🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $717 in Xai-Xai versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,132 in Xai-Xai versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,548 in Xai-Xai versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Xai-Xai costs roughly 50% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Xai-Xai is 47% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Xai-Xai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.28MZN 587
$3.56Rp 64.3K
160.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.66MZN 3,141
$32.73Rp 590.3K
51.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.56MZN 542
$4.95Rp 89.2K
72.93%
Cappuccino
$2.12MZN 134
$2.71Rp 48.9K
-21.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77MZN 48.77
$1.34Rp 24.2K
-42.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54MZN 33.94
$0.70Rp 12.6K
-22.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.35MZN 85.6
$2.92Rp 52.7K
-53.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52MZN 96.0
$3.96Rp 71.4K
-61.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Xai-Xai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.53MZN 96.5
$1.81Rp 32.6K
-15.47%
White Bread(500g)
$1.09MZN 69.1
$2.52Rp 45.4K
-56.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62MZN 102
$1.16Rp 20.9K
39.66%
Eggs
$2.33MZN 148
$2.46Rp 44.4K
-5.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.24MZN 964
$14.71Rp 265.3K
3.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.11MZN 323
$4.32Rp 77.9K
18.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.22MZN 330
$12.14Rp 218.9K
-57.00%
Apples(1kg)
$1.92MZN 122
$3.84Rp 69.3K
-50.00%
Banana(1kg)
$0.93MZN 59.0
$1.56Rp 28.1K
-40.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.36MZN 85.9
$2.83Rp 51.1K
-51.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.94MZN 59.2
$2.33Rp 41.9K
-59.66%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94MZN 59.5
$1.91Rp 34.5K
-50.79%
Onion(1kg)
$0.72MZN 45.79
$2.20Rp 39.7K
-67.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.91MZN 57.8
$1.01Rp 18.3K
-9.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75MZN 47.31
$0.78Rp 14.0K
-3.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.65MZN 167
$3.32Rp 59.8K
-20.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.97MZN 567
$23.74Rp 428.0K
-62.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.97MZN 61.6
$2.79Rp 50.3K
-65.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44MZN 91.2
$2.86Rp 51.6K
-49.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Xai-Xai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.27Rp 4,848
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.03Rp 144.8K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.55MZN 97.9
$0.46Rp 8,230
236.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.90MZN 183
$0.45Rp 8,116
544.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.50MZN 1,550
$6.10Rp 109.9K
301.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32MZN 83.7
$0.79Rp 14.3K
67.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6KMZN 2.2M
$26.1KRp 471.6M
32.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1KMZN 1.3M
$32.1KRp 579.2M
-37.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Xai-Xai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.2MZN 5,770
$79.9Rp 1.4M
14.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.36MZN 908
$4.06Rp 73.3K
253.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$107MZN 6,788
$23.52Rp 424.1K
356.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Xai-Xai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$98.7Rp 1.8M
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.63Rp 119.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.98MZN 505
$4.15Rp 74.8K
92.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Xai-Xai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$179MZN 11.3K
$304Rp 5.5M
-41.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,823MZN 368.3K
$6,613Rp 119.3M
-11.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Xai-Xai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.15MZN 3,046
$55.5Rp 1.0M
-13.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.4MZN 3,884
$38.31Rp 690.9K
60.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.3MZN 5,332
$88.6Rp 1.6M
-4.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4MZN 5,025
$77.9Rp 1.4M
2.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Xai-Xai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,006Rp 18.1M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$675Rp 12.2M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$3,442Rp 62.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,039Rp 36.8M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,841Rp 51.2M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,264Rp 40.8M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Xai-Xai
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$165Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
24.33
13.28
83.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Xai-Xai: June 1, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $50.0 in Xai-Xai vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $197 vs $302, 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 98% 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 vs Ubud, Bali?
You'd need roughly $1,075 in Xai-Xai and $2,129 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 Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 53% 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 $717 per month in Xai-Xai versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – a 98% 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 Ubud, Bali?
At $717 in Xai-Xai versus $1,419 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 $717 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 98% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.