Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Oued Zem Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Oued Zem

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $790 in Oued Zem, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,557 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,321 in Oued Zem, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,723 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,851 in Oued Zem, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 76% more than Oued Zem, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Oued Zem is 41% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Oued Zem
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.6K
$4.73 MAD 44.34
-24.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.32 Rp 584.4K
$50.2 MAD 471
-35.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.01 Rp 90.5K
$6.53 MAD 61.3
-23.28%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 51.1K
$2.04 MAD 19.17
38.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 Rp 24.4K
$0.63 MAD 5.90
114.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
$0.37 MAD 3.48
97.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.93 Rp 53.0K
$5.62 MAD 52.7
-47.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94 Rp 71.2K
$4.06 MAD 38.05
-2.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Oued Zem
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.78 Rp 32.2K
$0.82 MAD 7.66
117.07%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 Rp 44.3K
$0.47 MAD 4.42
421.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 Rp 20.8K
$1.96 MAD 18.42
-41.33%
Eggs
$2.41 Rp 43.7K
$1.93 MAD 18.13
24.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 Rp 259.1K
$13.18 MAD 124
8.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.19 Rp 75.7K
$6.90 MAD 64.7
-39.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.06 Rp 218.1K
$11.99 MAD 113
0.58%
Apples (1kg)
$3.64 Rp 65.8K
$1.58 MAD 14.87
130.38%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$1.44 MAD 13.51
9.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 50.4K
$0.82 MAD 7.65
240.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.5K
$0.86 MAD 8.08
160.47%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 Rp 35.8K
$0.67 MAD 6.29
195.52%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 41.2K
$0.67 MAD 6.27
240.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 Rp 19.1K
$0.42 MAD 3.96
150.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$0.60 MAD 5.60
31.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.19 Rp 57.7K
$4.44 MAD 41.71
-28.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 424.8K
$7.70 MAD 72.3
205.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 Rp 52.4K
$2.62 MAD 24.60
10.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 Rp 49.8K
$2.55 MAD 23.94
8.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Oued Zem
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,821
$0.50 MAD 4.72
-46.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.37 Rp 151.3K
$16.19 MAD 152
-48.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,180
$0.53 MAD 4.99
-15.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,311
$0.89 MAD 8.32
-48.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.07 Rp 109.7K
$4.50 MAD 42.22
34.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
$1.58 MAD 14.79
-45.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 480.7M
$37.0K MAD 347.0K
-28.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 588.6M
$29.2K MAD 273.8K
11.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Oued Zem
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.0 Rp 1.4M
$40.97 MAD 384
92.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09 Rp 74.0K
$11.09 MAD 104
-63.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.85 Rp 431.2K
$39.78 MAD 373
-40.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Oued Zem
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.8 Rp 1.8M
$24.64 MAD 231
300.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 114.9K
$23.14 MAD 217
-72.56%
Cinema Ticket
$4.01 Rp 72.5K
$6.56 MAD 61.6
-38.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Oued Zem
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$297 Rp 5.4M
$160 MAD 1,505
85.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,602 Rp 119.4M
$6,381 MAD 59.9K
3.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Oued Zem
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 Rp 966.0K
$53.1 MAD 498
0.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.11 Rp 689.2K
$47.44 MAD 445
-19.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.7 Rp 1.6M
$107 MAD 1,005
-17.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.6 Rp 1.4M
$98.8 MAD 927
-22.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Oued Zem
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,020 Rp 18.4M
$286 MAD 2,684
256.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 Rp 12.3M
$176 MAD 1,655
285.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,469 Rp 62.7M
$514 MAD 4,819
575.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,090 Rp 37.8M
$310 MAD 2,910
573.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,729 Rp 49.3M
$1,165 MAD 10.9K
134.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,295 Rp 41.5M
$932 MAD 8,745
146.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Oued Zem
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
$246 MAD 2,311
-33.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
4.81
176.09%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Last update for Oued Zem: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $286 in Oued Zem. 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 50% higher in Oued Zem, 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 $50.0 in Oued Zem. Groceries tell a different story – $298 in Ubud, Bali vs $208 in Oued Zem – so Oued Zem 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 Oued Zem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Ubud, Bali and in Oued Zem compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, $790 in Oued Zem – roughly 76% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Ubud, Bali compared to Oued Zem?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,088 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,186 in Oued Zem. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Ubud, Bali and Oued Zem?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Oued Zem, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Oued Zem?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,392 in Ubud, Bali and $790 in Oued Zem. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Oued Zem?
Public transport costs about 93% less in Oued Zem. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Oued Zem, where all-in costs run around $790, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. In Oued Zem it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Oued Zem?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $790 in Oued Zem to $1,392 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Ubud, Bali or Oued Zem safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Ubud, Bali and Oued Zem?
If budget matters most, go with Oued Zem. 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.

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