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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,120 in Medias.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,701 in Medias.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,694 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,283 in Medias.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 25% more expensive than Medias, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 4% above, Medias is 17% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Medias
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
$12.17 RON 55.1
-70.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
$51.2 RON 231
-36.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
$7.85 RON 35.50
-38.09%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
$3.53 RON 15.99
-22.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
$1.91 RON 8.66
-30.89%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
$2.02 RON 9.13
-65.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
$3.29 RON 14.88
-11.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
$3.38 RON 15.30
12.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Medias
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
$1.40 RON 6.32
22.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
$1.31 RON 5.90
88.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
$1.79 RON 8.08
-32.96%
Eggs
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
$3.29 RON 14.90
-25.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
$8.82 RON 39.89
63.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
$6.96 RON 31.49
-38.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
$12.02 RON 54.4
1.58%
Apples (1kg)
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
$1.18 RON 5.32
211.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
$1.64 RON 7.42
-5.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
$1.62 RON 7.31
72.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
$2.49 RON 11.26
-6.43%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
$1.03 RON 4.65
91.26%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
$1.08 RON 4.88
113.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$0.95 RON 4.30
11.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
$0.82 RON 3.73
-10.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
$5.72 RON 25.85
-42.66%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
$8.88 RON 40.17
156.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
$1.10 RON 4.96
155.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$1.65 RON 7.48
68.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Medias
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,217
$0.72 RON 3.27
-59.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
$19.52 RON 88.3
-58.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,047
$0.76 RON 3.45
-40.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,094
$0.77 RON 3.48
-41.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
$6.94 RON 31.39
-10.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
$1.49 RON 6.73
-42.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
$28.5K RON 129.0K
-8.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
$28.1K RON 126.9K
12.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Medias
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
$167 RON 756
-51.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
$8.30 RON 37.54
-51.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
$9.15 RON 41.39
166.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Medias
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
$40.75 RON 184
139.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
$19.12 RON 86.5
-66.27%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
$6.83 RON 30.89
-40.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Medias
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$453 RON 2,051
-32.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
$6,526 RON 29.5K
1.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Medias
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
$66.4 RON 300
-18.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
$42.48 RON 192
-8.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
$97.1 RON 439
-11.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
$99.2 RON 449
-22.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Medias
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$986 Rp 17.7M
$392 RON 1,774
151.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$658 Rp 11.8M
$296 RON 1,338
122.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
$594 RON 2,687
467.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
$438 RON 1,981
371.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
$1,729 RON 7,819
58.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
$1,270 RON 5,744
75.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Medias
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$163 Rp 2.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
7.7
72.47%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Last update for Medias: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $986 in Ubud, Bali and $392 in Medias. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $51.0 in Medias. Groceries flip the comparison at $297 vs $225, with Medias cheaper for home cooking.

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 Medias: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medias cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Medias is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 25% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,106 in Ubud, Bali and $1,679 in Medias to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Medias?
Rent for a central apartment: $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $392 in Medias. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $304 in Ubud, Bali versus $453 in Medias. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and Medias?
Supermarket bills run roughly 32% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Medias?
At $1,120 in Medias versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medias but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Medias the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Medias more family-friendly?
For families, Medias is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Medias?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Medias are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Medias gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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