Cost of Living Comparison Between Palembang and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Palembang and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $657 in Palembang versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,031 in Palembang versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,404 in Palembang versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Palembang costs roughly 54% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Palembang is 51% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

-66.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.59 Rp 314.1K

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

-46.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.14 Rp 56.0K

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

-36.57%

Cappuccino

$1.40 Rp 25.0K

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

-48.34%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.97 Rp 17.4K

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

-27.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 Rp 5,004

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

-60.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.83 Rp 32.7K

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

-37.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 Rp 64.2K

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

-9.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 Rp 23.4K

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

-27.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

-53.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 Rp 25.1K

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

21.55%

Eggs

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

-51.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 Rp 142.6K

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

-45.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.13 Rp 55.9K

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

-27.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 Rp 155.3K

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

-28.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 Rp 42.7K

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

-37.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 Rp 25.7K

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

-7.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 Rp 33.8K

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

-33.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.49 Rp 26.6K

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

-36.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 Rp 24.7K

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

-27.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.93 Rp 34.5K

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

-12.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 Rp 17.3K

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

-3.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 Rp 8,973

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

-35.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.44 Rp 43.6K

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

-26.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.68 Rp 387.2K

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

-8.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 Rp 36.0K

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

-27.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 Rp 56.5K

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

10.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 Rp 8,466

$0.27 Rp 4,800

74.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.74 Rp 173.9K

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

21.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 Rp 9,363

$0.46 Rp 8,150

13.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 Rp 6,685

$0.45 Rp 8,037

-17.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 Rp 52.8K

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

-51.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 Rp 13.4K

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

-5.06%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.3K Rp 433.2M

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

-7.23%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.1K Rp 502.5M

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

-12.39%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$69.8 Rp 1.2M

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

-12.70%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.23 Rp 75.6K

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

4.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.64 Rp 422.1K

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

0.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.44 Rp 418.6K

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

-76.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.00 Rp 107.1K

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

-9.50%

Cinema Ticket

$3.04 Rp 54.3K

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

-26.75%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$92.3 Rp 1.6M

$304 Rp 5.4M

-69.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,546 Rp 134.8M

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

14.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.12 Rp 752.2K

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

-24.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.14 Rp 556.1K

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

-18.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.4 Rp 1.2M

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

-23.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.6 Rp 1.3M

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

-5.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$257 Rp 4.6M

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

-74.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$157 Rp 2.8M

$675 Rp 12.1M

-76.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 Rp 10.4M

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

-83.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$331 Rp 5.9M

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

-83.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,346 Rp 24.0M

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

-52.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$783 Rp 14.0M

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

-65.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$309 Rp 5.5M

$165 Rp 3.0M

87.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.15

13.28

-31.10%

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

Last update for Palembang: May 30, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $257 in Palembang and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Palembang pays 87% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $18.00 in Palembang vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $214 vs $302 per month, with Palembang cheaper across the board.

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

Palembang vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Palembang is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 116% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Palembang pays 87% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $257 in Palembang versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $657 per month in Palembang versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – a 116% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Palembang runs roughly 21% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $657 in Palembang versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Palembang but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Palembang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Palembang is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Palembang 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.

Expats usually find Palembang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 116% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.