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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $959 in Manila, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,528 in Manila, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,097 in Manila, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 48% more than Manila, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Manila is 28% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.9K

$5.38 ₱332

-33.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 586.8K

$26.83 ₱1,656

21.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.7K

$4.34 ₱268

14.06%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.6K

$2.75 ₱169

-1.45%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 Rp 24.1K

$0.96 ₱59.0

39.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.50 ₱30.58

40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.3K

$1.49 ₱92.1

95.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.9K

$2.61 ₱161

51.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

$1.89 ₱117

-4.23%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.1K

$1.38 ₱85.4

82.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.8K

$1.05 ₱64.7

10.48%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$2.18 ₱135

12.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 263.7K

$9.61 ₱593

53.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.4K

$5.19 ₱320

-16.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 217.5K

$8.32 ₱513

45.91%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.8K

$3.50 ₱216

9.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.9K

$1.80 ₱111

-13.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.8K

$3.58 ₱221

-20.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.7K

$2.49 ₱154

-6.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.3K

$2.76 ₱170

-30.80%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.5K

$3.03 ₱187

-27.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.2K

$2.01 ₱124

-49.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

$0.64 ₱39.60

21.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.4K

$3.32 ₱205

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 425.5K

$9.74 ₱601

143.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 50.0K

$1.49 ₱92.1

87.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.3K

$2.15 ₱133

33.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,819

$0.52 ₱31.93

-48.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.9K

$12.00 ₱741

-33.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,181

$0.86 ₱53.2

-46.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,068

$0.25 ₱15.38

80.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 109.3K

$2.16 ₱133

182.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$1.16 ₱71.9

-31.90%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.1K Rp 468.8M

$26.2K ₱1.6M

-0.20%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.1K Rp 575.8M

$22.7K ₱1.4M

41.36%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$138 ₱8,535

-42.21%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.06 Rp 72.9K

$22.24 ₱1,372

-81.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 421.6K

$27.71 ₱1,710

-15.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$41.41 ₱2,555

138.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.8K

$6.89 ₱425

-3.77%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.3K

$6.58 ₱406

-36.93%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$304 Rp 5.4M

$357 ₱22.0K

-14.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.5M

$11.5K ₱707.8K

-42.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 995.6K

$46.42 ₱2,864

19.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 686.7K

$35.12 ₱2,167

9.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$82.4 ₱5,084

7.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$45.78 ₱2,825

70.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$500 ₱30.8K

101.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$265 ₱16.3K

155.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.7M

$1,684 ₱103.9K

104.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.6M

$636 ₱39.2K

220.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.9M

$4,370 ₱269.6K

-34.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.6M

$2,544 ₱157.0K

-11.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$481 ₱29.7K

-65.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

7.52

76.60%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Manila: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $500 in Manila. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 191% higher in Manila, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $27.00 in Manila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $242 – making Manila the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Manila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, $959 in Manila – roughly 48% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,438 in Manila. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Manila, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali and $959 in Manila. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 49% less in Manila. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Manila, where all-in costs run around $959, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Manila it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Manila has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $959 in Manila to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Manila. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.