😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,392 in Ubud, Bali versus $558 in Mataram.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,557 in Ubud, Bali versus $861 in Mataram.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,723 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,163 in Mataram.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 150% more expensive than in Mataram, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Mataram is 58% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Mataram
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57Rp 64.5K
$1.11Rp 20.1K
221.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.32Rp 583.4K
$11.00Rp 198.5K
193.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.01Rp 90.4K
$2.28Rp 41.1K
119.74%
Cappuccino
$2.82Rp 51.0K
$1.80Rp 32.5K
56.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35Rp 24.4K
$0.55Rp 9,869
145.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73Rp 13.2K
$0.36Rp 6,535
102.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.93Rp 53.0K
$2.63Rp 47.5K
11.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94Rp 71.1K
$3.67Rp 66.2K
7.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Mataram
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78Rp 32.1K
$1.53Rp 27.7K
16.34%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45Rp 44.2K
$1.61Rp 29.1K
52.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.15Rp 20.7K
$0.76Rp 13.8K
51.32%
Eggs
$2.41Rp 43.6K
$1.37Rp 24.8K
75.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.33Rp 258.7K
$3.31Rp 59.7K
332.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.19Rp 75.6K
$3.59Rp 64.8K
16.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.06Rp 217.7K
$5.99Rp 108.2K
101.34%
Apples(1kg)
$3.64Rp 65.7K
$1.72Rp 31.0K
111.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57Rp 28.3K
$1.22Rp 22.0K
28.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.79Rp 50.3K
$1.89Rp 34.1K
47.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24Rp 40.5K
$0.75Rp 13.5K
198.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98Rp 35.7K
$0.84Rp 15.2K
135.71%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28Rp 41.1K
$1.80Rp 32.5K
26.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05Rp 19.0K
$0.48Rp 8,639
118.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79Rp 14.2K
$0.32Rp 5,695
146.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.19Rp 57.6K
$1.78Rp 32.1K
79.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.49Rp 424.1K
$15.33Rp 276.7K
53.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90Rp 52.3K
$2.36Rp 42.6K
22.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76Rp 49.7K
$3.58Rp 64.6K
-22.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Mataram
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,813
$0.63Rp 11.5K
-57.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.37Rp 151.1K
$18.41Rp 332.4K
-54.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 8,167
$0.51Rp 9,185
-11.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.46Rp 8,298
$0.31Rp 5,661
48.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.07Rp 109.6K
$3.08Rp 55.7K
97.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.86Rp 15.6K
$0.69Rp 12.4K
24.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KRp 480.0M
$23.3KRp 420.7M
14.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5KRp 587.6M
$27.5KRp 496.7M
18.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Mataram
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.0Rp 1.4M
$50.4Rp 909.6K
56.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09Rp 73.9K
$4.32Rp 78.1K
-5.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.85Rp 430.5K
$19.37Rp 349.8K
23.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Mataram
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.8Rp 1.8M
$26.95Rp 486.5K
266.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35Rp 114.7K
$7.48Rp 135.0K
-15.11%
Cinema Ticket
$4.01Rp 72.3K
$2.10Rp 38.0K
90.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Mataram
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$297Rp 5.4M
$91.5Rp 1.7M
224.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,602Rp 119.2M
$4,217Rp 76.1M
56.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Mataram
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4Rp 964.5K
$36.84Rp 665.2K
45.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.11Rp 688.1K
$24.43Rp 441.0K
56.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.7Rp 1.6M
$61.5Rp 1.1M
44.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.6Rp 1.4M
$40.48Rp 730.8K
89.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Mataram
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,020Rp 18.4M
$76.8Rp 1.4M
1228.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$680Rp 12.3M
$128Rp 2.3M
432.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,469Rp 62.6M
$153Rp 2.8M
2160.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,090Rp 37.7M
$259Rp 4.7M
706.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,729Rp 49.3M
$1,155Rp 20.8M
136.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,295Rp 41.4M
$679Rp 12.3M
238.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Mataram
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$164Rp 3.0M
$192Rp 3.5M
-14.81%
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: July 28, 2026
Last update for Mataram: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali and $76.8 in Mataram. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mataram pays 17% 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 $298 vs $174 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 150% in total monthly costs ($1,392 vs $558 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 17% 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: $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $76.8 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 $558 in Mataram versus $1,392 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 150% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared