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 $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $319 in Malappuram, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $492 in Malappuram, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $665 in Malappuram, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 345% more than Malappuram, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Malappuram is 76% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

$1.79 ₹170

98.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

$8.26 ₹787

296.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

$3.69 ₹351

34.15%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

$1.53 ₹146

77.12%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

$0.37 ₹35.40

262.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.11 ₹10.48

536.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

$1.44 ₹137

102.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

$2.65 ₹253

49.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

$0.57 ₹54.6

217.54%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

$0.50 ₹47.98

404.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

$0.46 ₹43.54

152.17%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

$0.82 ₹78.3

200.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

$4.23 ₹403

247.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

$2.88 ₹274

50.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

$1.85 ₹176

107.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

$0.63 ₹60.0

147.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

$0.85 ₹81.1

232.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

$0.32 ₹30.13

628.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

$0.43 ₹41.42

344.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

$0.36 ₹33.82

511.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

$0.96 ₹91.3

5.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$0.31 ₹29.52

151.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

$2.50 ₹238

32.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

$1.72 ₹164

1280.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

$1.60 ₹152

74.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

$4.23 ₹403

-32.39%

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

$3.72 ₹355

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,800

$0.15 ₹13.89

80.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

$4.56 ₹435

76.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,150

$0.49 ₹46.36

-6.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,037

$0.33 ₹31.18

36.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

$0.60 ₹57.2

916.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$1.22 ₹117

-35.25%

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

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

$11.6K ₹1.1M

125.26%

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

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

$18.0K ₹1.7M

78.71%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$32.60 ₹3,105

145.21%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

$2.96 ₹282

37.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

$7.15 ₹681

228.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$7.06 ₹673

1298.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

$4.52 ₹430

46.68%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

$1.99 ₹190

108.54%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$32.45 ₹3,091

836.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

$932 ₹88.8K

609.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

$15.02 ₹1,431

269.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

$21.29 ₹2,028

79.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$25.87 ₹2,464

242.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$15.08 ₹1,436

416.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$116 ₹11.0K

769.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$69.6 ₹6,631

870.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

$197 ₹18.8K

1643.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

$141 ₹13.4K

1348.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

$6,388 ₹608.5K

-55.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

$368 ₹35.0K

515.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$213 ₹20.3K

-22.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

7.69

72.69%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Malappuram: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $116 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $8.00 in Malappuram. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $90.0 – 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 345%, 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 $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $479 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 76% less in Malappuram. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $32.45 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 $319, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. 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.