Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Malda

For one person, living is cheaper in Malda: $430 a month against $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $11,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Malda, India
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Malda
🇮🇳 India
$430
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Malda actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,349 in Ubud, Bali versus $430 in Malda.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,349
  • Malda $430

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,305 in Ubud, Bali versus $616 in Malda.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,305
  • Malda $616

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,261 in Ubud, Bali versus $801 in Malda.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,261
  • Malda $801

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 214% more expensive than in Malda, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Malda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32 Rp 60.3K
$1.02 ₹97.1
225.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.64 Rp 646.5K
$13.82 ₹1,313
157.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.53 Rp 100.4K
$4.26 ₹404
29.81%
Cappuccino
$2.72 Rp 49.3K
$1.73 ₹165
57.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 Rp 30.9K
$0.48 ₹45.78
254.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
$0.12 ₹11.85
533.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 48.1K
$1.87 ₹177
41.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 Rp 79.5K
$3.11 ₹295
40.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Malda
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 Rp 27.0K
$0.61 ₹58.2
144.26%
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 Rp 41.3K
$0.49 ₹46.75
365.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
$0.51 ₹48.33
133.33%
Eggs
$2.04 Rp 36.9K
$0.78 ₹74.4
161.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.70 Rp 321.1K
$5.50 ₹522
221.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.96 Rp 71.9K
$2.27 ₹216
74.45%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.19 Rp 221.1K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 Rp 66.3K
$2.42 ₹230
51.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 27.5K
$0.80 ₹76.2
90.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.4K
$1.38 ₹131
61.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.8K
$0.54 ₹51.6
264.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 33.5K
$0.22 ₹20.93
740.91%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 44.0K
$0.41 ₹38.65
490.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 18.0K
$0.32 ₹30.23
209.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,313
$0.15 ₹14.56
240.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 Rp 40.3K
$4.94 ₹469
-55.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.24 Rp 403.4K
$10.69 ₹1,015
108.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 Rp 41.0K
$1.79 ₹170
26.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.9K
$2.74 ₹260
8.39%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
-
$2.18 ₹207
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Malda
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,553
$0.25 ₹23.54
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.82 Rp 141.9K
$7.70 ₹731
1.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,972
$0.81 ₹77.3
-45.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,801
$0.31 ₹29.01
38.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 Rp 98.1K
$1.56 ₹148
246.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 15.0K
$1.16 ₹110
-29.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K Rp 432.4M
$12.4K ₹1.2M
92.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 575.9M
$22.5K ₹2.1M
41.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Malda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$52.8 ₹5,009
49.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 116.9K
$3.08 ₹293
109.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.58 Rp 337.0K
$4.33 ₹411
329.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Malda
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.48 Rp 897.5K
$14.33 ₹1,360
245.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.65 Rp 320.1K
$6.68 ₹635
164.22%
Cinema Ticket
$4.27 Rp 77.5K
$3.08 ₹292
38.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Malda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$491 Rp 8.9M
$42.88 ₹4,071
1043.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,674 Rp 102.9M
$1,982 ₹188.2K
186.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Malda
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.64 Rp 809.7K
$5.39 ₹512
728.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.95 Rp 634.0K
$26.28 ₹2,495
32.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$36.72 ₹3,486
117.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
$29.01 ₹2,754
173.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Malda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 Rp 20.4M
$163 ₹15.5K
589.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$671 Rp 12.2M
$125 ₹11.8K
438.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,565 Rp 64.7M
$276 ₹26.2K
1192.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,723 Rp 31.3M
$156 ₹14.8K
1005.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,732 Rp 49.5M
$967 ₹91.8K
182.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,284 Rp 41.4M
$524 ₹49.8K
335.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Malda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
9.08
51.76%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Last update for Malda: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$672
Malda
$125 81.4% $547
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$288
Malda
$110 62% $179
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$108
Malda
$60 44.5% $48
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Malda
$44 59.2% $64
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$104
Malda
$60 42.2% $44
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$58
Malda
$20 64.7% $38
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$11
Malda
$11 3.4% $0.4

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,125 in Ubud, Bali and $163 in Malda. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $36 in Ubud, Bali vs $14 in Malda for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $110 per month, with Malda cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇮🇳 Malda
🕒 Local time
12:47 12:47 PM
10:17 10:17 AM
2 h 30 min behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
324,237
💱 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 = 18,138 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,252 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 94.94 INR (100 INR = 1.05 USD). 1 EUR = 106 INR (1,000 INR = 9.43 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Malda 4,750 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Malda

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 Malda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Malda cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Malda is about 68% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $2,023 in Ubud, Bali and $644 in Malda to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Malda?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,125 in Ubud, Bali versus $163 in Malda. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Malda?
Supermarket bills run roughly 163% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali and in Malda?
All in, you’ll spend $1,349 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $430 in Malda – Malda is about 68% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Malda?
At $430 in Malda versus $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Malda but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Malda the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Ubud, Bali or in Malda?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

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