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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $582 in Manado, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $892 in Manado, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,202 in Manado, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 141% more than Manado, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% above the global median, while Manado is 57% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

$1.20 Rp 21.6K

197.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

$9.45 Rp 169.2K

243.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

$3.11 Rp 55.7K

56.27%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

$1.62 Rp 29.1K

69.75%

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

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

$0.30 Rp 5,314

340.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.26 Rp 4,685

169.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

$3.79 Rp 67.9K

-23.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

$5.67 Rp 101.6K

-33.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

46.15%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

$0.89 Rp 16.0K

177.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$0.75 Rp 13.4K

60.00%

Eggs

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

$1.89 Rp 33.8K

29.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

$8.16 Rp 146.3K

76.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

$3.23 Rp 57.9K

33.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

$8.00 Rp 143.3K

52.63%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

$2.84 Rp 50.9K

29.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

$1.45 Rp 26.0K

6.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

$1.80 Rp 32.3K

55.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

$1.29 Rp 23.0K

80.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

$1.33 Rp 23.9K

48.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

$1.88 Rp 33.7K

22.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.97 Rp 17.3K

9.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$0.48 Rp 8,603

52.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

$2.44 Rp 43.6K

34.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

$20.81 Rp 372.8K

9.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

$1.83 Rp 32.8K

53.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$3.21 Rp 57.6K

-13.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

$0.35 Rp 6,341

-17.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

$10.11 Rp 181.1K

-20.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,047

$0.54 Rp 9,601

-16.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

$0.37 Rp 6,652

21.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

$2.93 Rp 52.5K

112.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

$0.77 Rp 13.8K

10.39%

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

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

$24.5K Rp 438.1M

6.24%

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

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

$27.2K Rp 487.3M

16.40%

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

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

$25.00 Rp 447.8K

223.00%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

$4.27 Rp 76.4K

-4.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

$22.32 Rp 400.0K

9.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

$18.56 Rp 332.6K

426.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

$6.13 Rp 109.8K

5.22%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

$2.54 Rp 45.5K

59.06%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$95.2 Rp 1.7M

219.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

$5,063 Rp 90.7M

30.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

$62.6 Rp 1.1M

-13.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

$24.48 Rp 438.6K

58.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$92.7 Rp 1.7M

-7.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

$74.5 Rp 1.3M

2.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

$322 Rp 5.8M

206.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.8M

$102 Rp 1.8M

546.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

$325 Rp 5.8M

936.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

$186 Rp 3.3M

1012.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

$1,176 Rp 21.1M

133.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

$675 Rp 12.1M

229.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

$209 Rp 3.7M

-21.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

32.80%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Last update for Manado: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $322 in Manado. 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 28% higher in Manado, 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 $9.00 in Manado. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $207 – making Manado 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 Manado: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 141%, 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 $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $873 in Manado. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 25% less in Manado. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $95.2 in Manado. 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 Manado, where all-in costs run around $582, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. In Manado it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Manado – 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 Manado. 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.