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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $571 in Mahdia, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $916 in Mahdia, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,275 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,260 in Mahdia, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 141% more than Mahdia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

$2.60 TND 7.49

28.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

$20.86 TND 60.2

71.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

$4.84 TND 13.96

16.32%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

$0.94 TND 2.71

200.00%

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

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

$0.63 TND 1.82

177.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

$0.16 TND 0.48

400.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

$1.06 TND 3.05

186.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$1.55 TND 4.48

177.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

$0.44 TND 1.26

265.91%

White Bread (500g)

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

$0.29 TND 0.84

682.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

$1.36 TND 3.92

-13.97%

Eggs

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

$1.58 TND 4.55

37.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

$11.88 TND 34.29

48.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

$5.37 TND 15.49

-24.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

$14.82 TND 42.75

-17.81%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

$2.98 TND 8.61

21.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

$2.95 TND 8.52

-44.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

$1.50 TND 4.34

54.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

$0.74 TND 2.14

164.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

$0.64 TND 1.85

187.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

$0.35 TND 1.02

577.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

$0.42 TND 1.20

150.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 Rp 9,560

$0.36 TND 1.03

50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

$3.58 TND 10.32

-35.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

$3.37 TND 9.73

584.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

$1.62 TND 4.66

44.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

$1.34 TND 3.88

129.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,365

$0.33 TND 0.95

-24.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

$13.47 TND 38.86

-30.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,631

$0.32 TND 0.93

53.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 Rp 8,349

$0.26 TND 0.74

80.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

$0.83 TND 2.40

-2.41%

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

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

$40.7K TND 117.3K

-38.49%

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

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

$40.4K TND 116.5K

-23.03%

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

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

$57.1 TND 165

44.87%

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

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

$7.34 TND 21.18

-11.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

$20.47 TND 59.1

-8.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

$21.11 TND 60.9

161.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

$7.67 TND 22.12

137.42%

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$6.90 TND 19.92

-37.68%

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

$494 Rp 8.7M

$110 TND 317

349.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

$1,017 TND 2,934

481.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

$39.45 TND 114

17.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

$34.16 TND 98.6

6.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

$78.9 TND 228

2.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

$23.71 TND 68.4

232.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

$134 TND 385

734.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$693 Rp 12.2M

$104 TND 300

567.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

$308 TND 889

1080.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

$178 TND 514

861.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

$673 TND 1,942

310.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

$209 TND 603

997.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 2.9M

$241 TND 694

-30.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

10.33

33.40%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Last update for Mahdia: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $134 in Mahdia. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 44% higher in Mahdia, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $21.00 in Mahdia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $294 vs $194 – making Mahdia 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 Mahdia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 141%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,067 per month in Ubud, Bali and $857 in Mahdia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Ubud, Bali and $110 in Mahdia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 51% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mahdia, where all-in costs run around $571, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,378. In Mahdia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mahdia – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Mahdia. 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.