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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,463 in Mandal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,836 in Mandal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,694 in Ubud, Bali versus $5,210 in Mandal.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 43% less than in Mandal, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 4% above, Mandal 83% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
$25.33 NOK 240
-85.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
$119 NOK 1,133
-72.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
$14.88 NOK 141
-67.34%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
$5.03 NOK 47.74
-45.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
$4.05 NOK 38.49
-67.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
$3.30 NOK 31.35
-78.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
$10.95 NOK 104
-73.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
$10.28 NOK 97.5
-63.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
$2.11 NOK 20.05
-18.96%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
$3.11 NOK 29.51
-20.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
$4.57 NOK 43.40
-73.74%
Eggs
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
$3.11 NOK 29.51
-21.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
$12.98 NOK 123
10.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
$16.29 NOK 155
-73.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
$27.67 NOK 263
-55.87%
Apples (1kg)
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
$3.58 NOK 33.95
2.79%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
$2.56 NOK 24.25
-39.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
$3.02 NOK 28.66
-7.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
$4.80 NOK 45.59
-51.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
$2.06 NOK 19.56
-4.37%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
$3.03 NOK 28.75
-23.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$1.56 NOK 14.77
-32.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
$1.76 NOK 16.67
-58.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
$15.45 NOK 147
-78.77%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
$18.75 NOK 178
21.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
$2.99 NOK 28.34
-6.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$2.95 NOK 27.97
-5.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,217
$4.14 NOK 39.32
-93.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
$72.9 NOK 692
-88.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,047
$5.59 NOK 53.1
-91.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,094
$1.06 NOK 10.05
-57.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
$103 NOK 978
-93.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
$2.16 NOK 20.54
-60.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
$34.7K NOK 329.6K
-25.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
$33.4K NOK 317.2K
-5.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
$187 NOK 1,773
-56.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
$33.56 NOK 319
-87.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
$83.0 NOK 788
-70.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
$48.88 NOK 464
99.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
$35.60 NOK 338
-81.88%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
$19.07 NOK 181
-78.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$320 NOK 3,040
-5.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
$13.1K NOK 124.5K
-49.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
$117 NOK 1,113
-53.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
$58.1 NOK 551
-33.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
$105 NOK 1,000
-18.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
$162 NOK 1,538
-52.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$986 Rp 17.7M
$1,228 NOK 11.7K
-19.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$658 Rp 11.8M
$887 NOK 8,415
-25.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
$1,792 NOK 17.0K
88.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
$1,537 NOK 14.6K
34.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
$6,808 NOK 64.6K
-59.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
$4,481 NOK 42.5K
-50.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$163 Rp 2.9M
$4,425 NOK 42.0K
-96.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
4.51
194.46%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Last update for Mandal: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $986 in Ubud, Bali and $1,228 in Mandal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mandal pays 2608% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $119 in Mandal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $454 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 Mandal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mandal cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 75% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ubud, Bali or Mandal?
On paper, Mandal earns 2608% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Mandal?
Rent for a central apartment: $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,228 in Mandal. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali vs Mandal?
All in, you'll spend $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $2,463 in Mandal – a 75% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 805% less than in Mandal. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Mandal?
At $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,463 in Mandal, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Mandal. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Mandal more family-friendly?
For families, Ubud, Bali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mandal, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Mandal?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Mandal are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 75% less than in Mandal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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