Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Medea

For one person, living is cheaper in Medea: $453 a month against $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $10,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Medea, Algeria
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Medea
🇩🇿 Algeria
$453
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Medea

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Medea actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,349 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $453 in Medea, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,349
  • Medea $453

A couple spends around $2,305 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $778 in Medea, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,305
  • Medea $778

A family of three spends $3,261 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,103 in Medea, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,261
  • Medea $1,103

Ubud, Bali costs about 198% more than Medea, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Medea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32 Rp 60.3K
$1.91 DZD 258
73.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.64 Rp 647.3K
$28.37 DZD 3,835
25.63%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.53 Rp 100.5K
$3.80 DZD 514
45.53%
Cappuccino
$2.72 Rp 49.4K
$0.36 DZD 49.22
655.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 Rp 30.9K
$0.43 DZD 58.2
295.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
$0.21 DZD 27.71
261.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 48.2K
$2.19 DZD 296
21.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 Rp 79.6K
$2.18 DZD 295
100.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Medea
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 Rp 27.1K
$0.88 DZD 119
69.32%
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 Rp 41.3K
$0.08 DZD 10.18
2750.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
$1.10 DZD 148
8.18%
Eggs
$2.04 Rp 37.0K
$1.19 DZD 161
71.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.70 Rp 321.5K
$7.91 DZD 1,069
123.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.96 Rp 72.0K
$3.93 DZD 531
0.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.19 Rp 221.4K
$14.49 DZD 1,959
-15.87%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 Rp 66.4K
$2.04 DZD 275
79.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 27.6K
$2.77 DZD 374
-45.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
$1.07 DZD 144
108.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.8K
$0.60 DZD 80.7
228.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 33.6K
$0.62 DZD 83.2
198.39%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 44.0K
$0.49 DZD 66.0
393.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 18.0K
$0.81 DZD 110
22.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,324
$0.27 DZD 36.52
88.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 Rp 40.4K
$2.16 DZD 292
2.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.24 Rp 403.9K
$6.84 DZD 924
225.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 Rp 41.0K
$1.28 DZD 172
76.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.9K
$1.87 DZD 253
58.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Medea
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,559
$0.23 DZD 30.49
8.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.82 Rp 142.1K
$6.89 DZD 932
13.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,982
$0.54 DZD 73.6
-18.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,811
$0.46 DZD 62.3
-6.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 Rp 98.2K
$5.55 DZD 750
-2.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 15.0K
$0.32 DZD 43.89
156.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K Rp 433.0M
$19.7K DZD 2.7M
21.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 576.6M
$34.4K DZD 4.7M
-7.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Medea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$18.29 DZD 2,472
332.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 117.1K
$7.51 DZD 1,015
-14.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.58 Rp 337.4K
$12.12 DZD 1,638
53.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Medea
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.48 Rp 898.7K
$22.61 DZD 3,056
118.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.65 Rp 320.5K
$1.89 DZD 256
833.86%
Cinema Ticket
$4.27 Rp 77.6K
$3.27 DZD 442
30.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Medea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$491 Rp 8.9M
$39.39 DZD 5,325
1145.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,674 Rp 103.0M
$6,300 DZD 851.5K
-9.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Medea
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.64 Rp 810.7K
$19.54 DZD 2,641
128.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.95 Rp 634.8K
$31.20 DZD 4,216
12.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 Rp 1.5M
$31.23 DZD 4,221
155.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
$54.9 DZD 7,414
44.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Medea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 Rp 20.4M
$141 DZD 19.1K
695.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$671 Rp 12.2M
$91.6 DZD 12.4K
632.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,565 Rp 64.7M
$268 DZD 36.2K
1231.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,723 Rp 31.3M
$197 DZD 26.7K
772.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,732 Rp 49.6M
$990 DZD 133.7K
176.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,284 Rp 41.5M
$1,059 DZD 143.1K
115.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Medea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
$311 DZD 42.1K
-47.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
5
175.60%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Last update for Medea: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$672
Medea
$92 86.4% $580
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$288
Medea
$173 40.1% $116
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$108
Medea
$49 54.6% $59
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Medea
$62 42.7% $46
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$104
Medea
$38 63.6% $66
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$58
Medea
$29 49.8% $29
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$11
Medea
$11 6.8% $0.8

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,125 in Ubud, Bali versus $141 in Medea. 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 90% higher in Medea, 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 $36 in Ubud, Bali versus $28 in Medea. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $173 – making Medea the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇩🇿 Medea
🕒 Local time
16:38 4:38 PM
09:38 9:38 AM
7 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
138,355
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

DZD, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 18,161 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,333 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.92 EUR).

Algerian Dinar exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 135 DZD (1,000 DZD = 7.4 USD). 1 EUR = 151 DZD (1,000 DZD = 6.61 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Medea 12,580 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Medea

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Medea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medea cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 198%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,023 per month in Ubud, Bali and $679 in Medea. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medea, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $141 there versus $1,125 in Ubud, Bali.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or in Medea?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $36 in Ubud, Bali and $28 in Medea. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali and in Medea?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,349 in Ubud, Bali and $453 in Medea. That makes Medea about 66% cheaper.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Medea?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Medea, where all-in costs run around $453, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,349. In Medea it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ubud, Bali or Medea more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medea – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Medea?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Medea is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 66% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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