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 $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $598 in Matara, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $867 in Matara, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,275 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,136 in Matara, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 130% more than Matara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Matara is 57% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

$4.32 LKR 1,421

-22.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

$26.06 LKR 8,564

37.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

$7.79 LKR 2,560

-27.73%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

$2.48 LKR 816

13.71%

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

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

$0.69 LKR 227

153.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

$0.27 LKR 89.1

196.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

$2.28 LKR 748

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$3.09 LKR 1,015

39.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

$1.56 LKR 514

3.21%

White Bread (500g)

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

$0.52 LKR 172

336.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

$0.79 LKR 260

48.10%

Eggs

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

$1.46 LKR 480

48.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

$13.18 LKR 4,331

33.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

$5.20 LKR 1,708

-22.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

$7.26 LKR 2,384

67.77%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

$6.95 LKR 2,285

-47.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

$0.44 LKR 144

272.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

$4.30 LKR 1,413

-46.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

$0.86 LKR 283

127.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

$0.98 LKR 321

87.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

$0.62 LKR 204

282.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

$0.91 LKR 299

15.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 Rp 9,560

$0.45 LKR 149

20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

$9.70 LKR 3,186

-76.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

$13.99 LKR 4,597

64.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

$1.80 LKR 591

30.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

$2.93 LKR 962

4.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,365

$0.29 LKR 94.8

-13.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,631

$0.38 LKR 126

28.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 Rp 8,349

$0.36 LKR 117

30.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

$0.87 LKR 285

543.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

$1.28 LKR 419

-36.72%

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

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

$30.4K LKR 10.0M

-17.76%

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

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

$42.1K LKR 13.8M

-26.26%

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

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

$45.58 LKR 15.0K

81.48%

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

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

$4.12 LKR 1,355

57.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

$21.35 LKR 7,016

-11.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$4.47 LKR 1,469

-3.80%

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

$494 Rp 8.7M

$38.10 LKR 12.5K

1197.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

$1,210 LKR 397.5K

389.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

$20.00 LKR 6,571

131.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

$17.05 LKR 5,602

113.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

$79.5 LKR 26.1K

1.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

$42.56 LKR 14.0K

85.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

$180 LKR 59.3K

517.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$693 Rp 12.2M

$92.6 LKR 30.4K

648.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 2.9M

$105 LKR 34.4K

59.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

12.69

8.59%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Last update for Matara: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $180 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $26.00 in Matara. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $294 vs $232 – 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 130%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,067 per month in Ubud, Bali and $898 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 $1,378 in Ubud, Bali and $598 in Matara. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Ubud, Bali and $38.10 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 $598, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,378. 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.