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 $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $957 in Manila, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,538 in Manila, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,118 in Manila, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 47% more than Manila, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Manila is 28% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.0K

$5.28 ₱325

-34.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 580.1K

$27.12 ₱1,669

19.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 86.9K

$4.55 ₱280

6.37%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

$2.73 ₱168

0.73%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

$0.96 ₱59.2

43.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

$0.50 ₱30.96

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.7K

$1.54 ₱94.7

94.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.1K

$2.65 ₱163

45.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

$1.90 ₱117

-8.42%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$1.33 ₱81.9

84.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

$1.07 ₱66.1

9.35%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.6K

$2.08 ₱128

16.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 260.2K

$9.28 ₱572

56.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 78.0K

$5.21 ₱321

-16.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 214.9K

$8.55 ₱526

40.12%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.7K

$3.54 ₱218

5.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$1.80 ₱111

-9.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.2K

$3.58 ₱221

-23.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

$2.50 ₱154

-10.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.4K

$2.78 ₱171

-30.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

$3.16 ₱194

-27.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$1.98 ₱122

-46.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$0.68 ₱42.17

5.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 58.9K

$3.31 ₱204

-0.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.1K

$9.50 ₱585

144.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.8K

$1.46 ₱90.0

90.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.0K

$2.11 ₱130

29.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,778

$0.48 ₱29.41

-43.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.4K

$12.15 ₱748

-33.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,659

$0.88 ₱54.0

-45.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,532

$0.27 ₱16.65

55.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.6K

$2.08 ₱128

199.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$1.17 ₱72.3

-30.77%

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

$26.6K Rp 477.4M

$26.1K ₱1.6M

2.07%

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

$32.2K Rp 577.4M

$22.8K ₱1.4M

41.01%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$135 ₱8,337

-42.14%

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

$4.07 Rp 73.0K

$21.56 ₱1,327

-81.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 436.4K

$27.58 ₱1,698

-11.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$41.41 ₱2,549

138.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.7K

$6.82 ₱420

-7.04%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.5K

$6.92 ₱426

-42.34%

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

$305 Rp 5.5M

$363 ₱22.3K

-15.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.2M

$11.6K ₱713.4K

-42.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 971.2K

$47.10 ₱2,900

14.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 678.2K

$34.39 ₱2,117

9.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

$81.9 ₱5,040

6.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

$47.42 ₱2,919

61.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.8M

$486 ₱29.9K

104.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.1M

$272 ₱16.7K

147.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.5M

$1,729 ₱106.5K

95.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

$641 ₱39.5K

219.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.3M

$4,332 ₱266.7K

-35.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 39.9M

$2,602 ₱160.2K

-14.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$467 ₱28.7K

-64.24%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Manila: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $486 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 180% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $27.00 in Manila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $241 – 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: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, $957 in Manila – roughly 47% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,436 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 $1,408 in Ubud, Bali and $957 in Manila. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 50% 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 $957, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. 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 $957 in Manila to $1,408 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.