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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,374 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,219 in Marathon, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,313 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,242 in Marathon, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,252 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,265 in Marathon, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 38% cheaper than Marathon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Marathon sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 2%, Marathon by 64%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Marathon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32 Rp 59.5K
$18.03 CA$25.70
-81.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.33 Rp 632.1K
$63.5 CA$90.5
-44.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.33 Rp 95.4K
$12.07 CA$17.21
-55.84%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.3K
$3.11 CA$4.44
-11.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 Rp 30.9K
$2.14 CA$3.05
-19.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 Rp 14.3K
$1.55 CA$2.21
-48.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 Rp 52.7K
$5.52 CA$7.87
-46.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44 Rp 79.4K
$6.13 CA$8.74
-27.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Marathon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 Rp 26.8K
$2.07 CA$2.95
-27.54%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 Rp 41.1K
$2.52 CA$3.59
-8.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.10 Rp 19.7K
$3.32 CA$4.73
-66.87%
Eggs
$2.16 Rp 38.6K
$3.45 CA$4.92
-37.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.09 Rp 305.7K
$9.93 CA$14.15
72.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.88 Rp 69.4K
$11.27 CA$16.06
-65.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.92 Rp 213.2K
$14.29 CA$20.37
-16.59%
Apples (1kg)
$3.57 Rp 63.8K
$3.67 CA$5.23
-2.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 Rp 28.3K
$1.28 CA$1.83
23.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.36 Rp 42.2K
$3.57 CA$5.08
-33.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.2K
$3.84 CA$5.48
-48.70%
Potato (1kg)
$1.81 Rp 32.4K
$2.49 CA$3.55
-27.31%
Onion (1kg)
$2.39 Rp 42.8K
$2.24 CA$3.19
6.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 Rp 18.2K
$2.49 CA$3.54
-59.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 Rp 8,792
$1.56 CA$2.22
-68.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25 Rp 40.2K
$14.39 CA$20.51
-84.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.30 Rp 399.0K
$12.63 CA$18.00
76.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.37 Rp 42.4K
$2.59 CA$3.70
-8.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90 Rp 51.8K
$3.04 CA$4.34
-4.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Marathon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,457
$2.07 CA$2.95
-87.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.55 Rp 153.0K
$69.9 CA$99.6
-87.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,906
$2.75 CA$3.92
-84.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,556
$1.28 CA$1.82
-67.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.66 Rp 101.3K
$26.55 CA$37.85
-78.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$1.16 CA$1.66
-30.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.7K Rp 424.7M
$24.3K CA$34.7K
-2.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.0K Rp 554.3M
$20.0K CA$28.5K
54.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Marathon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.3 Rp 1.5M
$137 CA$196
-40.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.30 Rp 112.7K
$37.82 CA$53.9
-83.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.63 Rp 333.4K
$54.1 CA$77.1
-65.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Marathon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.7 Rp 979.2K
$39.42 CA$56.2
38.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.45 Rp 330.1K
$17.04 CA$24.28
8.27%
Cinema Ticket
$4.24 Rp 75.8K
$11.24 CA$16.03
-62.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Marathon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$484 Rp 8.7M
$690 CA$983
-29.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,590 Rp 100.0M
$12.4K CA$17.7K
-55.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Marathon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.77 Rp 818.9K
$52.4 CA$74.7
-12.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.69 Rp 638.6K
$37.21 CA$53.0
-4.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
$83.8 CA$119
-6.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.1 Rp 1.4M
$99.1 CA$141
-19.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Marathon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,147 Rp 20.5M
$1,228 CA$1,750
-6.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$678 Rp 12.1M
$1,135 CA$1,618
-40.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,504 Rp 62.7M
$1,979 CA$2,820
77.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,688 Rp 30.2M
$1,720 CA$2,452
-1.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,788 Rp 49.9M
$4,165 CA$5,937
-33.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,257 Rp 40.4M
$3,718 CA$5,299
-39.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Marathon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$1,747 CA$2,491
-90.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
4.64
196.98%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 28, 2026

Last update for Marathon: September 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,147 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,228 in Marathon. 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 959% higher in Marathon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $63.0 in Marathon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $346 – making Ubud, Bali 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 Marathon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marathon cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Marathon is pricier by about 61%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,062 per month in Ubud, Bali and $3,328 in Marathon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $484 per month in Ubud, Bali and $690 in Marathon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Marathon?
Groceries cost about 21% more in Marathon, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Marathon?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,374, than in Marathon at $2,219. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Marathon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ubud, Bali or Marathon more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ubud, Bali – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Marathon?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Marathon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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