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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,233 in Merida, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,946 in Merida, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,660 in Merida, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 14% more than Merida, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Merida is 8% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.0K

$10.49 MX$184

-67.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 580.1K

$50.7 MX$889

-36.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 86.9K

$7.98 MX$140

-39.35%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

$3.67 MX$64.4

-25.07%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

$1.18 MX$20.69

16.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

$1.07 MX$18.69

-29.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.7K

$2.86 MX$50.1

4.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.1K

$3.91 MX$68.6

-1.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

$1.37 MX$24.11

27.01%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$2.49 MX$43.75

-1.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

$1.57 MX$27.55

-25.48%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.6K

$1.91 MX$33.53

27.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 260.2K

$10.21 MX$179

42.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 78.0K

$7.12 MX$125

-38.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 214.9K

$11.15 MX$196

7.44%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.7K

$2.87 MX$50.3

29.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$1.39 MX$24.39

17.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.2K

$2.15 MX$37.74

27.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

$1.71 MX$29.96

30.99%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.4K

$2.11 MX$36.94

-9.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

$1.96 MX$34.31

16.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$1.07 MX$18.85

-0.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$0.91 MX$16.00

-20.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 58.9K

$4.12 MX$72.3

-20.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.1K

$11.46 MX$201

102.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.8K

$1.30 MX$22.86

113.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.0K

$2.86 MX$50.2

-4.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,778

$0.61 MX$10.70

-55.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.4K

$18.93 MX$332

-57.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,659

$2.34 MX$41.01

-79.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,532

$3.34 MX$58.5

-87.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.6K

$6.81 MX$119

-8.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$1.27 MX$22.22

-36.22%

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

$26.6K Rp 477.4M

$15.7K MX$275.9K

69.21%

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

$32.2K Rp 577.4M

$21.2K MX$371.5K

51.99%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$84.4 MX$1,480

-7.17%

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

$4.07 Rp 73.0K

$23.63 MX$414

-82.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 436.4K

$29.08 MX$510

-16.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$28.26 MX$496

248.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.7K

$13.85 MX$243

-54.22%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.5K

$4.60 MX$80.8

-13.26%

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

$305 Rp 5.5M

$382 MX$6,701

-20.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.2M

$3,542 MX$62.1K

87.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 971.2K

$56.0 MX$983

-3.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 678.2K

$48.84 MX$857

-22.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

$90.4 MX$1,586

-3.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

$86.2 MX$1,512

-11.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.8M

$517 MX$9,062

91.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.1M

$437 MX$7,658

54.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.5M

$1,063 MX$18.6K

217.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

$810 MX$14.2K

153.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.3M

$2,357 MX$41.3K

19.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 39.9M

$1,280 MX$22.5K

73.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$620 MX$10.9K

-73.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

11.68

13.70%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Merida: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $517 in Merida. 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 271% higher in Merida, 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $51.0 in Merida. Groceries tell a different story – $297 in Ubud, Bali vs $253 in Merida – so Merida wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Merida: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 14%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,849 in Merida. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $305 per month in Ubud, Bali and $382 in Merida. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 18% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Merida, where all-in costs run around $1,233, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In Merida it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Merida – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Merida. 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.