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: $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,489 in Mandal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,859 in Mandal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,732 in Ubud, Bali versus $5,229 in Mandal.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 42% less than in Mandal, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 7% above, Mandal 86% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 61.9K
$25.16 NOK 234
-85.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58 Rp 564.7K
$120 NOK 1,119
-72.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 Rp 87.8K
$15.03 NOK 140
-66.27%
Cappuccino
$2.83 Rp 49.0K
$5.07 NOK 47.23
-44.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 23.2K
$3.88 NOK 36.12
-65.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
$3.39 NOK 31.60
-79.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 51.8K
$11.09 NOK 103
-73.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 66.7K
$10.14 NOK 94.5
-62.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 30.2K
$2.09 NOK 19.49
-16.75%
White Bread (500g)
$2.54 Rp 44.0K
$3.15 NOK 29.34
-19.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
$4.46 NOK 41.54
-73.32%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 42.0K
$2.99 NOK 27.90
-18.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.66 Rp 254.1K
$13.32 NOK 124
10.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.18 Rp 72.4K
$15.78 NOK 147
-73.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 Rp 206.9K
$26.97 NOK 251
-55.73%
Apples (1kg)
$3.69 Rp 63.9K
$3.42 NOK 31.92
7.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.8K
$2.62 NOK 24.39
-38.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 Rp 46.5K
$3.00 NOK 27.93
-10.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 40.4K
$4.64 NOK 43.23
-49.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.0K
$2.06 NOK 19.23
-7.28%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 37.9K
$2.95 NOK 27.48
-25.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
$1.48 NOK 13.76
-28.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
$1.84 NOK 17.15
-60.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 Rp 54.3K
$15.40 NOK 143
-79.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 407.1K
$19.20 NOK 179
22.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 Rp 47.5K
$3.11 NOK 28.96
-11.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 Rp 49.9K
$2.93 NOK 27.27
-1.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,029
$4.13 NOK 38.47
-92.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 141.6K
$72.6 NOK 677
-88.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 7,863
$5.70 NOK 53.1
-92.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,305
$1.05 NOK 9.80
-60.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.16 Rp 106.7K
$99.6 NOK 928
-93.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 14.6K
$2.10 NOK 19.61
-60.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K Rp 454.9M
$34.7K NOK 323.2K
-24.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 562.9M
$32.1K NOK 299.6K
1.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$194 NOK 1,805
-59.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95 Rp 68.5K
$32.72 NOK 305
-87.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40 Rp 423.0K
$80.7 NOK 752
-69.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
$48.72 NOK 454
98.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 110.0K
$35.29 NOK 329
-82.01%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 70.0K
$18.92 NOK 176
-78.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 Rp 5.2M
$320 NOK 2,985
-5.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,523 Rp 113.1M
$13.0K NOK 120.9K
-49.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 Rp 933.1K
$116 NOK 1,079
-53.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98 Rp 658.3K
$60.0 NOK 559
-36.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
$104 NOK 969
-16.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
$161 NOK 1,499
-50.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
$1,210 NOK 11.3K
-16.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 Rp 11.7M
$888 NOK 8,280
-24.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,390 Rp 58.8M
$1,805 NOK 16.8K
87.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,098 Rp 36.4M
$1,551 NOK 14.5K
35.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,985 Rp 51.7M
$5,484 NOK 51.1K
-45.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,339 Rp 40.5M
$4,627 NOK 43.1K
-49.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$173 Rp 3.0M
$4,425 NOK 41.2K
-96.09%
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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Mandal: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali and $1,210 in Mandal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mandal pays 2456% 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 $120 in Mandal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $450 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 73% 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 2456% 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: $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,210 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 $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $2,489 in Mandal – a 73% 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 789% 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 $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,489 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 73% less than in Mandal. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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