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 $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $783 in Oued Zem, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,295 in Oued Zem, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,808 in Oued Zem, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 79% more than Oued Zem, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% above the global median, while Oued Zem is 42% 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 64.0K
$4.63 MAD 42.81
-22.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
$49.13 MAD 454
-33.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
$6.81 MAD 63.0
-28.63%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
$2.04 MAD 18.87
34.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
$0.58 MAD 5.35
127.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
$0.41 MAD 3.77
70.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
$5.38 MAD 49.78
-45.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
$4.05 MAD 37.46
-6.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Oued Zem
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
$0.89 MAD 8.21
92.13%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
$0.50 MAD 4.65
394.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
$1.87 MAD 17.30
-35.83%
Eggs
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
$2.02 MAD 18.73
20.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
$13.04 MAD 121
10.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
$6.95 MAD 64.3
-37.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
$11.61 MAD 107
5.17%
Apples (1kg)
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
$1.60 MAD 14.78
130.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
$1.39 MAD 12.89
11.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
$0.78 MAD 7.23
257.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
$0.86 MAD 7.96
170.93%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
$0.72 MAD 6.70
173.61%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
$0.69 MAD 6.39
234.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$0.39 MAD 3.65
171.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
$0.58 MAD 5.38
25.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
$4.40 MAD 40.70
-25.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
$7.73 MAD 71.5
194.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
$2.74 MAD 25.34
2.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$2.43 MAD 22.48
14.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Oued Zem
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,217
$0.47 MAD 4.38
-38.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
$16.59 MAD 153
-51.42%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,047
$0.56 MAD 5.22
-19.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,094
$0.88 MAD 8.11
-48.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
$4.33 MAD 40.08
44.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
$1.53 MAD 14.16
-44.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
$36.5K MAD 338.0K
-28.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
$29.0K MAD 268.1K
9.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Oued Zem
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
$41.67 MAD 385
93.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
$10.86 MAD 100
-62.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
$39.64 MAD 367
-38.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Oued Zem
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
$23.97 MAD 222
307.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
$23.10 MAD 214
-72.08%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
$6.76 MAD 62.5
-40.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Oued Zem
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$160 MAD 1,480
90.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
$6,473 MAD 59.9K
2.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Oued Zem
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
$53.4 MAD 494
1.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
$47.87 MAD 443
-18.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
$106 MAD 979
-18.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
$101 MAD 931
-23.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Oued Zem
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$986 Rp 17.7M
$279 MAD 2,584
252.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$658 Rp 11.8M
$176 MAD 1,632
272.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
$509 MAD 4,707
562.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
$307 MAD 2,841
572.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
$1,380 MAD 12.8K
98.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
$1,050 MAD 9,710
112.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Oued Zem
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$163 Rp 2.9M
$246 MAD 2,274
-33.52%
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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Oued Zem: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $279 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $49.00 in Oued Zem. Groceries tell a different story – $297 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 Oued Zem compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, $783 in Oued Zem – roughly 79% 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 $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,174 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 $1,404 in Ubud, Bali and $783 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 Oued Zem?
Public transport costs about 106% 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 $783, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. 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 $783 in Oued Zem to $1,404 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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