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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $544 in Molo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,348 in Ubud, Bali versus $882 in Molo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,220 in Molo.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 151% more expensive than in Molo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Molo is 60% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Molo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44 Rp 61.0K
$4.55 KES 589
-24.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.31 Rp 644.5K
$35.29 KES 4,566
2.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.71 Rp 101.3K
$6.03 KES 781
-5.31%
Cappuccino
$2.67 Rp 47.4K
$2.75 KES 356
-2.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 Rp 31.1K
$0.58 KES 75.6
201.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 Rp 15.5K
$0.64 KES 82.5
35.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 Rp 52.4K
$2.27 KES 293
29.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52 Rp 80.2K
$2.65 KES 343
70.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Molo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
$0.94 KES 122
72.34%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 Rp 41.4K
$0.58 KES 74.4
301.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 19.7K
$1.86 KES 241
-40.32%
Eggs
$2.20 Rp 39.1K
$1.70 KES 220
29.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.69 Rp 314.0K
$10.67 KES 1,380
65.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.10 Rp 72.7K
$6.33 KES 819
-35.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.18 Rp 216.1K
$6.11 KES 791
99.35%
Apples (1kg)
$3.71 Rp 65.8K
$3.31 KES 428
12.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.2K
$1.07 KES 138
48.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.5K
$2.06 KES 267
10.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.95 Rp 34.7K
$1.13 KES 146
72.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.8K
$1.14 KES 148
67.54%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.4K
$1.09 KES 141
113.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 17.9K
$0.67 KES 87.3
50.75%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 9,795
$0.74 KES 95.8
-25.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 Rp 39.6K
$3.44 KES 445
-35.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.07 Rp 409.5K
$11.61 KES 1,503
98.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 Rp 42.9K
$2.32 KES 300
4.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 Rp 53.2K
$2.74 KES 354
9.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Molo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,825
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.98 Rp 159.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,586
$1.52 KES 197
-68.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,697
$1.51 KES 195
-71.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.64 Rp 100.1K
$2.92 KES 378
93.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 14.3K
$1.57 KES 204
-49.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K Rp 442.7M
$21.7K KES 2.8M
15.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 562.8M
$20.5K KES 2.7M
54.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Molo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
$62.5 KES 8,082
30.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49 Rp 115.2K
$15.75 KES 2,038
-58.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.77 Rp 333.1K
$35.67 KES 4,616
-47.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Molo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.9 Rp 1.0M
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.73 Rp 332.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.54 Rp 80.5K
$7.90 KES 1,022
-42.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Molo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$481 Rp 8.5M
$246 KES 31.8K
95.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,711 Rp 101.4M
$11.4K KES 1.5M
-50.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Molo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.52 Rp 807.9K
$27.81 KES 3,599
63.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.88 Rp 636.9K
$28.43 KES 3,679
26.20%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
$68.9 KES 8,909
16.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
$58.0 KES 7,498
35.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Molo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,115 Rp 19.8M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$698 Rp 12.4M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,637 Rp 64.5M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,737 Rp 30.8M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 Rp 49.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,290 Rp 40.6M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Molo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$168 Rp 3.0M
$386 KES 49.9K
-56.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
14.71
-6.32%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Molo: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Molo pays 129% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $35.00 in Molo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $295 vs $206 per month, with Molo 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 Molo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Molo cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Molo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 151% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ubud, Bali or Molo?
On paper, salaries run 129% lower in Molo. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Molo?
Supermarket bills run roughly 43% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali and in Molo?
All in, you'll spend $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $544 in Molo – a 151% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Molo?
At $544 in Molo versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Molo but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Molo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Molo more family-friendly?
For families, Molo 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 Molo?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Molo 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 Molo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 151% 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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