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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,396 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $231 in Matale, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $379 in Matale, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,273 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $527 in Matale, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 505% more than Matale, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 2% above the global median, while Matale is 83% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.37 Rp 59.7K

$1.80 LKR 592

87.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.59 Rp 682.4K

$9.31 LKR 3,052

314.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.52 Rp 97.6K

$4.49 LKR 1,473

22.94%

Cappuccino

$2.64 Rp 46.8K

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

$1.67 Rp 29.6K

$0.46 LKR 152

263.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

$0.22 LKR 71.9

250.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.63 Rp 46.6K

$2.49 LKR 818

5.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.28 Rp 75.7K

$1.84 LKR 604

132.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 Rp 27.3K

$1.49 LKR 488

4.03%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 Rp 39.3K

$0.46 LKR 151

382.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 Rp 19.9K

$0.65 LKR 212

73.85%

Eggs

$2.09 Rp 36.9K

$1.68 LKR 553

24.40%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 Rp 307.6K

$9.58 LKR 3,141

81.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.87 Rp 68.4K

$3.67 LKR 1,205

5.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.55 Rp 221.9K

$7.35 LKR 2,410

70.75%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.9K

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.6K

$0.56 LKR 183

178.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 Rp 41.6K

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 Rp 36.4K

$0.92 LKR 303

123.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 33.6K

$0.52 LKR 172

265.38%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 Rp 41.3K

$0.54 LKR 176

333.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 Rp 18.2K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,809

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 Rp 39.8K

Wine (Bottle)

$23.81 Rp 421.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 Rp 40.9K

$1.58 LKR 518

46.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 Rp 49.5K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,816

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.66 Rp 153.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,515

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 7,887

$0.25 LKR 82.7

80.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.72 Rp 101.1K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

$1.18 LKR 388

-35.59%

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

$24.5K Rp 433.0M

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

$32.1K Rp 568.0M

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

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

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

$6.46 Rp 114.2K

$3.86 LKR 1,267

67.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.99 Rp 335.9K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 Rp 989.8K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.62 Rp 329.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 Rp 75.7K

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

$487 Rp 8.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,856 Rp 103.6M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.56 Rp 805.6K

$23.90 LKR 7,839

90.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.38 Rp 643.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 Rp 1.4M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$10.70 LKR 3,509

651.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,117 Rp 19.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 Rp 12.4M

$44.95 LKR 14.7K

1459.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,537 Rp 62.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,762 Rp 31.2M

$63.0 LKR 20.7K

2699.19%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,826 Rp 50.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,292 Rp 40.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 Rp 3.0M

$161 LKR 52.8K

5.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Last update for Matale: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 5% higher in Ubud, Bali, 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 $39.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $9.00 in Matale. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $116 – making Matale 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 Matale: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 505% more than Matale, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,095 per month in Ubud, Bali and $346 in Matale. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,396 in Ubud, Bali and $231 in Matale. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 151% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Matale, where all-in costs run around $231, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. In Matale it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Matale costs $231 versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Matale. 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.