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 $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $567 in Mahdia, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,557 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $858 in Mahdia, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,723 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,150 in Mahdia, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 145% more than Mahdia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Mahdia is 57% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.6K

$2.48 TND 7.30

43.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.32 Rp 584.4K

$19.98 TND 59.0

61.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.01 Rp 90.5K

$3.44 TND 10.14

45.64%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 51.1K

$0.72 TND 2.14

291.67%

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

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

$0.62 TND 1.82

117.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

$0.19 TND 0.57

284.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 Rp 53.0K

$0.99 TND 2.93

195.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 Rp 71.2K

$1.53 TND 4.52

157.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 Rp 32.2K

$0.44 TND 1.29

304.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 Rp 44.3K

$0.16 TND 0.49

1431.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 Rp 20.8K

$1.55 TND 4.58

-25.81%

Eggs

$2.41 Rp 43.7K

$1.59 TND 4.68

51.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 Rp 259.1K

$11.15 TND 32.89

28.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.19 Rp 75.7K

$5.66 TND 16.71

-25.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.06 Rp 218.1K

$13.43 TND 39.63

-10.20%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 Rp 65.8K

$2.17 TND 6.41

67.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.3K

$2.96 TND 8.73

-46.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 50.4K

$1.00 TND 2.95

179.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.5K

$0.73 TND 2.15

206.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 Rp 35.8K

$0.70 TND 2.07

182.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 41.2K

$0.32 TND 0.96

612.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 19.1K

$0.35 TND 1.04

200.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$0.31 TND 0.91

154.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 Rp 57.7K

$3.61 TND 10.65

-11.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 424.8K

$3.28 TND 9.67

616.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 52.4K

$1.11 TND 3.27

161.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 Rp 49.8K

$1.06 TND 3.12

160.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,821

$0.35 TND 1.03

-22.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 151.3K

$10.22 TND 30.17

-18.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,180

$0.30 TND 0.88

50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,311

$0.24 TND 0.70

91.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 Rp 109.7K

$7.63 TND 22.51

-20.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

$0.80 TND 2.37

7.50%

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

$26.6K Rp 480.7M

$36.0K TND 106.3K

-26.22%

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

$32.5K Rp 588.6M

$34.2K TND 101.0K

-4.92%

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

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

$45.39 TND 134

74.09%

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

$4.09 Rp 74.0K

$9.83 TND 29.01

-58.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.85 Rp 431.2K

$15.11 TND 44.60

57.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

$20.63 TND 60.9

378.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 114.9K

$7.80 TND 23.01

-18.59%

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 Rp 72.5K

$4.69 TND 13.85

-14.50%

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

$297 Rp 5.4M

$109 TND 321

173.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,602 Rp 119.4M

$1,030 TND 3,040

540.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 Rp 966.0K

$43.88 TND 129

21.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.11 Rp 689.2K

$34.29 TND 101

11.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

$99.9 TND 295

-11.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

$23.36 TND 68.9

228.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 Rp 18.4M

$145 TND 428

603.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 Rp 12.3M

$138 TND 406

394.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,469 Rp 62.7M

$292 TND 863

1086.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 Rp 37.8M

$160 TND 473

1204.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,729 Rp 49.3M

$687 TND 2,026

297.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,295 Rp 41.5M

$203 TND 600

1028.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 Rp 3.0M

$235 TND 693

-30.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

13.6

-2.35%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Last update for Mahdia: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $145 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 43% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $20.00 in Mahdia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $179 – 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 145%, 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 $2,088 per month in Ubud, Bali and $851 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 $297 per month in Ubud, Bali and $109 in Mahdia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 66% 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 $567, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. 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.