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 $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $228 in Matale, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $371 in Matale, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $514 in Matale, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 517% more than Matale, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Matale is 83% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.0K

$1.37 LKR 462

151.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 580.1K

$10.01 LKR 3,364

223.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 86.9K

$4.97 LKR 1,670

-2.62%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

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

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

$0.55 LKR 185

150.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

$0.28 LKR 94.6

167.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.7K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.1K

$1.99 LKR 669

93.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

$1.38 LKR 463

26.09%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$0.54 LKR 182

355.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

$0.62 LKR 208

88.71%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.6K

$2.45 LKR 824

-0.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 260.2K

$10.90 LKR 3,661

33.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 78.0K

$4.13 LKR 1,387

5.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 214.9K

$7.89 LKR 2,652

51.84%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.7K

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$0.47 LKR 159

246.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.2K

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.4K

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

$0.48 LKR 162

375.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 58.9K

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.8K

$1.81 LKR 608

53.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.0K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,778

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,659

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,532

$0.28 LKR 95.2

50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$1.24 LKR 416

-34.68%

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

$26.6K Rp 477.4M

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

$32.2K Rp 577.4M

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

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

$4.07 Rp 73.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 436.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.7K

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.5K

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

$305 Rp 5.5M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 971.2K

$26.41 LKR 8,873

105.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 678.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

$11.75 LKR 3,948

549.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.1M

$59.9 LKR 20.1K

1024.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

$84.4 LKR 28.4K

2328.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 39.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$158 LKR 53.2K

5.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Matale: July 14, 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $10.00 in Matale. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $121 – 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 517% 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 $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $342 in Matale. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,408 in Ubud, Bali and $228 in Matale. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 145% 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 $228, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. 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 $228 versus $1,408 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.