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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,240 in Mahboula.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,021 in Mahboula.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,275 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,802 in Mahboula.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 11% more expensive than in Mahboula, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Mahboula is 10% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

$6.58 KWD 2.02

-49.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

$25.57 KWD 7.84

40.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

$8.87 KWD 2.72

-36.53%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.57 KWD 0.48

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 KWD 1.01

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

$5.57 KWD 1.71

-49.37%

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

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

$0.47 KWD 0.14

272.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

$0.18 KWD 0.06

344.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

$1.59 KWD 0.49

1.26%

White Bread (500g)

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

$0.94 KWD 0.29

141.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

$1.92 KWD 0.59

-39.06%

Eggs

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

$1.33 KWD 0.41

63.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

$4.36 KWD 1.34

304.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

$6.57 KWD 2.02

-38.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

$10.21 KWD 3.13

19.29%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

$2.42 KWD 0.74

49.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

$1.84 KWD 0.57

-10.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

$1.80 KWD 0.55

28.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

$1.11 KWD 0.34

76.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

$1.38 KWD 0.42

33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

$1.16 KWD 0.35

104.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

$2.38 KWD 0.73

-55.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 Rp 9,560

$0.51 KWD 0.16

5.88%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.29 KWD 1.01

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 KWD 0.31

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 KWD 0.42

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

$1.58 KWD 0.48

45.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,365

$0.84 KWD 0.26

-70.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

$48.80 KWD 14.96

-80.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,631

$1.60 KWD 0.49

-69.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 Rp 8,349

$1.58 KWD 0.49

-70.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

$5.60 KWD 1.72

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

$0.18 KWD 0.06

350.00%

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

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

$19.1K KWD 5,859

30.89%

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

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

$17.8K KWD 5,450

74.76%

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

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

$65.7 KWD 20.16

25.83%

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

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

$16.24 KWD 4.98

-60.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

$30.40 KWD 9.32

-38.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

$96.5 KWD 29.57

-42.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

$48.77 KWD 14.95

-62.66%

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$11.30 KWD 3.46

-61.95%

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

$494 Rp 8.7M

$307 KWD 94.0

61.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

$6,687 KWD 2,050

-11.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

$37.86 KWD 11.61

22.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

$39.59 KWD 12.14

-7.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

$98.0 KWD 30.05

-17.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

$90.0 KWD 27.60

-12.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

$720 KWD 221

54.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$693 Rp 12.2M

$501 KWD 154

38.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

$1,790 KWD 549

103.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

$1,128 KWD 346

51.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 2.9M

$1,284 KWD 394

-86.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

6.53

111.03%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Last update for Mahboula: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali and $720 in Mahboula. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mahboula pays 669% 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 $26.00 in Mahboula for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $294 vs $173 per month, with Mahboula 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 Mahboula: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mahboula is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 669% lower in Mahboula. 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 $720 in Mahboula. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Mahboula – a meal for two runs $26.00 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 $1,240 in Mahboula – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,240 in Mahboula versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mahboula but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Mahboula the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Mahboula 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 Mahboula 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 Mahboula gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.