🙂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, Bali7% above, Mandal86% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57Rp 61.9K
$25.16NOK 234
-85.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58Rp 564.7K
$120NOK 1,119
-72.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.07Rp 87.8K
$15.03NOK 140
-66.27%
Cappuccino
$2.83Rp 49.0K
$5.07NOK 47.23
-44.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34Rp 23.2K
$3.88NOK 36.12
-65.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69Rp 12.0K
$3.39NOK 31.60
-79.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.99Rp 51.8K
$11.09NOK 103
-73.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85Rp 66.7K
$10.14NOK 94.5
-62.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74Rp 30.2K
$2.09NOK 19.49
-16.75%
White Bread(500g)
$2.54Rp 44.0K
$3.15NOK 29.34
-19.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19Rp 20.6K
$4.46NOK 41.54
-73.32%
Eggs
$2.43Rp 42.0K
$2.99NOK 27.90
-18.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.66Rp 254.1K
$13.32NOK 124
10.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.18Rp 72.4K
$15.78NOK 147
-73.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94Rp 206.9K
$26.97NOK 251
-55.73%
Apples(1kg)
$3.69Rp 63.9K
$3.42NOK 31.92
7.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61Rp 27.8K
$2.62NOK 24.39
-38.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.69Rp 46.5K
$3.00NOK 27.93
-10.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 40.4K
$4.64NOK 43.23
-49.78%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 33.0K
$2.06NOK 19.23
-7.28%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19Rp 37.9K
$2.95NOK 27.48
-25.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 18.3K
$1.48NOK 13.76
-28.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72Rp 12.5K
$1.84NOK 17.15
-60.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13Rp 54.3K
$15.40NOK 143
-79.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.49Rp 407.1K
$19.20NOK 179
22.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74Rp 47.5K
$3.11NOK 28.96
-11.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88Rp 49.9K
$2.93NOK 27.27
-1.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,029
$4.13NOK 38.47
-92.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.17Rp 141.6K
$72.6NOK 677
-88.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 7,863
$5.70NOK 53.1
-92.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42Rp 7,305
$1.05NOK 9.80
-60.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.16Rp 106.7K
$99.6NOK 928
-93.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84Rp 14.6K
$2.10NOK 19.61
-60.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2KRp 454.9M
$34.7KNOK 323.2K
-24.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5KRp 562.9M
$32.1KNOK 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)
$78.4Rp 1.4M
$194NOK 1,805
-59.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95Rp 68.5K
$32.72NOK 305
-87.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40Rp 423.0K
$80.7NOK 752
-69.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$96.5Rp 1.7M
$48.72NOK 454
98.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35Rp 110.0K
$35.29NOK 329
-82.01%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04Rp 70.0K
$18.92NOK 176
-78.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$303Rp 5.2M
$320NOK 2,985
-5.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,523Rp 113.1M
$13.0KNOK 120.9K
-49.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8Rp 933.1K
$116NOK 1,079
-53.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98Rp 658.3K
$60.0NOK 559
-36.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.8Rp 1.5M
$104NOK 969
-16.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9Rp 1.4M
$161NOK 1,499
-50.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,012Rp 17.5M
$1,210NOK 11.3K
-16.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$674Rp 11.7M
$888NOK 8,280
-24.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,390Rp 58.8M
$1,805NOK 16.8K
87.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,098Rp 36.4M
$1,551NOK 14.5K
35.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,985Rp 51.7M
$5,484NOK 51.1K
-45.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,339Rp 40.5M
$4,627NOK 43.1K
-49.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Mandal
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$173Rp 3.0M
$4,425NOK 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.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared