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: $1,392 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,415 in Mandal.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,557 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,779 in Mandal.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,723 in Ubud, Bali versus $5,143 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 5% above, Mandal 81% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.6K
$24.83 NOK 238
-85.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.32 Rp 584.4K
$121 NOK 1,164
-73.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.01 Rp 90.5K
$15.14 NOK 145
-66.91%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 51.1K
$5.17 NOK 49.56
-45.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 Rp 24.4K
$3.94 NOK 37.80
-65.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
$3.30 NOK 31.66
-77.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.93 Rp 53.0K
$11.14 NOK 107
-73.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94 Rp 71.2K
$10.00 NOK 96.0
-60.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.78 Rp 32.2K
$2.20 NOK 21.12
-19.09%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 Rp 44.3K
$3.13 NOK 30.03
-21.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 Rp 20.8K
$4.65 NOK 44.58
-75.27%
Eggs
$2.41 Rp 43.7K
$3.08 NOK 29.57
-21.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 Rp 259.1K
$12.97 NOK 124
10.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.19 Rp 75.7K
$15.88 NOK 152
-73.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.06 Rp 218.1K
$26.97 NOK 259
-55.28%
Apples (1kg)
$3.64 Rp 65.8K
$3.56 NOK 34.18
2.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$2.61 NOK 25.01
-39.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 50.4K
$3.10 NOK 29.72
-10.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.5K
$4.78 NOK 45.89
-53.14%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 Rp 35.8K
$2.13 NOK 20.47
-7.04%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 41.2K
$3.03 NOK 29.04
-24.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 Rp 19.1K
$1.55 NOK 14.91
-32.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$1.83 NOK 17.55
-56.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.19 Rp 57.7K
$15.00 NOK 144
-78.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 424.8K
$18.44 NOK 177
27.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 Rp 52.4K
$3.11 NOK 29.82
-6.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 Rp 49.8K
$2.95 NOK 28.31
-6.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,821
$4.32 NOK 41.40
-93.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.37 Rp 151.3K
$72.2 NOK 692
-88.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,180
$5.43 NOK 52.1
-91.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,311
$1.00 NOK 9.60
-54.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.07 Rp 109.7K
$100 NOK 963
-93.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
$2.15 NOK 20.60
-60.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 480.7M
$34.5K NOK 330.6K
-22.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 588.6M
$32.7K NOK 313.6K
-0.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.0 Rp 1.4M
$190 NOK 1,824
-58.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09 Rp 74.0K
$32.73 NOK 314
-87.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.85 Rp 431.2K
$83.3 NOK 799
-71.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.8 Rp 1.8M
$49.46 NOK 474
99.72%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 114.9K
$34.77 NOK 334
-81.74%
Cinema Ticket
$4.01 Rp 72.5K
$19.07 NOK 183
-78.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$297 Rp 5.4M
$324 NOK 3,110
-8.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,602 Rp 119.4M
$12.9K NOK 123.7K
-48.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 Rp 966.0K
$120 NOK 1,153
-55.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.11 Rp 689.2K
$60.1 NOK 577
-36.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.7 Rp 1.6M
$104 NOK 997
-14.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.6 Rp 1.4M
$161 NOK 1,546
-52.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,020 Rp 18.4M
$1,230 NOK 11.8K
-17.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 Rp 12.3M
$892 NOK 8,556
-23.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,469 Rp 62.7M
$1,855 NOK 17.8K
87.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,090 Rp 37.8M
$1,556 NOK 14.9K
34.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,729 Rp 49.3M
$6,052 NOK 58.1K
-54.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,295 Rp 41.5M
$3,993 NOK 38.3K
-42.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
$4,304 NOK 41.3K
-96.20%
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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Mandal: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali and $1,230 in Mandal. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mandal pays 2529% 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: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $121 in Mandal for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $452 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, salaries run 2529% lower in Mandal. 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: $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,230 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 and in Mandal?
All in, you'll spend $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $2,415 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 762% 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 living in Ubud, Bali or in Mandal?
At $1,392 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,415 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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