Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Malappuram

For one person, living is cheaper in Malappuram: $289 a month against $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $12,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Malappuram, India
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Malappuram
🇮🇳 India
$289
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Malappuram

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Malappuram actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,349 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $289 in Malappuram, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,349
  • Malappuram $289

A couple spends around $2,305 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $451 in Malappuram, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,305
  • Malappuram $451

A family of three spends $3,261 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $613 in Malappuram, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,261
  • Malappuram $613

Ubud, Bali costs about 367% more than Malappuram, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Malappuram
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32 Rp 60.2K
$1.17 ₹111
183.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.64 Rp 645.8K
$7.44 ₹706
379.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.53 Rp 100.3K
$3.15 ₹299
75.56%
Cappuccino
$2.72 Rp 49.3K
$1.80 ₹171
51.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 Rp 30.8K
$0.35 ₹33.44
385.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
$0.15 ₹13.95
406.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 48.1K
$1.31 ₹124
102.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 Rp 79.4K
$2.05 ₹195
113.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Malappuram
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 Rp 27.0K
$0.52 ₹49.73
186.54%
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 Rp 41.2K
$0.46 ₹43.95
395.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
$0.45 ₹42.45
164.44%
Eggs
$2.04 Rp 36.9K
$0.80 ₹75.9
155.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.70 Rp 320.8K
$5.81 ₹551
204.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.96 Rp 71.8K
$2.51 ₹239
57.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.19 Rp 220.9K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 Rp 66.2K
$1.68 ₹160
117.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 27.5K
$0.57 ₹54.4
166.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.4K
$0.84 ₹79.4
165.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.7K
$0.29 ₹27.40
579.31%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 33.5K
$0.39 ₹36.71
374.36%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 43.9K
$0.35 ₹32.80
591.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 17.9K
$0.78 ₹73.7
26.92%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,303
$0.31 ₹29.74
64.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 Rp 40.3K
$4.52 ₹429
-50.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.24 Rp 403.0K
$1.75 ₹166
1170.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 Rp 41.0K
$1.55 ₹147
45.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.8K
$5.00 ₹475
-40.60%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$3.27 ₹311
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Malappuram
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,548
$0.18 ₹17.02
38.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.82 Rp 141.8K
$4.36 ₹414
79.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,964
$0.40 ₹37.69
10.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,793
$0.24 ₹22.83
79.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 Rp 98.0K
$0.50 ₹47.85
982.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 14.9K
$1.11 ₹106
-26.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K Rp 432.0M
$10.4K ₹991.4K
128.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 575.3M
$15.7K ₹1.5M
102.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Malappuram
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$21.58 ₹2,049
266.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 116.8K
$2.60 ₹247
148.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.58 Rp 336.7K
$7.05 ₹670
163.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Malappuram
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.48 Rp 896.7K
$7.02 ₹667
604.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.65 Rp 319.8K
$4.25 ₹404
315.29%
Cinema Ticket
$4.27 Rp 77.4K
$1.77 ₹168
141.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Malappuram
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$491 Rp 8.9M
$28.36 ₹2,693
1629.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,674 Rp 102.8M
$831 ₹78.9K
583.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Malappuram
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.64 Rp 808.9K
$16.17 ₹1,535
176.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.95 Rp 633.4K
$18.78 ₹1,783
86.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$23.04 ₹2,188
246.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
$13.78 ₹1,309
476.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Malappuram
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 Rp 20.4M
$103 ₹9,792
990.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$671 Rp 12.2M
$63.3 ₹6,014
960.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,565 Rp 64.6M
$176 ₹16.7K
1930.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,723 Rp 31.2M
$128 ₹12.2K
1245.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,732 Rp 49.5M
$6,340 ₹602.0K
-56.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,284 Rp 41.4M
$371 ₹35.2K
515.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Malappuram
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
$218 ₹20.7K
-24.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
10
37.80%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Last update for Malappuram: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$672
Malappuram
$63 90.6% $608
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$288
Malappuram
$91 68.3% $197
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$108
Malappuram
$53 50.7% $55
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Malappuram
$32 70% $75
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$104
Malappuram
$31 70% $73
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$58
Malappuram
$11 81.8% $47
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$11
Malappuram
$6.7 41.6% $4.8

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,125 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 33% 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 in Ubud, Bali versus $7 in Malappuram. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $91 – making Malappuram the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇮🇳 Malappuram
🕒 Local time
16:10 4:10 PM
13:40 1:40 PM
2 h 30 min behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
101,330
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

INR, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18,120 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.52 USD). 1 EUR = 20,221 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.95 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 94.95 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 106 INR (1,000 INR = 9.44 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Malappuram 4,850 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Malappuram

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Is Malappuram cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 367%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,023 per month in Ubud, Bali and $433 in Malappuram. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Malappuram, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $103 there versus $1,125 in Ubud, Bali.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 44% less in Malappuram. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $491 per month in Ubud, Bali and $28 in Malappuram. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Malappuram?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Malappuram, where all-in costs run around $289, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,349. In Malappuram it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ubud, Bali or Malappuram more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Malappuram?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Malappuram is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 79% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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