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 $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $603 in Manado, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $929 in Manado, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,255 in Manado, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 139% more than Manado, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 7% above the global median, while Manado is 55% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 61.9K

$1.27 Rp 21.9K

181.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

$9.38 Rp 162.6K

247.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

$3.14 Rp 54.5K

61.46%

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

$1.66 Rp 28.8K

70.48%

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

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

$0.32 Rp 5,563

318.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

$0.26 Rp 4,530

165.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

$3.67 Rp 63.6K

-18.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

$5.87 Rp 101.8K

-34.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

$1.22 Rp 21.2K

42.62%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

$0.91 Rp 15.7K

179.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$0.73 Rp 12.7K

63.01%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

$1.82 Rp 31.5K

33.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

$7.91 Rp 137.0K

85.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

$3.08 Rp 53.3K

35.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

$7.74 Rp 134.1K

54.26%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

$2.82 Rp 48.8K

30.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

$1.47 Rp 25.5K

9.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

$1.86 Rp 32.3K

44.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

$1.30 Rp 22.5K

79.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

$1.37 Rp 23.7K

39.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

$1.90 Rp 32.9K

15.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

$0.90 Rp 15.5K

17.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

$0.47 Rp 8,231

53.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

$2.32 Rp 40.3K

34.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

$28.87 Rp 500.3K

-18.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

$1.75 Rp 30.3K

56.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

$3.16 Rp 54.8K

-8.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,029

$0.32 Rp 5,602

-9.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

$9.60 Rp 166.4K

-14.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,863

$0.54 Rp 9,323

-16.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,305

$0.37 Rp 6,421

13.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

$2.96 Rp 51.3K

108.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

$0.80 Rp 13.9K

5.00%

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

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

$24.7K Rp 427.7M

6.35%

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

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

$27.2K Rp 470.7M

19.58%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$24.75 Rp 428.9K

216.85%

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

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

$4.32 Rp 74.9K

-8.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

$23.13 Rp 400.9K

5.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

$18.53 Rp 321.2K

420.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

$6.12 Rp 106.0K

3.76%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

$2.66 Rp 46.1K

51.88%

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

$92.1 Rp 1.6M

228.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

$5,155 Rp 89.3M

26.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

$61.0 Rp 1.1M

-11.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

$24.46 Rp 424.0K

55.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

$93.4 Rp 1.6M

-7.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$74.8 Rp 1.3M

5.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

$328 Rp 5.7M

208.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.7M

$98.8 Rp 1.7M

582.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

$327 Rp 5.7M

936.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

$186 Rp 3.2M

1026.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

$1,203 Rp 20.9M

148.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

$782 Rp 13.6M

199.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

$221 Rp 3.8M

-21.70%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Manado: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $328 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: $298 vs $221 – 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 139%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $905 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 18% less in Manado. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Ubud, Bali and $92.1 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 $603, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. 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.