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 $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $585 in Matara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,582 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $932 in Matara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,757 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,279 in Matara, rent included.

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

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Matara is 56% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.42 Rp 58.7K

$2.53 LKR 801

35.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 Rp 566.5K

$25.56 LKR 8,090

28.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.08 Rp 87.3K

$8.26 LKR 2,615

-38.50%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 48.5K

$2.74 LKR 867

2.92%

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

$1.37 Rp 23.5K

$0.68 LKR 214

101.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 Rp 12.2K

$0.37 LKR 118

91.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.97 Rp 51.0K

$2.36 LKR 747

25.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.91 Rp 67.2K

$3.28 LKR 1,039

19.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 Rp 30.0K

$1.74 LKR 552

0.57%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 43.2K

$0.55 LKR 175

358.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 Rp 20.8K

$0.87 LKR 274

39.08%

Eggs

$2.33 Rp 40.1K

$2.15 LKR 681

8.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 249.2K

$13.88 LKR 4,392

4.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.36 Rp 74.9K

$4.71 LKR 1,491

-7.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.05 Rp 207.0K

$7.86 LKR 2,489

53.31%

Apples (1kg)

$3.82 Rp 65.6K

$7.27 LKR 2,302

-47.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.7K

$0.52 LKR 164

209.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.70 Rp 46.5K

$5.65 LKR 1,789

-52.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.23 Rp 38.3K

$0.64 LKR 203

248.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 32.6K

$0.82 LKR 258

131.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 Rp 37.5K

$0.53 LKR 166

311.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 Rp 17.7K

$1.19 LKR 377

-13.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 Rp 13.3K

$0.56 LKR 178

37.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 Rp 54.7K

$10.18 LKR 3,223

-68.76%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.23 Rp 399.2K

$12.68 LKR 4,014

83.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 Rp 48.9K

$2.07 LKR 656

37.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 Rp 46.7K

$2.94 LKR 931

-7.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,022

$0.17 LKR 53.1

70.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.43 Rp 144.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,344

$0.42 LKR 132

16.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 7,812

$0.35 LKR 111

28.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.28 Rp 107.8K

$0.58 LKR 183

982.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 14.6K

$1.19 LKR 378

-28.57%

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

$26.1K Rp 447.8M

$26.9K LKR 8.5M

-3.15%

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

$31.5K Rp 541.8M

$34.5K LKR 10.9M

-8.63%

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

$79.8 Rp 1.4M

$25.87 LKR 8,189

208.35%

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

$4.09 Rp 70.3K

$4.31 LKR 1,365

-5.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.06 Rp 413.6K

$5.04 LKR 1,595

377.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.2 Rp 1.7M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.53 Rp 112.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.13 Rp 71.1K

$3.45 LKR 1,090

19.71%

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

$297 Rp 5.1M

$37.03 LKR 11.7K

701.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,661 Rp 114.5M

$436 LKR 137.9K

1428.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.0 Rp 944.5K

$27.27 LKR 8,632

101.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.75 Rp 666.0K

$19.24 LKR 6,089

101.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.6 Rp 1.5M

$68.5 LKR 21.7K

30.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$39.22 LKR 12.4K

101.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,018 Rp 17.5M

$169 LKR 53.5K

502.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$660 Rp 11.3M

$118 LKR 37.4K

458.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,435 Rp 59.0M

$499 LKR 158.1K

587.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,053 Rp 35.3M

$169 LKR 53.4K

1116.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,981 Rp 51.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,368 Rp 40.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$172 Rp 3.0M

$95.2 LKR 30.1K

80.77%

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: April 21, 2026

Last update for Matara: April 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,018 in Ubud, Bali versus $169 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 81% 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 in Ubud, Bali versus $26 in Matara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $299 vs $246 – 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 $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $877 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 $1,408 in Ubud, Bali and $585 in Matara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $297 per month in Ubud, Bali and $37.03 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 $585, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. 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.