😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $577 in Mataram.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $888 in Mataram.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,732 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,200 in Mataram.
😐Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 149% more expensive than Mataram, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 7% above, Mataram is 57% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Mataram
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57Rp 61.9K
$1.05Rp 18.3K
240.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58Rp 564.7K
$11.02Rp 190.9K
195.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.07Rp 87.8K
$2.25Rp 39.0K
125.33%
Cappuccino
$2.83Rp 49.0K
$1.87Rp 32.4K
51.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34Rp 23.2K
$0.55Rp 9,529
143.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69Rp 12.0K
$0.36Rp 6,243
91.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.99Rp 51.8K
$2.63Rp 45.6K
13.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85Rp 66.7K
$3.78Rp 65.6K
1.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Mataram
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74Rp 30.2K
$1.56Rp 27.0K
11.54%
White Bread(500g)
$2.54Rp 44.0K
$1.68Rp 29.1K
51.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19Rp 20.6K
$0.83Rp 14.4K
43.37%
Eggs
$2.43Rp 42.0K
$1.36Rp 23.6K
78.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.66Rp 254.1K
$3.32Rp 57.5K
341.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.18Rp 72.4K
$3.53Rp 61.2K
18.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94Rp 206.9K
$6.29Rp 109.1K
89.83%
Apples(1kg)
$3.69Rp 63.9K
$1.70Rp 29.5K
117.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61Rp 27.8K
$1.21Rp 21.0K
33.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.69Rp 46.5K
$1.86Rp 32.3K
44.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 40.4K
$0.79Rp 13.7K
194.94%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 33.0K
$0.79Rp 13.7K
141.77%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19Rp 37.9K
$1.89Rp 32.8K
15.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 18.3K
$0.47Rp 8,180
125.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72Rp 12.5K
$0.31Rp 5,443
132.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13Rp 54.3K
$1.79Rp 31.1K
74.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.49Rp 407.1K
$16.27Rp 282.1K
44.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74Rp 47.5K
$2.46Rp 42.6K
11.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88Rp 49.9K
$3.80Rp 65.9K
-24.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Mataram
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,029
$0.63Rp 10.9K
-53.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.17Rp 141.6K
$18.37Rp 318.5K
-55.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 7,863
$0.48Rp 8,285
-6.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42Rp 7,305
$0.29Rp 5,024
44.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.16Rp 106.7K
$3.16Rp 54.7K
94.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84Rp 14.6K
$0.65Rp 11.2K
29.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2KRp 454.9M
$23.4KRp 405.9M
12.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5KRp 562.9M
$28.0KRp 485.3M
16.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Mataram
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.4Rp 1.4M
$50.2Rp 870.0K
56.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95Rp 68.5K
$4.39Rp 76.2K
-10.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40Rp 423.0K
$19.07Rp 330.6K
27.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Mataram
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$96.5Rp 1.7M
$26.67Rp 462.3K
261.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35Rp 110.0K
$7.66Rp 132.7K
-17.10%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04Rp 70.0K
$2.10Rp 36.3K
92.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Mataram
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$303Rp 5.2M
$90.8Rp 1.6M
233.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,523Rp 113.1M
$4,319Rp 74.9M
51.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Mataram
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8Rp 933.1K
$36.80Rp 637.8K
46.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98Rp 658.3K
$24.84Rp 430.6K
52.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.8Rp 1.5M
$61.1Rp 1.1M
42.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9Rp 1.4M
$40.16Rp 696.1K
96.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Mataram
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,012Rp 17.5M
$76.9Rp 1.3M
1215.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$674Rp 11.7M
$128Rp 2.2M
425.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,390Rp 58.8M
$156Rp 2.7M
2067.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,098Rp 36.4M
$265Rp 4.6M
692.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,985Rp 51.7M
$1,199Rp 20.8M
148.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,339Rp 40.5M
$783Rp 13.6M
198.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Mataram
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$173Rp 3.0M
$202Rp 3.5M
-14.50%
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: April 28, 2026
Last update for Mataram: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali and $76.9 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: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $11.00 in Mataram for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $179 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 Mataram?
Ubud, Bali and Mataram differ by about 149% in total monthly costs ($1,438 vs $577 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, Mataram earns 17% less. 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 Mataram?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $76.9 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 66% 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 $33.00 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 $577 in Mataram versus $1,438 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 149% 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