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 $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $567 in Mahdia, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $865 in Mahdia, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,163 in Mahdia, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 148% more than Mahdia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% above the global median, while Mahdia is 58% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

$2.57 TND 7.51

38.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

$20.61 TND 60.1

57.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

$3.46 TND 10.09

40.46%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

$0.71 TND 2.07

287.32%

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

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

$0.62 TND 1.81

112.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.20 TND 0.57

250.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

$1.03 TND 3.02

182.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

$1.54 TND 4.50

146.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

$0.40 TND 1.17

327.50%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

$0.18 TND 0.51

1272.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$1.56 TND 4.54

-23.08%

Eggs

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

$1.57 TND 4.57

55.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

$11.22 TND 32.74

28.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

$5.54 TND 16.16

-22.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

$13.27 TND 38.71

-7.99%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

$2.22 TND 6.47

65.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

$2.90 TND 8.47

-46.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

$1.00 TND 2.92

179.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

$0.68 TND 1.97

242.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

$0.69 TND 2.02

185.51%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

$0.32 TND 0.94

621.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.33 TND 0.96

221.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$0.31 TND 0.90

135.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

$3.60 TND 10.51

-8.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

$3.42 TND 9.97

566.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

$1.10 TND 3.20

155.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$1.11 TND 3.23

150.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

$0.35 TND 1.02

-17.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

$10.12 TND 29.52

-20.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,047

$0.30 TND 0.87

50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

$0.24 TND 0.70

87.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

$7.37 TND 21.51

-15.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

$0.81 TND 2.37

4.94%

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

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

$35.7K TND 104.1K

-27.18%

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

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

$35.2K TND 102.6K

-9.98%

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

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

$46.09 TND 134

75.20%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

$9.47 TND 27.62

-57.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

$14.63 TND 42.68

66.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

$20.51 TND 59.9

376.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

$7.76 TND 22.63

-16.88%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

$4.59 TND 13.40

-11.98%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$109 TND 318

178.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

$1,009 TND 2,945

555.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

$45.07 TND 131

20.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

$33.45 TND 97.6

15.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$101 TND 296

-14.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

$23.69 TND 69.1

223.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

$146 TND 425

577.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.8M

$137 TND 399

381.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

$288 TND 841

1069.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

$161 TND 469

1184.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

$1,028 TND 3,000

166.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

$639 TND 1,864

248.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

$241 TND 702

-32.08%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Mahdia: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $146 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 47% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $21.00 in Mahdia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $178 – 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 148%, 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 $2,106 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 $304 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 67% 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 $1,404. 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.