Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Manakara

For one person, living is cheaper in Manakara: $397 a month against $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $11,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Manakara, Madagascar
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Manakara
🇲🇬 Madagascar
$397
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

A single person spends $1,349 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $397 in Manakara, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,349
  • Manakara $397

A couple spends around $2,305 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $610 in Manakara, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,305
  • Manakara $610

A family of three spends $3,261 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $822 in Manakara, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,261
  • Manakara $822

Ubud, Bali costs about 239% more than Manakara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Manakara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32 Rp 60.4K
$2.23 MGA 10.2K
48.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.64 Rp 648.1K
$14.74 MGA 67.5K
141.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.53 Rp 100.6K
$3.58 MGA 16.4K
54.47%
Cappuccino
$2.72 Rp 49.4K
$1.14 MGA 5,205
138.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 Rp 30.9K
$0.61 MGA 2,771
178.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
$0.53 MGA 2,424
43.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 48.3K
$1.18 MGA 5,424
124.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 Rp 79.7K
$1.47 MGA 6,721
197.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Manakara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 Rp 27.1K
$1.78 MGA 8,161
-16.29%
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 Rp 41.4K
$1.02 MGA 4,685
123.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
$0.67 MGA 3,057
77.61%
Eggs
$2.04 Rp 37.0K
$2.28 MGA 10.4K
-10.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.70 Rp 321.9K
$6.56 MGA 30.0K
169.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.96 Rp 72.1K
$3.40 MGA 15.6K
16.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.19 Rp 221.7K
$3.60 MGA 16.5K
238.61%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 Rp 66.5K
$0.95 MGA 4,365
285.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 27.6K
$0.72 MGA 3,304
111.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
$0.37 MGA 1,696
502.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.9K
$0.71 MGA 3,265
177.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 33.6K
$0.58 MGA 2,679
218.97%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 44.1K
$0.70 MGA 3,203
245.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 18.0K
$0.35 MGA 1,584
182.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,336
$0.63 MGA 2,903
-19.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 Rp 40.4K
$1.36 MGA 6,248
63.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.24 Rp 404.4K
$4.34 MGA 19.9K
412.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 Rp 41.1K
$1.06 MGA 4,858
113.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 54.0K
$1.25 MGA 5,707
137.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Manakara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,564
$0.21 MGA 961
19.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.82 Rp 142.3K
$34.72 MGA 159.0K
-77.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,992
$1.12 MGA 5,152
-60.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,821
$2.26 MGA 10.4K
-80.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 Rp 98.4K
$3.32 MGA 15.2K
62.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 15.0K
$1.12 MGA 5,111
-26.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K Rp 433.5M
$15.2K MGA 69.6M
56.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 577.3M
$20.7K MGA 94.7M
53.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Manakara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$42.29 MGA 193.7K
86.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 117.2K
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.58 Rp 337.8K
$53.6 MGA 245.6K
-65.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Manakara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.48 Rp 899.8K
$11.63 MGA 53.3K
325.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.65 Rp 320.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.27 Rp 77.7K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Manakara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$491 Rp 8.9M
$22.17 MGA 101.5K
2112.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,674 Rp 103.2M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Manakara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.64 Rp 811.7K
$16.20 MGA 74.2K
175.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.95 Rp 635.6K
$20.07 MGA 91.9K
74.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 Rp 1.5M
$44.60 MGA 204.3K
79.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
$43.80 MGA 200.6K
81.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Manakara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 Rp 20.5M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$671 Rp 12.2M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,565 Rp 64.8M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,723 Rp 31.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,732 Rp 49.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,284 Rp 41.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Manakara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
$115 MGA 527.9K
42.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
24
-42.58%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Last update for Manakara: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$672
Manakara
- * 100%
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$288
Manakara
$130 54.9% $158
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$108
Manakara
$56 48.4% $52
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Manakara
$56 47.8% $51
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$104
Manakara
$96 * 7.8% $8.2
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$58
Manakara
$12 * 80% $46
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$11
Manakara
$48 320% $37

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 42% higher in Ubud, Bali, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36 in Ubud, Bali versus $15 in Manakara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $130 – making Manakara the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇲🇬 Manakara
🕒 Local time
16:20 4:20 PM
11:20 11:20 AM
5 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
44,237
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MGA, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 18,183 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.5 USD). 1 EUR = 20,291 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.93 EUR).

Malagasy Ariary exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 4,580 MGA (10,000 MGA = 2.18 USD). 1 EUR = 5,111 MGA (10,000 MGA = 1.96 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Manakara 7,320 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Manakara

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 Manakara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Manakara cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 239%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,023 per month in Ubud, Bali and $596 in Manakara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $491 per month in Ubud, Bali and $22 in Manakara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Manakara?
Groceries cost about 122% more in Ubud, Bali, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Manakara?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Manakara, where all-in costs run around $397, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,349. In Manakara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Ubud, Bali or in Manakara?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $397 in Manakara to $1,349 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Manakara. If higher salaries 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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