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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $934 in Mandaue.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,540 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,374 in Mandaue.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,814 in Mandaue.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 52% more expensive than Mandaue, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 6% above, Mandaue is 30% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Mandaue
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
$4.52 ₱279
-21.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
$24.25 ₱1,495
34.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
$4.33 ₱267
14.32%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
$2.64 ₱163
2.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
$0.81 ₱49.70
65.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
$0.45 ₱27.81
55.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
$1.57 ₱96.6
85.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
$2.08 ₱128
90.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Mandaue
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
$2.08 ₱128
-12.98%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
$0.75 ₱46.14
236.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
$0.97 ₱59.9
19.59%
Eggs
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
$2.23 ₱138
10.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
$12.75 ₱786
15.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
$5.17 ₱319
-16.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
$7.52 ₱464
61.44%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
$3.58 ₱221
7.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
$1.50 ₱92.7
4.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
$3.26 ₱201
-13.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
$2.26 ₱139
3.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
$2.56 ₱158
-25.39%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
$2.53 ₱156
-13.04%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
$0.98 ₱60.3
3.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
$0.79 ₱48.69
-1.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
$2.68 ₱165
23.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
$6.34 ₱391
274.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
$1.15 ₱70.9
142.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
$2.34 ₱144
22.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Mandaue
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,800
$0.26 ₱16.01
3.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,150
$0.84 ₱51.7
-45.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,037
$0.25 ₱15.51
80.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
$2.64 ₱163
131.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$1.09 ₱67.2
-27.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
$29.6K ₱1.8M
-11.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
$27.5K ₱1.7M
16.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Mandaue
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$95.5 ₱5,886
-16.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
$26.50 ₱1,634
-84.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
$29.84 ₱1,840
-21.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Mandaue
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
$47.94 ₱2,956
105.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
$4.47 ₱276
48.32%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
$5.91 ₱364
-29.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Mandaue
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$230 ₱14.2K
31.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
$3,847 ₱237.2K
71.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Mandaue
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
$46.31 ₱2,856
19.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
$22.90 ₱1,412
67.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
$77.2 ₱4,759
14.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$55.8 ₱3,438
39.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Mandaue
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
$266 ₱16.4K
278.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$675 Rp 12.1M
$284 ₱17.5K
137.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
$854 ₱52.7K
302.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
$436 ₱26.9K
368.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
$2,353 ₱145.1K
20.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
$958 ₱59.1K
136.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Mandaue
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$242 ₱14.9K
-31.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
8
66.00%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Mandaue: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali and $266 in Mandaue. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mandaue pays 46% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $24.00 in Mandaue for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $302 vs $228 per month, with Mandaue 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 Mandaue: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Mandaue?
Mandaue wins on cost – living expenses run 52% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mandaue the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or Mandaue?
On paper, Mandaue earns 46% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali vs Mandaue?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $266 in Mandaue. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and Mandaue?
Childcare runs $304 in Ubud, Bali versus $230 in Mandaue. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Ubud, Bali vs Mandaue?
Dining out is cheaper in Mandaue – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or Mandaue?
At $934 in Mandaue versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Mandaue but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Mandaue the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Mandaue?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mandaue delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $934 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mandaue hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Mandaue?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Mandaue 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mandaue gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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