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: $661 in Palembang versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,043 in Palembang versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,426 in Palembang versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Palembang costs roughly 53% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Palembang is 51% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$3.45 Rp 61.8K

-65.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.90 Rp 320.2K

$32.34 Rp 578.5K

-44.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.05 Rp 54.5K

$4.84 Rp 86.7K

-36.98%

Cappuccino

$1.40 Rp 25.1K

$2.75 Rp 49.1K

-49.09%

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

$0.90 Rp 16.1K

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

-34.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 Rp 4,640

$0.75 Rp 13.4K

-65.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.79 Rp 31.9K

$2.99 Rp 53.5K

-40.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 Rp 67.0K

$3.85 Rp 68.9K

-2.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 Rp 23.4K

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

-24.71%

White Bread (500g)

$1.10 Rp 19.8K

$2.46 Rp 44.0K

-55.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 Rp 24.6K

$1.17 Rp 20.9K

17.95%

Eggs

$1.27 Rp 22.7K

$2.43 Rp 43.5K

-47.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.96 Rp 142.5K

$14.50 Rp 259.5K

-45.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.14 Rp 56.1K

$4.35 Rp 77.8K

-27.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.48 Rp 151.8K

$11.98 Rp 214.3K

-29.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.30 Rp 41.2K

$3.72 Rp 66.5K

-38.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 Rp 26.1K

$1.63 Rp 29.1K

-10.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 Rp 33.2K

$2.74 Rp 49.1K

-32.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.1K

$2.24 Rp 40.1K

-29.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.37 Rp 24.4K

$1.92 Rp 34.3K

-28.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 Rp 35.4K

$2.28 Rp 40.7K

-13.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 Rp 17.4K

$1.06 Rp 19.0K

-8.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 Rp 9,004

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

-30.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.42 Rp 43.4K

$3.29 Rp 58.8K

-26.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.22 Rp 361.7K

$23.19 Rp 414.9K

-12.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 Rp 36.7K

$2.78 Rp 49.7K

-26.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 Rp 57.7K

$2.73 Rp 48.9K

18.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 Rp 8,637

$0.27 Rp 4,765

77.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.59 Rp 171.6K

$8.11 Rp 145.0K

18.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 Rp 10.2K

$0.48 Rp 8,636

18.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 Rp 6,126

$0.42 Rp 7,511

-19.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.84 Rp 50.7K

$6.22 Rp 111.3K

-54.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.6K

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

-6.17%

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

$24.8K Rp 444.4M

$26.6K Rp 476.1M

-6.65%

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

$28.1K Rp 502.4M

$32.2K Rp 575.9M

-12.75%

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

$70.2 Rp 1.3M

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

-10.44%

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

$4.18 Rp 74.7K

$4.07 Rp 72.8K

2.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.42 Rp 418.9K

$24.33 Rp 435.2K

-3.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.79 Rp 407.6K

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

-76.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.02 Rp 107.7K

$6.34 Rp 113.3K

-5.05%

Cinema Ticket

$2.98 Rp 53.4K

$3.99 Rp 71.3K

-25.31%

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

$94.2 Rp 1.7M

$305 Rp 5.5M

-69.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,485 Rp 133.9M

$6,642 Rp 118.8M

12.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.82 Rp 748.1K

$54.1 Rp 968.6K

-22.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.61 Rp 547.6K

$37.81 Rp 676.3K

-19.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.9 Rp 1.2M

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

-24.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.9 Rp 1.3M

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

-4.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$262 Rp 4.7M

$992 Rp 17.7M

-73.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$158 Rp 2.8M

$673 Rp 12.0M

-76.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$593 Rp 10.6M

$3,375 Rp 60.4M

-82.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$328 Rp 5.9M

$2,050 Rp 36.7M

-84.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$976 Rp 17.5M

$2,805 Rp 50.2M

-65.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$601 Rp 10.7M

$2,227 Rp 39.8M

-73.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$300 Rp 5.4M

$167 Rp 3.0M

79.88%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $262 in Palembang and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Palembang pays 80% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $297 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 113% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 80% higher in Palembang, 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: $262 in Palembang versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $661 per month in Palembang versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali – a 113% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Palembang runs roughly 18% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $661 in Palembang versus $1,408 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 113% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.