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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $735 in Mbabane, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,154 in Mbabane, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,572 in Mbabane, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 93% more than Mbabane, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Mbabane is 45% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

$2.97 SZL 48.22

19.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

$28.32 SZL 460

15.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

$2.25 SZL 36.55

120.00%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

$1.97 SZL 32.07

37.56%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

$0.92 SZL 14.95

45.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.58 SZL 9.47

20.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

$1.73 SZL 28.06

68.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

$1.73 SZL 28.02

128.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

$1.07 SZL 17.36

69.16%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

$0.74 SZL 12.00

240.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

$1.22 SZL 19.81

-4.92%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

$1.71 SZL 27.72

43.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

$8.95 SZL 145

64.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

$4.87 SZL 79.1

-11.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

$5.32 SZL 86.4

128.20%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

$1.47 SZL 23.83

161.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

$0.75 SZL 12.19

108.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

$0.95 SZL 15.36

197.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

$1.42 SZL 23.03

64.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

$1.06 SZL 17.18

80.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

$1.26 SZL 20.50

74.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

$0.52 SZL 8.48

94.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$0.72 SZL 11.76

8.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

$2.56 SZL 41.64

29.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

$5.99 SZL 97.3

296.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

$1.45 SZL 23.53

92.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

$1.43 SZL 23.24

100.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,800

$1.10 SZL 17.78

-75.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

$29.05 SZL 472

-72.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,150

$3.33 SZL 54.1

-86.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,037

$2.64 SZL 42.89

-82.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

$3.41 SZL 55.3

78.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$1.13 SZL 18.30

-30.09%

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

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

$16.8K SZL 273.5K

55.28%

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

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

$21.1K SZL 342.3K

52.38%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$75.4 SZL 1,224

6.08%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

$35.62 SZL 578

-88.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

$27.46 SZL 446

-14.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$27.82 SZL 452

254.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

$5.13 SZL 83.4

29.24%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

$3.58 SZL 58.2

15.92%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$106 SZL 1,713

188.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

$4,619 SZL 75.0K

43.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

$44.99 SZL 731

23.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

$23.48 SZL 381

63.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$72.1 SZL 1,171

22.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$82.1 SZL 1,332

-5.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$264 SZL 4,283

281.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$186 SZL 3,014

263.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

$496 SZL 8,061

593.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

$367 SZL 5,959

455.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

$492 SZL 7,997

476.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

$362 SZL 5,871

526.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$687 SZL 11.1K

-75.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

11.62

14.29%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Mbabane: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $264 in Mbabane. 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 316% higher in Mbabane, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $28.00 in Mbabane. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $158 – making Mbabane 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 Mbabane: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 93% more than Mbabane, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,103 in Mbabane. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mbabane, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 262% less in Mbabane. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $106 in Mbabane. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mbabane, where all-in costs run around $735, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Mbabane it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mbabane costs $735 versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Mbabane. 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.