Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Salem, OR and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,353 a month against $2,741 in Salem, OR, rent and utilities included – about $16,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Salem, OR
🇺🇸 United States
$2,741
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,353
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Salem, OR and in Ubud, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Salem, OR and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,741 per month in Salem, OR vs $1,353 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Salem, OR $2,741
  • Ubud, Bali $1,353

A couple spends around $3,927 per month in Salem, OR vs $2,297 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Salem, OR $3,927
  • Ubud, Bali $2,297

A family of three spends $5,114 per month in Salem, OR vs $3,241 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Salem, OR $5,114
  • Ubud, Bali $3,241

Salem, OR costs about 103% more than Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Salem, OR and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Salem, OR by 102%, Ubud, Bali by 0%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Salem, OR
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.72 $19.72
$3.23 Rp 58.1K
510.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$94.4 $94.4
$34.88 Rp 627.8K
170.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.15 $12.15
$5.70 Rp 102.5K
113.16%
Cappuccino
$4.66 $4.66
$2.62 Rp 47.1K
77.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$1.72 Rp 31.0K
41.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 $2.12
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
161.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.93 $4.93
$2.65 Rp 47.7K
86.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.15 $7.15
$4.37 Rp 78.6K
63.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Salem, OR
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 $1.17
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
-25.48%
White Bread (500g)
$3.81 $3.81
$2.19 Rp 39.5K
73.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.15 $4.15
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
251.69%
Eggs
$4.99 $4.99
$2.16 Rp 38.8K
131.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.49 $14.49
$17.65 Rp 317.7K
-17.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.60 $13.60
$3.78 Rp 68.0K
259.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.92 $17.92
$11.95 Rp 215.1K
49.96%
Apples (1kg)
$4.75 $4.75
$3.60 Rp 64.8K
31.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 $1.79
$1.59 Rp 28.6K
12.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.77 $3.77
$2.31 Rp 41.6K
63.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.17 $4.17
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
118.32%
Potato (1kg)
$3.06 $3.06
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
71.91%
Onion (1kg)
$3.40 $3.40
$2.33 Rp 41.9K
45.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.86 $1.86
$1.00 Rp 18.0K
86.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.23 $2.23
$0.53 Rp 9,509
320.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.62 $11.62
$2.29 Rp 41.1K
407.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.07 $15.07
$22.07 Rp 397.3K
-31.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 $1.66
$2.35 Rp 42.2K
-29.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.98 Rp 53.6K
-2.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Salem, OR
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.98 $1.98
$0.23 Rp 4,112
760.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.32 $44.32
$8.90 Rp 160.2K
397.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.53 $3.53
$0.47 Rp 8,466
651.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.13 $2.13
$0.43 Rp 7,737
395.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$49.26 $49.26
$5.47 Rp 98.4K
800.55%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.26 $1.26
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
51.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$23.9K Rp 429.8M
6.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.4K $24.4K
$32.8K Rp 590.1M
-25.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Salem, OR
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$220 $220
$80.0 Rp 1.4M
175.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60.9 $60.9
$6.56 Rp 118.1K
827.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$96.4 $96.4
$18.60 Rp 334.8K
418.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Salem, OR
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.21 $45.21
$54.1 Rp 974.1K
-16.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.28 Rp 329.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.94 $14.94
$4.25 Rp 76.5K
251.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Salem, OR
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,061 $1,061
$493 Rp 8.9M
115.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.2K $16.2K
$5,597 Rp 100.7M
189.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Salem, OR
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.4 $56.4
$45.58 Rp 820.4K
23.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.91 $46.91
$34.96 Rp 629.4K
34.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.6 $84.6
$77.7 Rp 1.4M
8.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.1 $80.1
$78.5 Rp 1.4M
1.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Salem, OR
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,548 $1,548
$1,131 Rp 20.4M
36.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,378 $1,378
$673 Rp 12.1M
104.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,348 $2,348
$3,613 Rp 65.0M
-35.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,064 $2,064
$1,702 Rp 30.6M
21.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,973 $2,973
$2,717 Rp 48.9M
9.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,981 $2,981
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
33.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Salem, OR
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,709 $3,709
$166 Rp 3.0M
2129.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.59
13.78
-52.18%

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

Last update for Salem, OR: October 19, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Salem, OR
$1.4K
Ubud, Bali
$673 51.2% $705
Groceries & Markets
Salem, OR
$416
Ubud, Bali
$287 31% $129
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Salem, OR
$378
Ubud, Bali
$105 72.1% $272
Eating Out
Salem, OR
$307
Ubud, Bali
$106 65.4% $201
Clothing & Footwear
Salem, OR
$121
Ubud, Bali
$107 11.6% $14
Sport & Entertainment
Salem, OR
$75
Ubud, Bali
$63 16.6% $12
Getting Around
Salem, OR
$66
Ubud, Bali
$12 81.3% $54

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,548 in Salem, OR versus $1,131 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 2129% higher in Salem, OR, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $94.0 in Salem, OR versus $35.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $416 vs $287 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Salem, OR
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
03:20 3:20 AM
18:20 6:20 PM
15 h ahead of Salem, OR
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
155,469
74,800
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Salem, OR Ubud, Bali 13,140 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Salem, OR
  • Ubud, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Salem, OR vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Salem, OR?
Yes – Salem, OR is pricier by about 103%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,112 per month in Salem, OR and $2,030 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Salem, OR or in Ubud, Bali?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $94.0 in Salem, OR and $35.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Salem, OR and in Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,741 in Salem, OR and $1,353 in Ubud, Bali. That's a gap of about 103%.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Salem, OR or in Ubud, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,353, than in Salem, OR at $2,741. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Salem, OR it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Salem, OR or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ubud, Bali – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Salem, OR or Ubud, Bali?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Salem, OR makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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