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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,394 in Ubud, Bali versus $574 in Mataram.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,551 in Ubud, Bali versus $866 in Mataram.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,708 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,157 in Mataram.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 143% more expensive than in Mataram, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Mataram is 57% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Mataram
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.40 Rp 60.6K
$1.11 Rp 19.8K
206.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.38 Rp 577.1K
$11.11 Rp 197.9K
191.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.00 Rp 89.1K
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
114.59%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 50.3K
$1.79 Rp 31.9K
57.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 24.5K
$0.55 Rp 9,747
150.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.0K
$0.37 Rp 6,508
97.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.98 Rp 53.2K
$2.64 Rp 47.1K
12.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97 Rp 70.8K
$3.67 Rp 65.4K
8.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Mataram
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 Rp 32.0K
$1.50 Rp 26.8K
19.33%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
$1.64 Rp 29.2K
50.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.4K
$0.77 Rp 13.8K
55.84%
Eggs
$2.39 Rp 42.6K
$1.40 Rp 25.0K
70.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.40 Rp 256.6K
$3.16 Rp 56.2K
355.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.28 Rp 76.4K
$3.66 Rp 65.3K
16.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.82 Rp 210.6K
$6.21 Rp 110.7K
90.34%
Apples (1kg)
$3.78 Rp 67.4K
$1.66 Rp 29.5K
127.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.1K
$1.20 Rp 21.3K
35.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.80 Rp 49.9K
$1.86 Rp 33.2K
50.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 Rp 40.3K
$0.74 Rp 13.2K
205.41%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 Rp 35.6K
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
135.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.21 Rp 39.4K
$1.88 Rp 33.6K
17.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 Rp 19.1K
$0.45 Rp 7,987
137.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 Rp 13.6K
$0.31 Rp 5,595
145.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 Rp 55.7K
$1.83 Rp 32.7K
71.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.81 Rp 424.4K
$15.40 Rp 274.4K
54.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.84 Rp 50.6K
$2.45 Rp 43.7K
15.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.5K
$3.61 Rp 64.4K
-22.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Mataram
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,755
$0.59 Rp 10.5K
-54.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.37 Rp 149.1K
$18.55 Rp 330.6K
-54.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,082
$0.47 Rp 8,420
-4.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,624
$0.29 Rp 5,080
48.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.98 Rp 106.5K
$3.14 Rp 55.9K
90.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 14.3K
$0.68 Rp 12.1K
17.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.8K Rp 459.9M
$23.8K Rp 423.9M
8.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.8K Rp 566.8M
$27.4K Rp 489.1M
15.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Mataram
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.7 Rp 1.4M
$50.3 Rp 896.4K
60.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.14 Rp 73.7K
$4.36 Rp 77.6K
-5.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.12 Rp 429.8K
$19.69 Rp 350.8K
22.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Mataram
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$97.8 Rp 1.7M
$26.88 Rp 479.1K
263.65%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.64 Rp 118.4K
$7.90 Rp 140.8K
-15.95%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 71.9K
$2.10 Rp 37.5K
92.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Mataram
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$297 Rp 5.3M
$92.2 Rp 1.6M
222.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,590 Rp 117.4M
$4,306 Rp 76.7M
53.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Mataram
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.1 Rp 982.6K
$37.39 Rp 666.4K
47.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.51 Rp 686.2K
$24.81 Rp 442.1K
55.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
$60.7 Rp 1.1M
41.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.0 Rp 1.4M
$39.89 Rp 710.8K
95.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Mataram
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$985 Rp 17.6M
$76.0 Rp 1.4M
1195.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 Rp 11.8M
$130 Rp 2.3M
411.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,446 Rp 61.4M
$153 Rp 2.7M
2154.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,042 Rp 36.4M
$261 Rp 4.7M
682.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,829 Rp 50.4M
$1,232 Rp 22.0M
129.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,282 Rp 40.7M
$710 Rp 12.7M
221.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Mataram
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$169 Rp 3.0M
$195 Rp 3.5M
-13.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
9
47.56%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 14, 2026

Last update for Mataram: June 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $985 in Ubud, Bali and $76.0 in Mataram. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mataram pays 15% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $11.00 in Mataram for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $299 vs $175 per month, with Mataram cheaper across the board.

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 Mataram: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and in Mataram?
Ubud, Bali and Mataram differ by about 143% in total monthly costs ($1,394 vs $574 including rent). Mataram is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 15% lower in Mataram. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Mataram?
Rent for a central apartment: $985 in Ubud, Bali versus $76.0 in Mataram. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 71% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Mataram – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $574 in Mataram versus $1,394 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mataram but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Mataram the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Mataram?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ubud, Bali or Mataram safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Mataram are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ubud, Bali or Mataram?
Expats usually find Mataram gentler on the wallet – expenses run 143% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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