🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $683 in Xai-Xai versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,132 in Xai-Xai versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,580 in Xai-Xai versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Xai-Xai costs roughly 51% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Xai-Xai is 50% below, Ubud, Bali is 2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Xai-Xai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.30MZN 652
$3.37Rp 59.7K
205.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$62.1MZN 3,927
$38.59Rp 682.4K
60.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.12MZN 451
$5.52Rp 97.6K
28.99%
Cappuccino
$2.20MZN 139
$2.64Rp 46.8K
-16.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81MZN 51.1
$1.67Rp 29.6K
-51.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73MZN 46.39
$0.77Rp 13.6K
-5.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.53MZN 97.0
$2.63Rp 46.6K
-41.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39MZN 151
$4.28Rp 75.7K
-44.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Xai-Xai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.56MZN 98.5
$1.55Rp 27.3K
0.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.03MZN 65.1
$2.22Rp 39.3K
-53.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58MZN 100
$1.13Rp 19.9K
39.82%
Eggs
$2.52MZN 159
$2.09Rp 36.9K
20.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.59MZN 1,303
$17.39Rp 307.6K
18.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.76MZN 364
$3.87Rp 68.4K
48.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.52MZN 349
$12.55Rp 221.9K
-56.02%
Apples(1kg)
$2.07MZN 131
$3.62Rp 63.9K
-42.82%
Banana(1kg)
$0.76MZN 48.35
$1.56Rp 27.6K
-51.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.63MZN 103
$2.35Rp 41.6K
-30.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.04MZN 65.7
$2.06Rp 36.4K
-49.51%
Potato(1kg)
$1.05MZN 66.2
$1.90Rp 33.6K
-44.74%
Onion(1kg)
$0.82MZN 51.6
$2.34Rp 41.3K
-64.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97MZN 61.6
$1.03Rp 18.2K
-5.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.92MZN 58.0
$0.55Rp 9,809
67.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87MZN 181
$2.25Rp 39.8K
27.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.25MZN 648
$23.81Rp 421.0K
-56.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01MZN 64.1
$2.31Rp 40.9K
-56.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30MZN 82.2
$2.80Rp 49.5K
-53.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Xai-Xai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.27Rp 4,816
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.66Rp 153.2K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.56MZN 98.6
$0.48Rp 8,515
225.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.19MZN 75.2
$0.45Rp 7,887
164.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.72MZN 1,563
$5.72Rp 101.1K
332.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.33MZN 84.0
$0.76Rp 13.4K
75.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KMZN 2.0M
$24.5KRp 433.0M
30.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMZN 1.5M
$32.1KRp 568.0M
-28.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Xai-Xai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.8MZN 4,479
$83.6Rp 1.5M
-15.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.72MZN 488
$6.46Rp 114.2K
19.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$85.9MZN 5,436
$18.99Rp 335.9K
352.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Xai-Xai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$56.0Rp 989.8K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.62Rp 329.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.76MZN 491
$4.28Rp 75.7K
81.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Xai-Xai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$130MZN 8,208
$487Rp 8.6M
-73.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,071MZN 320.7K
$5,856Rp 103.6M
-13.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Xai-Xai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.56MZN 3,134
$45.56Rp 805.6K
8.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.5MZN 3,509
$36.38Rp 643.3K
52.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5MZN 4,966
$82.0Rp 1.4M
-4.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.9MZN 5,051
$80.4Rp 1.4M
-0.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Xai-Xai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,117Rp 19.7M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$701Rp 12.4M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$3,537Rp 62.5M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,762Rp 31.2M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,826Rp 50.0M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,292Rp 40.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Xai-Xai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$170Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
25
13.78
81.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Xai-Xai: August 30, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $62.0 in Xai-Xai vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $224 vs $293, 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
Xai-Xai vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Xai-Xai or Ubud, Bali?
Xai-Xai wins on cost – living expenses run 105% 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 Xai-Xai and in Ubud, Bali?
You'd need roughly $1,024 in Xai-Xai and $2,095 in Ubud, Bali 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 Xai-Xai or in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 31% 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 Xai-Xai compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $683 per month in Xai-Xai versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali – a 105% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Xai-Xai or in Ubud, Bali?
At $683 in Xai-Xai versus $1,396 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, Xai-Xai or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Xai-Xai delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $683 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Xai-Xai hard to pass up.
How safe is Xai-Xai compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Xai-Xai and Ubud, Bali 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 105% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.