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