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 $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $575 in Mahdia, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $864 in Mahdia, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,154 in Mahdia, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 150% more than Mahdia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 7% 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 61.9K

$2.58 TND 7.45

38.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

$20.27 TND 58.6

60.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

$3.34 TND 9.65

51.80%

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

$0.72 TND 2.07

293.06%

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

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

$0.56 TND 1.63

139.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

$0.18 TND 0.53

283.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

$1.03 TND 2.99

190.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

$1.53 TND 4.43

151.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

$0.40 TND 1.15

335.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

$0.20 TND 0.59

1170.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$1.48 TND 4.26

-19.59%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

$1.64 TND 4.74

48.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

$11.18 TND 32.32

31.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

$5.80 TND 16.76

-27.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

$13.50 TND 39.02

-11.56%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

$2.27 TND 6.55

62.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

$2.85 TND 8.23

-43.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

$1.06 TND 3.06

153.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

$0.70 TND 2.01

232.86%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

$0.71 TND 2.04

169.01%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

$0.35 TND 1.03

525.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

$0.35 TND 1.02

202.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

$0.30 TND 0.88

140.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

$3.46 TND 10.00

-9.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

$3.52 TND 10.19

567.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

$1.15 TND 3.32

138.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

$1.06 TND 3.05

171.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,029

$0.36 TND 1.03

-19.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

$10.34 TND 29.87

-20.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,863

$0.30 TND 0.86

50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,305

$0.26 TND 0.76

61.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

$7.39 TND 21.37

-16.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

$0.76 TND 2.19

10.53%

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

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

$35.9K TND 103.8K

-26.95%

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

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

$34.6K TND 100.0K

-6.14%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$45.58 TND 132

72.05%

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

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

$9.49 TND 27.42

-58.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

$15.03 TND 43.44

62.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

$21.14 TND 61.1

356.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

$7.53 TND 21.75

-15.67%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

$4.59 TND 13.26

-11.98%

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

$110 TND 316

176.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

$1,000 TND 2,890

552.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

$45.39 TND 131

18.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

$33.74 TND 97.5

12.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

$103 TND 297

-15.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$23.54 TND 68.0

235.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

$147 TND 424

589.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.7M

$135 TND 391

398.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

$288 TND 833

1075.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

$164 TND 474

1178.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

$678 TND 1,961

339.92%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

$207 TND 597

1032.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

$241 TND 697

-28.26%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Mahdia: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $147 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 39% 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 $20.00 in Mahdia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $180 – 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 150%, 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 $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $862 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 $303 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 65% 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 $575, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. 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.