😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,299 in Maldonado.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,116 in Maldonado.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,933 in Maldonado.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 8% more expensive than in Maldonado, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Maldonado is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Maldonado
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45Rp 62.1K
$16.01UYU 643
-78.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34Rp 581.1K
$54.5UYU 2,190
-40.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.84Rp 87.1K
$11.04UYU 444
-56.16%
Cappuccino
$2.75Rp 49.4K
$4.19UYU 168
-34.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38Rp 24.9K
$2.16UYU 86.7
-36.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75Rp 13.5K
$1.71UYU 68.8
-56.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.99Rp 53.8K
$2.43UYU 97.8
23.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85Rp 69.2K
$3.65UYU 147
5.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Maldonado
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74Rp 31.2K
$1.13UYU 45.31
53.98%
White Bread(500g)
$2.46Rp 44.2K
$2.79UYU 112
-11.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17Rp 21.0K
$1.60UYU 64.3
-26.88%
Eggs
$2.43Rp 43.7K
$4.75UYU 191
-48.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.50Rp 260.6K
$13.69UYU 550
5.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.35Rp 78.2K
$10.71UYU 430
-59.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.98Rp 215.3K
$10.87UYU 437
10.21%
Apples(1kg)
$3.72Rp 66.8K
$2.20UYU 88.5
69.09%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63Rp 29.2K
$2.40UYU 96.6
-32.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.74Rp 49.3K
$1.54UYU 62.1
77.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24Rp 40.3K
$3.49UYU 140
-35.82%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92Rp 34.5K
$1.79UYU 71.8
7.26%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28Rp 40.9K
$1.96UYU 78.8
16.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 19.1K
$1.24UYU 49.67
-14.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72Rp 12.9K
$1.59UYU 64.0
-54.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29Rp 59.0K
$5.29UYU 213
-37.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.19Rp 416.8K
$8.04UYU 323
188.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78Rp 49.9K
$1.96UYU 78.7
41.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73Rp 49.1K
$2.67UYU 107
2.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Maldonado
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,786
$1.38UYU 55.3
-80.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.11Rp 145.7K
$44.18UYU 1,776
-81.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,675
$1.44UYU 57.8
-66.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42Rp 7,545
$2.09UYU 84.1
-79.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.22Rp 111.8K
$11.21UYU 450
-44.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.6K
$1.83UYU 73.4
-55.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KRp 478.2M
$34.6KUYU 1.4M
-23.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2KRp 578.5M
$36.6KUYU 1.5M
-11.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Maldonado
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.4Rp 1.4M
$155UYU 6,218
-49.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07Rp 73.1K
$16.47UYU 662
-75.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33Rp 437.1K
$42.44UYU 1,705
-42.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Maldonado
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.6Rp 1.8M
$46.40UYU 1,865
112.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34Rp 113.9K
$29.58UYU 1,189
-78.57%
Cinema Ticket
$3.99Rp 71.6K
$7.91UYU 318
-49.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Maldonado
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305Rp 5.5M
$492UYU 19.8K
-38.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,642Rp 119.4M
$7,401UYU 297.4K
-10.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Maldonado
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1Rp 972.9K
$86.6UYU 3,479
-37.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81Rp 679.4K
$47.65UYU 1,915
-20.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.8Rp 1.6M
$88.5UYU 3,557
-1.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4Rp 1.4M
$93.1UYU 3,743
-18.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Maldonado
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$992Rp 17.8M
$370UYU 14.9K
167.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$673Rp 12.1M
$282UYU 11.3K
138.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,375Rp 60.7M
$886UYU 35.6K
280.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,050Rp 36.8M
$620UYU 24.9K
230.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,805Rp 50.4M
$1,511UYU 60.7K
85.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,227Rp 40.0M
$1,306UYU 52.5K
70.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Maldonado
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$167Rp 3.0M
$861UYU 34.6K
-80.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
5.68
133.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026
Last update for Maldonado: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Ubud, Bali and $370 in Maldonado. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Maldonado pays 416% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $54.0 in Maldonado for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $305 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.
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 Maldonado: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and in Maldonado?
Ubud, Bali and Maldonado differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($1,408 vs $1,299 including rent). Maldonado is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 416% lower in Maldonado. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Maldonado?
Rent for a central apartment: $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $370 in Maldonado. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ubud, Bali and Maldonado?
Childcare runs $305 in Ubud, Bali versus $492 in Maldonado. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Ubud, Bali pay roughly 3% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,299 in Maldonado versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Maldonado but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Maldonado the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Maldonado?
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.
Is Ubud, Bali or Maldonado safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Maldonado are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ubud, Bali or Maldonado?
Expats usually find Maldonado gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared