Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Merced, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Merced, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,518 in Merced, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,348 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,680 in Merced, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,841 in Merced, CA.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 46% less than in Merced, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 0% above, Merced, CA 84% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 Rp 60.9K

$17.60 $17.60

-80.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.31 Rp 643.0K

$40.46 $40.46

-10.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 Rp 101.0K

$12.09 $12.09

-52.77%

Cappuccino

$2.67 Rp 47.3K

$5.97 $5.97

-55.28%

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

$1.75 Rp 31.0K

$2.47 $2.47

-29.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 Rp 15.4K

$1.48 $1.48

-41.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.3K

$9.13 $9.13

-67.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 Rp 80.0K

$10.12 $10.12

-55.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$1.24 $1.24

30.65%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$4.57 $4.57

-49.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 Rp 19.6K

$4.06 $4.06

-72.66%

Eggs

$2.20 Rp 39.0K

$5.74 $5.74

-61.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.69 Rp 313.3K

$19.61 $19.61

-9.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 Rp 72.5K

$14.35 $14.35

-71.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 215.6K

$22.25 $22.25

-45.26%

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 Rp 65.6K

$4.35 $4.35

-14.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.1K

$2.01 $2.01

-20.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.4K

$5.40 $5.40

-57.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 Rp 34.6K

$5.44 $5.44

-64.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.7K

$3.65 $3.65

-47.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$2.99 $2.99

-22.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 17.8K

$2.45 $2.45

-58.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,773

$2.57 $2.57

-78.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 Rp 39.5K

$11.75 $11.75

-81.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.07 Rp 408.6K

$15.63 $15.63

47.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 Rp 42.8K

$2.43 $2.43

-0.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.1K

$3.43 $3.43

-12.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,814

$1.46 $1.46

-81.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.98 Rp 159.1K

$60.9 $60.9

-85.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,566

$3.01 $3.01

-84.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,679

$1.64 $1.64

-73.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.64 Rp 99.9K

$26.71 $26.71

-78.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

$1.29 $1.29

-37.98%

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

$24.9K Rp 441.7M

$37.2K $37.2K

-32.91%

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

$31.7K Rp 561.5M

$26.3K $26.3K

20.65%

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

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

$237 $237

-65.57%

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

$6.49 Rp 115.0K

$30.19 $30.19

-78.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.77 Rp 332.4K

$83.3 $83.3

-77.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

$33.93 $33.93

67.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 Rp 331.7K

$14.01 $14.01

33.69%

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 Rp 80.4K

$16.93 $16.93

-73.18%

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

$481 Rp 8.5M

$1,789 $1,789

-73.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,711 Rp 101.1M

$39.2K $39.2K

-85.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.52 Rp 806.0K

$60.1 $60.1

-24.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 Rp 635.4K

$51.4 $51.4

-30.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$101 $101

-20.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

$119 $119

-33.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 Rp 19.7M

$1,598 $1,598

-30.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$698 Rp 12.4M

$1,093 $1,093

-36.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,637 Rp 64.4M

$2,037 $2,037

78.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

$1,894 $1,894

-8.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.3M

$2,925 $2,925

-4.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.5M

$2,866 $2,866

-20.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 Rp 3.0M

$3,236 $3,236

-94.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

6.17

123.34%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Merced, CA: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali and $1,598 in Merced, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Merced, CA pays 1826% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $40.00 in Merced, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $295 vs $485 per month, with Ubud, Bali 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 Merced, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali and Merced, CA differ by about 84% in total monthly costs ($1,368 vs $2,518 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 1826% lower in Merced, CA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,598 in Merced, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $481 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,789 in Merced, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 64% higher in Merced, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,518 in Merced, CA, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Merced, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Merced, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 84% less than in Merced, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.