🙂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, Bali4% above, Mandal83% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57Rp 64.0K
$25.33NOK 240
-85.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.50Rp 582.3K
$119NOK 1,133
-72.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.86Rp 87.1K
$14.88NOK 141
-67.34%
Cappuccino
$2.75Rp 49.2K
$5.03NOK 47.74
-45.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32Rp 23.7K
$4.05NOK 38.49
-67.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70Rp 12.6K
$3.30NOK 31.35
-78.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.91Rp 52.2K
$10.95NOK 104
-73.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79Rp 68.0K
$10.28NOK 97.5
-63.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71Rp 30.6K
$2.11NOK 20.05
-18.96%
White Bread(500g)
$2.47Rp 44.3K
$3.11NOK 29.51
-20.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20Rp 21.5K
$4.57NOK 43.40
-73.74%
Eggs
$2.44Rp 43.8K
$3.11NOK 29.51
-21.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.38Rp 257.7K
$12.98NOK 123
10.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.31Rp 77.1K
$16.29NOK 155
-73.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.21Rp 218.7K
$27.67NOK 263
-55.87%
Apples(1kg)
$3.68Rp 66.0K
$3.58NOK 33.95
2.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55Rp 27.8K
$2.56NOK 24.25
-39.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.79Rp 49.9K
$3.02NOK 28.66
-7.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 41.8K
$4.80NOK 45.59
-51.46%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97Rp 35.3K
$2.06NOK 19.56
-4.37%
Onion(1kg)
$2.31Rp 41.4K
$3.03NOK 28.75
-23.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 19.1K
$1.56NOK 14.77
-32.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73Rp 13.1K
$1.76NOK 16.67
-58.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28Rp 58.8K
$15.45NOK 147
-78.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.79Rp 408.4K
$18.75NOK 178
21.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81Rp 50.3K
$2.99NOK 28.34
-6.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78Rp 49.9K
$2.95NOK 27.97
-5.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,217
$4.14NOK 39.32
-93.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.06Rp 144.4K
$72.9NOK 692
-88.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 8,047
$5.59NOK 53.1
-91.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45Rp 8,094
$1.06NOK 10.05
-57.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.24Rp 111.7K
$103NOK 978
-93.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85Rp 15.2K
$2.16NOK 20.54
-60.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0KRp 465.4M
$34.7KNOK 329.6K
-25.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7KRp 567.2M
$33.4KNOK 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)
$80.8Rp 1.4M
$187NOK 1,773
-56.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06Rp 72.7K
$33.56NOK 319
-87.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.42Rp 437.6K
$83.0NOK 788
-70.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$97.7Rp 1.7M
$48.88NOK 464
99.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.45Rp 115.5K
$35.60NOK 338
-81.88%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04Rp 72.4K
$19.07NOK 181
-78.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304Rp 5.4M
$320NOK 3,040
-5.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,621Rp 118.6M
$13.1KNOK 124.5K
-49.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2Rp 971.7K
$117NOK 1,113
-53.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.78Rp 694.7K
$58.1NOK 551
-33.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.1Rp 1.5M
$105NOK 1,000
-18.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7Rp 1.4M
$162NOK 1,538
-52.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$986Rp 17.7M
$1,228NOK 11.7K
-19.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$658Rp 11.8M
$887NOK 8,415
-25.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,369Rp 60.4M
$1,792NOK 17.0K
88.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,066Rp 37.0M
$1,537NOK 14.6K
34.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,741Rp 49.1M
$6,808NOK 64.6K
-59.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,228Rp 39.9M
$4,481NOK 42.5K
-50.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$163Rp 2.9M
$4,425NOK 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.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared