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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,101 in Mortsel, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,557 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,152 in Mortsel, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,723 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,202 in Mortsel, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 34% cheaper than Mortsel, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Mortsel sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 5%, Mortsel by 58%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Mortsel
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.6K
$22.83 €19.90
-84.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.32 Rp 584.4K
$114 €99.2
-71.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.01 Rp 90.5K
$12.52 €10.91
-59.98%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 51.1K
$4.14 €3.61
-31.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 Rp 24.4K
$3.43 €2.99
-60.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
$3.04 €2.65
-75.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.93 Rp 53.0K
$5.54 €4.83
-47.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94 Rp 71.2K
$4.61 €4.02
-14.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Mortsel
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.78 Rp 32.2K
$1.33 €1.16
33.83%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 Rp 44.3K
$2.65 €2.31
-7.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 Rp 20.8K
$2.27 €1.98
-49.34%
Eggs
$2.41 Rp 43.7K
$4.27 €3.72
-43.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 Rp 259.1K
$17.46 €15.22
-17.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.19 Rp 75.7K
$11.91 €10.38
-64.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.06 Rp 218.1K
$22.15 €19.31
-45.55%
Apples (1kg)
$3.64 Rp 65.8K
$3.00 €2.62
21.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$2.43 €2.11
-35.39%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 50.4K
$2.38 €2.07
17.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.5K
$3.07 €2.67
-27.04%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 Rp 35.8K
$1.82 €1.59
8.79%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 41.2K
$2.04 €1.78
11.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 Rp 19.1K
$1.33 €1.16
-21.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$0.81 €0.70
-2.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.19 Rp 57.7K
$12.92 €11.27
-75.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 424.8K
$8.94 €7.79
162.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 Rp 52.4K
$1.94 €1.69
49.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 Rp 49.8K
$2.32 €2.02
18.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Mortsel
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,821
$2.64 €2.30
-89.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.37 Rp 151.3K
$57.2 €49.86
-85.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,180
$5.67 €4.94
-92.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,311
$2.53 €2.20
-81.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.07 Rp 109.7K
$46.63 €40.65
-86.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
$1.84 €1.61
-53.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 480.7M
$33.9K €29.6K
-21.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 588.6M
$33.2K €28.9K
-1.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Mortsel
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.0 Rp 1.4M
$228 €199
-65.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09 Rp 74.0K
$23.27 €20.28
-82.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.85 Rp 431.2K
$51.8 €45.12
-53.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Mortsel
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.8 Rp 1.8M
$38.20 €33.30
158.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 114.9K
$17.13 €14.93
-62.93%
Cinema Ticket
$4.01 Rp 72.5K
$14.82 €12.92
-72.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Mortsel
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$297 Rp 5.4M
$580 €505
-48.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,602 Rp 119.4M
$13.3K €11.6K
-50.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Mortsel
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 Rp 966.0K
$110 €96.0
-51.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.11 Rp 689.2K
$49.56 €43.21
-23.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.7 Rp 1.6M
$104 €91.1
-15.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.6 Rp 1.4M
$159 €139
-51.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Mortsel
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,020 Rp 18.4M
$913 €796
11.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 Rp 12.3M
$738 €643
-7.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,469 Rp 62.7M
$1,364 €1,189
154.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,090 Rp 37.8M
$1,101 €960
89.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,729 Rp 49.3M
$4,024 €3,508
-32.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,295 Rp 41.5M
$2,610 €2,275
-12.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Mortsel
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
$2,434 €2,122
-93.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
3.5
279.43%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Last update for Mortsel: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $913 in Mortsel. 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 1387% higher in Mortsel, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $114 in Mortsel. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $355 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Mortsel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mortsel cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Mortsel is pricier by about 51%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,088 per month in Ubud, Bali and $3,152 in Mortsel. 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 Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Mortsel?
Groceries cost about 19% more in Mortsel, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or in Mortsel?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali and $114 in Mortsel. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Mortsel?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,392, than in Mortsel at $2,101. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mortsel it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ubud, Bali or Mortsel more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ubud, Bali – 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 Mortsel?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mortsel makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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