Cost of Living Comparison Between Sabah Al Salem and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Sabah Al Salem and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,312 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,228 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,143 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Sabah Al Salem is about 8% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Sabah Al Salem sits 2% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.56 KWD 2.32

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

112.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.7 KWD 18.00

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

79.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.59 KWD 2.63

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

73.54%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 KWD 0.76

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 KWD 1.09

Cappuccino

$5.34 KWD 1.64

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

97.05%

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

$0.62 KWD 0.19

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

-53.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 KWD 0.10

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

-51.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 KWD 0.44

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

-20.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

-58.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 KWD 0.51

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

42.24%

Eggs

$2.04 KWD 0.62

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

-17.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 KWD 1.40

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

-68.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.68 KWD 2.05

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

54.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.91 KWD 3.04

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

-18.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 KWD 0.72

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

-38.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 KWD 0.51

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

5.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.56 KWD 0.48

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

-44.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 KWD 0.44

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

-38.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 KWD 0.38

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

-35.60%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 KWD 0.34

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

-50.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 KWD 0.52

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

67.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 KWD 0.14

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

-41.03%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 KWD 0.31

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 KWD 0.41

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.86 KWD 0.88

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

-13.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 KWD 0.28

$0.27 Rp 4,800

233.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.87 KWD 13.76

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

458.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 KWD 0.97

$0.46 Rp 8,150

591.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.16 KWD 0.97

$0.45 Rp 8,037

602.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.57 KWD 5.08

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

171.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

-54.43%

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

$20.5K KWD 6,280

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

-21.69%

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

$18.9K KWD 5,794

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

-41.19%

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

$63.6 KWD 19.50

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

-20.45%

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

$18.43 KWD 5.65

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

353.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.24 KWD 8.05

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

11.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.5 KWD 29.30

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

-3.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.83 KWD 14.36

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

606.33%

Cinema Ticket

$11.29 KWD 3.46

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

172.05%

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

$278 KWD 85.4

$304 Rp 5.4M

-8.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,070 KWD 1,862

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

-8.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.73 KWD 13.11

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

-23.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.21 KWD 12.95

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

10.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.9 KWD 26.96

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

-0.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.8 KWD 25.07

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

4.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$808 KWD 248

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

-19.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$611 KWD 188

$675 Rp 12.1M

-9.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,586 KWD 486

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

-53.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,309 KWD 402

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

-35.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,958 KWD 907

$165 Rp 3.0M

1689.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.14

13.28

-46.23%

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

Last update for Sabah Al Salem: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $808 in Sabah Al Salem versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 1690% higher in Sabah Al Salem, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Sabah Al Salem versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $170 in Sabah Al Salem vs $302 in Ubud, Bali – so Sabah Al Salem wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Sabah Al Salem vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 8%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,968 per month in Sabah Al Salem and $2,129 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sabah Al Salem, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Sabah Al Salem and $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,312 in Sabah Al Salem and $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sabah Al Salem, where all-in costs run around $1,312, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Sabah Al Salem it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sabah Al Salem – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Sabah Al Salem. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.