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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $275 in Malappuram, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $432 in Malappuram, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $589 in Malappuram, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 398% more than Malappuram, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Malappuram is 80% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 Rp 60.9K

$1.31 ₹126

162.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.31 Rp 643.0K

$7.65 ₹734

374.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 Rp 101.0K

$3.12 ₹299

83.01%

Cappuccino

$2.67 Rp 47.3K

$1.81 ₹174

47.51%

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

$1.75 Rp 31.0K

$0.36 ₹34.16

386.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 Rp 15.4K

$0.13 ₹12.64

569.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.3K

$1.29 ₹124

128.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 Rp 80.0K

$2.06 ₹198

119.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$0.50 ₹47.97

224.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$0.44 ₹42.12

429.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 Rp 19.6K

$0.44 ₹42.55

152.27%

Eggs

$2.20 Rp 39.0K

$0.84 ₹80.3

161.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.69 Rp 313.3K

$3.64 ₹349

385.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 Rp 72.5K

$2.60 ₹249

57.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 215.6K

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 Rp 65.6K

$1.59 ₹153

133.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.1K

$0.57 ₹55.0

178.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.4K

$0.78 ₹74.9

192.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 Rp 34.6K

$0.29 ₹27.67

572.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.7K

$0.42 ₹40.65

354.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$0.37 ₹35.81

529.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 17.8K

$0.78 ₹74.7

29.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,773

$0.31 ₹29.85

77.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 Rp 39.5K

$5.06 ₹486

-55.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.07 Rp 408.6K

$1.69 ₹163

1265.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 Rp 42.8K

$1.45 ₹139

66.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.1K

$2.42 ₹232

23.97%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$3.40 ₹326

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,814

$0.18 ₹17.19

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.98 Rp 159.1K

$4.20 ₹403

113.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,566

$0.39 ₹37.49

23.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,679

$0.23 ₹22.13

86.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.64 Rp 99.9K

$0.54 ₹52.1

944.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

$1.10 ₹105

-27.27%

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

$24.9K Rp 441.7M

$10.3K ₹988.5K

142.09%

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

$31.7K Rp 561.5M

$15.6K ₹1.5M

103.80%

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

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

$21.54 ₹2,066

278.18%

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

$6.49 Rp 115.0K

$2.60 ₹250

149.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.77 Rp 332.4K

$6.87 ₹659

173.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

$6.87 ₹659

727.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 Rp 331.7K

$4.30 ₹412

335.58%

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 Rp 80.4K

$1.75 ₹168

159.43%

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

$481 Rp 8.5M

$28.98 ₹2,780

1558.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,711 Rp 101.1M

$813 ₹78.0K

602.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.52 Rp 806.0K

$15.67 ₹1,503

190.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 Rp 635.4K

$18.50 ₹1,775

93.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$23.44 ₹2,249

242.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

$13.35 ₹1,281

489.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 Rp 19.7M

$103 ₹9,882

982.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$698 Rp 12.4M

$62.3 ₹5,979

1019.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,637 Rp 64.4M

$180 ₹17.3K

1919.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

$127 ₹12.2K

1265.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.3M

$6,381 ₹612.2K

-56.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.5M

$362 ₹34.8K

531.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 Rp 3.0M

$216 ₹20.7K

-22.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

7.52

83.24%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Malappuram: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $103 in Malappuram. 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 29% higher in Malappuram, 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 $8.00 in Malappuram. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $79.0 – making Malappuram 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 Malappuram: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 398%, 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 $2,052 per month in Ubud, Bali and $412 in Malappuram. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 114% less in Malappuram. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $481 per month in Ubud, Bali and $28.98 in Malappuram. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Malappuram, where all-in costs run around $275, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. In Malappuram it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Malappuram – 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 Malappuram. 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.