Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Xai-Xai Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Xai-Xai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $708 in Xai-Xai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,119 in Xai-Xai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,531 in Xai-Xai.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 99% more expensive than in Xai-Xai, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Xai-Xai is 47% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Xai-Xai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45 Rp 62.1K
$9.13 MZN 577
-62.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 Rp 581.1K
$49.45 MZN 3,126
-34.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.84 Rp 87.1K
$8.31 MZN 525
-41.76%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
$2.05 MZN 129
34.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 24.9K
$0.75 MZN 47.60
84.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
$0.58 MZN 36.96
29.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 53.8K
$1.36 MZN 85.8
119.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 69.2K
$1.52 MZN 96.0
153.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Xai-Xai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 31.2K
$1.51 MZN 95.7
15.23%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 44.2K
$1.06 MZN 66.9
132.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
$1.64 MZN 103
-28.66%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 43.7K
$2.38 MZN 150
2.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 Rp 260.6K
$15.01 MZN 949
-3.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.35 Rp 78.2K
$5.23 MZN 331
-16.83%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.98 Rp 215.3K
$5.42 MZN 343
121.03%
Apples (1kg)
$3.72 Rp 66.8K
$1.97 MZN 124
88.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
$0.88 MZN 55.8
85.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.74 Rp 49.3K
$1.41 MZN 88.9
94.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
$0.93 MZN 58.8
140.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 Rp 34.5K
$0.95 MZN 60.0
102.11%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.9K
$0.68 MZN 42.77
235.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$0.90 MZN 56.9
17.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
$0.73 MZN 46.33
-1.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29 Rp 59.0K
$2.62 MZN 166
25.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.19 Rp 416.8K
$8.83 MZN 558
162.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$1.02 MZN 64.4
172.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$1.43 MZN 90.6
90.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Xai-Xai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,786
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.11 Rp 145.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,675
$1.59 MZN 101
-69.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,545
$2.92 MZN 185
-85.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.22 Rp 111.8K
$24.28 MZN 1,535
-74.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$1.31 MZN 82.8
-38.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 478.2M
$35.7K MZN 2.3M
-25.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K Rp 578.5M
$20.3K MZN 1.3M
58.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Xai-Xai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$91.2 MZN 5,763
-14.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07 Rp 73.1K
$14.49 MZN 916
-71.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33 Rp 437.1K
$106 MZN 6,684
-76.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Xai-Xai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34 Rp 113.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.99 Rp 71.6K
$7.94 MZN 502
-49.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Xai-Xai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 Rp 5.5M
$178 MZN 11.3K
70.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,642 Rp 119.4M
$5,805 MZN 367.0K
14.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Xai-Xai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 Rp 972.9K
$49.82 MZN 3,150
8.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81 Rp 679.4K
$62.6 MZN 3,959
-39.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
$83.0 MZN 5,245
4.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
$79.4 MZN 5,019
-3.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Xai-Xai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$992 Rp 17.8M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,375 Rp 60.7M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,805 Rp 50.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,227 Rp 40.0M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Xai-Xai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
24.33
-45.42%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Xai-Xai: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $49.00 in Xai-Xai. Groceries flip the comparison at $297 vs $197, with Xai-Xai cheaper for home cooking.

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 Xai-Xai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Xai-Xai?
Xai-Xai wins on cost – living expenses run 99% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Xai-Xai the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali and in Xai-Xai?
You'd need roughly $2,112 in Ubud, Bali and $1,062 in Xai-Xai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Xai-Xai?
Supermarket bills run roughly 51% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Xai-Xai?
All in, you'll spend $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $708 in Xai-Xai – a 99% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Ubud, Bali or in Xai-Xai?
At $708 in Xai-Xai versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Xai-Xai but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Xai-Xai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Xai-Xai?
Both work as nomad bases, but Xai-Xai delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $708 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Xai-Xai hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Xai-Xai?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Xai-Xai 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Xai-Xai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 99% 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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