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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $583 in Matara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $928 in Matara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,272 in Matara, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 141% more than Matara, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% above the global median, while Matara is 57% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

$2.47 LKR 825

44.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

$24.67 LKR 8,231

31.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

$8.45 LKR 2,817

-42.49%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

$2.77 LKR 923

-0.72%

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

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

$0.69 LKR 232

91.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.38 LKR 125

84.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

$2.38 LKR 794

22.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

$3.31 LKR 1,104

14.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

$1.73 LKR 577

-1.16%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

$0.55 LKR 185

349.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$0.86 LKR 287

39.53%

Eggs

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

$2.13 LKR 711

14.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

$14.00 LKR 4,670

2.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

$4.55 LKR 1,517

-5.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

$7.88 LKR 2,628

54.95%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

$7.65 LKR 2,553

-51.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

$0.53 LKR 176

192.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

$5.88 LKR 1,962

-52.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

$0.65 LKR 217

258.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

$0.83 LKR 276

137.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

$0.49 LKR 162

371.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$1.15 LKR 384

-7.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$0.57 LKR 190

28.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

$10.01 LKR 3,340

-67.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

$12.85 LKR 4,286

77.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

$2.10 LKR 702

33.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$2.87 LKR 959

-3.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

$0.16 LKR 54.7

81.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,047

$0.39 LKR 130

15.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

$0.33 LKR 109

36.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

$0.57 LKR 191

994.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

$1.21 LKR 402

-29.75%

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

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

$26.8K LKR 8.9M

-3.02%

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

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

$35.0K LKR 11.7M

-9.64%

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

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

$25.92 LKR 8,645

211.54%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

$4.26 LKR 1,423

-4.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

$5.11 LKR 1,706

377.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

$3.43 LKR 1,144

17.78%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$37.26 LKR 12.4K

715.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

$445 LKR 148.3K

1389.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

$27.74 LKR 9,252

95.49%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

$19.47 LKR 6,494

99.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$70.2 LKR 23.4K

22.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

$38.21 LKR 12.7K

100.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

$167 LKR 55.7K

490.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.8M

$119 LKR 39.5K

455.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

$494 LKR 164.7K

582.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

$169 LKR 56.5K

1120.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

$106 LKR 35.2K

54.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

16.45

-19.27%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Last update for Matara: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $167 in Matara. 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 55% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $25.00 in Matara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $248 – making Matara 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 Matara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 141%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $875 in Matara. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Matara, 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 $1,404 in Ubud, Bali and $583 in Matara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $37.26 in Matara. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Matara, where all-in costs run around $583, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. In Matara it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Matara – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Matara. 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.