

$0.70 MGA 2,947

292.86%

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

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

$0.93 MGA 3,895

41.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.91 MGA 3,806

-23.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

$1.03 MGA 4,304

182.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

$1.52 MGA 6,368

149.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

$1.06 MGA 4,433

61.32%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

$0.64 MGA 2,684

285.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$0.56 MGA 2,344

114.29%

Eggs

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

$1.94 MGA 8,125

25.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

$6.80 MGA 28.5K

111.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

$5.40 MGA 22.7K

-20.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

$3.36 MGA 14.1K

263.39%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

$0.97 MGA 4,070

279.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

$0.58 MGA 2,455

167.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

$0.77 MGA 3,236

262.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

$0.50 MGA 2,111

366.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

$0.49 MGA 2,063

302.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

$0.45 MGA 1,869

413.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.39 MGA 1,650

171.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$0.58 MGA 2,441

25.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

$1.09 MGA 4,589

200.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

$9.76 MGA 41.0K

133.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

$0.82 MGA 3,444

242.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$1.02 MGA 4,276

172.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

$0.14 MGA 601

107.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

$9.07 MGA 38.0K

-11.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,047

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

$1.08 MGA 4,543

-21.30%

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

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

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

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

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

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

$45.03 MGA 188.9K

79.32%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

$6.74 MGA 28.3K

-39.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

$21.77 MGA 91.3K

12.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

$17.57 MGA 73.7K

455.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

$327 MGA 1.4M

201.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.8M

$107 MGA 448.3K

515.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

$670 MGA 2.8M

403.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

$443 MGA 1.9M

366.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Last update for Mahajanga: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $327 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $18.00 in Mahajanga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $135 – 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 266% 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 $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $575 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 $1,404 in Ubud, Bali and $383 in Mahajanga. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $18.00 in Mahajanga. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mahajanga, where all-in costs run around $383, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. 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 $383 versus $1,404 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.