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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,426 per month in Salmiya vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,291 per month in Salmiya vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,156 per month in Salmiya vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Salmiya and Ubud, Bali have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Salmiya and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Salmiya by 6%, Ubud, Bali by 6%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.72 KWD 2.68

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

144.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.94 KWD 15.32

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

52.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.62 KWD 2.34

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

53.94%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 KWD 0.51

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 KWD 0.49

Cappuccino

$4.92 KWD 1.51

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

81.55%

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

$0.45 KWD 0.14

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

-66.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 KWD 0.11

$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)

$1.56 KWD 0.48

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

-13.81%

White Bread (500g)

$0.88 KWD 0.27

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

-65.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 KWD 0.53

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

48.28%

Eggs

$1.89 KWD 0.58

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

-23.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.19 KWD 1.59

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

-64.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.35 KWD 1.95

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

46.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 KWD 2.77

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

-25.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 KWD 0.69

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

-41.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 KWD 0.52

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

7.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 KWD 0.55

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

-36.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 KWD 0.45

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

-37.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 KWD 0.38

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

-35.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 KWD 0.40

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

-40.00%

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%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.01 KWD 0.31

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 KWD 0.42

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 KWD 0.92

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

-9.64%

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)

$1.04 KWD 0.32

$0.27 Rp 4,800

285.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.89 KWD 15.30

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

521.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 KWD 0.99

$0.46 Rp 8,150

604.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.23 KWD 0.99

$0.45 Rp 8,037

617.78%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.97 KWD 3.98

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

112.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 KWD 0.10

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

-58.23%

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

$19.3K KWD 5,921

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

-26.18%

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

$19.8K KWD 6,078

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

-38.30%

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

$54.8 KWD 16.81

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

-31.44%

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

$18.77 KWD 5.76

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

362.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.43 KWD 7.80

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

8.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$108 KWD 33.07

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

9.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.02 KWD 10.13

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

398.04%

Cinema Ticket

$11.50 KWD 3.53

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

177.11%

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

$397 KWD 122

$304 Rp 5.4M

30.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,493 KWD 1,685

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

-16.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.72 KWD 13.10

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

-23.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.28 KWD 12.97

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

10.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.0 KWD 26.67

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

-1.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.8 KWD 25.38

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

6.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$879 KWD 270

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

-12.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$670 KWD 205

$675 Rp 12.1M

-0.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 KWD 833

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

-21.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,340 KWD 411

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

-34.32%

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)

$1,428 KWD 438

$165 Rp 3.0M

764.39%

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 Salmiya: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $879 in Salmiya 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 764% higher in Salmiya. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Salmiya versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $168 in Salmiya vs $302 in Ubud, Bali – so Salmiya 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

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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,139 per month in Salmiya 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 Ubud, Bali, 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 $50.0 in Salmiya and $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Public transport costs about 521% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,419, than in Salmiya at $1,426. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Salmiya it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,419 in Ubud, Bali to $1,426 in Salmiya. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Salmiya makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.