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 $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $585 in Matara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,557 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $915 in Matara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,723 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,245 in Matara, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 138% 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

$3.57 Rp 64.6K

$2.44 LKR 819

46.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.32 Rp 584.4K

$25.31 LKR 8,481

27.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.01 Rp 90.5K

$8.42 LKR 2,823

-40.50%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 51.1K

$2.76 LKR 926

2.17%

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

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

$0.72 LKR 243

87.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

$0.37 LKR 125

97.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 Rp 53.0K

$2.33 LKR 779

25.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 Rp 71.2K

$3.44 LKR 1,152

14.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 Rp 32.2K

$1.70 LKR 571

4.71%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 Rp 44.3K

$0.52 LKR 175

371.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 Rp 20.8K

$0.81 LKR 273

41.98%

Eggs

$2.41 Rp 43.7K

$2.20 LKR 737

9.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 Rp 259.1K

$14.25 LKR 4,773

0.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.19 Rp 75.7K

$4.77 LKR 1,600

-12.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.06 Rp 218.1K

$7.87 LKR 2,639

53.24%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 Rp 65.8K

$7.39 LKR 2,477

-50.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.3K

$0.55 LKR 185

185.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 50.4K

$5.90 LKR 1,978

-52.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.5K

$0.70 LKR 233

220.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 Rp 35.8K

$0.86 LKR 289

130.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 41.2K

$0.53 LKR 176

330.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 19.1K

$1.15 LKR 384

-8.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$0.60 LKR 202

31.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 Rp 57.7K

$9.97 LKR 3,339

-68.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 424.8K

$12.83 LKR 4,300

83.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 52.4K

$2.08 LKR 697

39.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 Rp 49.8K

$2.99 LKR 1,001

-7.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,821

$0.18 LKR 61.3

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 151.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,180

$0.42 LKR 139

7.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,311

$0.36 LKR 119

27.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 Rp 109.7K

$0.56 LKR 188

983.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

$1.22 LKR 408

-29.51%

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

$26.6K Rp 480.7M

$26.6K LKR 8.9M

-0.10%

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

$32.5K Rp 588.6M

$34.5K LKR 11.6M

-5.60%

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

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

$25.15 LKR 8,426

214.19%

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

$4.09 Rp 74.0K

$4.23 LKR 1,417

-3.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.85 Rp 431.2K

$5.10 LKR 1,710

367.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 114.9K

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 Rp 72.5K

$3.31 LKR 1,107

21.15%

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

$297 Rp 5.4M

$37.49 LKR 12.6K

692.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,602 Rp 119.4M

$438 LKR 146.7K

1407.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 Rp 966.0K

$28.09 LKR 9,411

90.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.11 Rp 689.2K

$19.49 LKR 6,531

95.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

$68.6 LKR 23.0K

29.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

$38.16 LKR 12.8K

100.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 Rp 18.4M

$166 LKR 55.7K

513.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 Rp 12.3M

$117 LKR 39.3K

479.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,469 Rp 62.7M

$498 LKR 166.8K

596.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 Rp 37.8M

$166 LKR 55.8K

1155.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,729 Rp 49.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,295 Rp 41.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 Rp 3.0M

$102 LKR 34.3K

59.80%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Matara: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $166 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 60% 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 $25.00 in Matara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $249 – 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 138%, 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 $2,088 per month in Ubud, Bali and $878 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 $1,392 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 $37.49 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 $1,392. 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.