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 $1,379 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $550 in Manado, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,363 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $889 in Manado, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,347 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,227 in Manado, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 151% more than Manado, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 1% above the global median, while Manado is 60% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Manado
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.31 Rp 58.9K
$1.38 Rp 24.5K
139.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.08 Rp 694.5K
$16.65 Rp 296.0K
134.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.62 Rp 99.8K
$2.85 Rp 50.7K
97.19%
Cappuccino
$2.64 Rp 46.9K
$1.83 Rp 32.4K
44.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 Rp 28.2K
$0.57 Rp 10.1K
177.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 Rp 12.6K
$0.23 Rp 4,054
208.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.73 Rp 48.5K
$3.34 Rp 59.3K
-18.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.32 Rp 76.8K
$2.76 Rp 49.0K
56.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Manado
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.54 Rp 27.4K
$1.37 Rp 24.4K
12.41%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 Rp 40.8K
$1.10 Rp 19.5K
109.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.03 Rp 18.3K
$0.74 Rp 13.1K
39.19%
Eggs
$2.12 Rp 37.7K
$1.86 Rp 33.0K
13.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.30 Rp 307.5K
$17.05 Rp 303.1K
1.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.03 Rp 71.6K
$2.84 Rp 50.4K
41.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.42 Rp 220.8K
$6.53 Rp 116.0K
90.20%
Apples (1kg)
$3.70 Rp 65.7K
$2.40 Rp 42.7K
54.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
$1.49 Rp 26.4K
8.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 Rp 40.3K
$1.28 Rp 22.8K
77.34%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 Rp 35.4K
$0.98 Rp 17.4K
103.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.83 Rp 32.5K
$0.84 Rp 15.0K
117.86%
Onion (1kg)
$2.25 Rp 40.1K
$2.81 Rp 49.9K
-19.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 Rp 18.6K
$0.88 Rp 15.6K
18.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 Rp 10.0K
$0.44 Rp 7,819
27.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 Rp 39.5K
$2.30 Rp 40.9K
-3.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.22 Rp 412.7K
$20.72 Rp 368.2K
12.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39 Rp 42.5K
$1.84 Rp 32.7K
29.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 Rp 51.1K
$2.90 Rp 51.5K
-1.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Manado
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,416
$0.32 Rp 5,768
-21.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.17 Rp 127.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,163
$0.48 Rp 8,545
-4.17%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,235
$0.39 Rp 6,879
17.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.70 Rp 101.2K
$3.05 Rp 54.1K
86.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 Rp 13.6K
$0.66 Rp 11.7K
15.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K Rp 436.7M
$21.4K Rp 380.3M
14.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.0K Rp 551.5M
$30.7K Rp 546.4M
0.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Manado
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.2 Rp 1.5M
$54.3 Rp 965.4K
51.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.33 Rp 112.5K
$4.30 Rp 76.5K
47.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.54 Rp 329.6K
$14.06 Rp 249.9K
31.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Manado
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.1 Rp 996.2K
$12.84 Rp 228.2K
336.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.41 Rp 327.2K
$8.32 Rp 147.9K
121.27%
Cinema Ticket
$4.26 Rp 75.8K
$2.55 Rp 45.3K
67.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Manado
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$489 Rp 8.7M
$124 Rp 2.2M
295.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,793 Rp 103.0M
$4,624 Rp 82.2M
25.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Manado
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.98 Rp 817.3K
$55.4 Rp 985.4K
-17.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.86 Rp 637.4K
$20.27 Rp 360.2K
76.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.5 Rp 1.4M
$68.7 Rp 1.2M
15.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.9 Rp 1.4M
$62.7 Rp 1.1M
29.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Manado
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,144 Rp 20.3M
$255 Rp 4.5M
348.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$692 Rp 12.3M
$81.2 Rp 1.4M
752.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,532 Rp 62.8M
$294 Rp 5.2M
1101.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,709 Rp 30.4M
$169 Rp 3.0M
910.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,785 Rp 49.5M
$1,178 Rp 20.9M
136.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,261 Rp 40.2M
$714 Rp 12.7M
216.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Manado
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$169 Rp 3.0M
$216 Rp 3.8M
-21.56%
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: August 15, 2026

Last update for Manado: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,144 in Ubud, Bali versus $255 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 27% 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 $39.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $17.00 in Manado. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $224 – 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
Is Manado cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 151%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,069 per month in Ubud, Bali and $825 in Manado. 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 Manado, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or in Manado?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali and $17.00 in Manado. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Manado?
Groceries cost about 30% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Manado?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Manado, where all-in costs run around $550, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,379. In Manado it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ubud, Bali or Manado more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Manado?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.

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