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 $1,416 per month in Salmiya vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,275 per month in Salmiya vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,134 per month in Salmiya vs $3,763 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Salmiya costs about 1% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Salmiya and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Salmiya by 6%, Ubud, Bali by 5%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.22 KWD 2.83

$3.45 Rp 62.0K

167.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.01 KWD 15.06

$32.34 Rp 580.1K

51.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.04 KWD 2.47

$4.84 Rp 86.9K

66.12%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 KWD 0.51

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 KWD 0.51

Cappuccino

$5.09 KWD 1.56

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

85.09%

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

$0.42 KWD 0.13

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

-69.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 KWD 0.11

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

-53.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.7K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.1K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 KWD 0.48

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

-10.92%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 KWD 0.28

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

-63.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 KWD 0.53

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

47.01%

Eggs

$1.88 KWD 0.58

$2.43 Rp 43.6K

-22.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.16 KWD 1.59

$14.50 Rp 260.2K

-64.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.65 KWD 2.04

$4.35 Rp 78.0K

52.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.76 KWD 2.69

$11.98 Rp 214.9K

-26.88%

Apples (1kg)

$2.33 KWD 0.71

$3.72 Rp 66.7K

-37.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 KWD 0.51

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

1.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.73 KWD 0.53

$2.74 Rp 49.2K

-36.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 KWD 0.46

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

-32.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 KWD 0.38

$1.92 Rp 34.4K

-35.42%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 KWD 0.40

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

-42.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 KWD 0.49

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

51.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 KWD 0.14

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

-37.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.01 KWD 0.31

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 KWD 0.32

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 KWD 0.43

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.01 KWD 0.92

$3.29 Rp 58.9K

-8.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.8K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.0K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 KWD 0.33

$0.27 Rp 4,778

303.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.09 KWD 14.78

$8.11 Rp 145.4K

492.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 KWD 1.02

$0.48 Rp 8,659

589.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.16 KWD 0.97

$0.42 Rp 7,532

652.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.27 KWD 4.08

$6.22 Rp 111.6K

113.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.37 KWD 0.11

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

-54.32%

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

$20.0K KWD 6,142

$26.6K Rp 477.4M

-24.92%

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

$19.7K KWD 6,051

$32.2K Rp 577.4M

-38.85%

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

$56.3 KWD 17.29

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

-28.21%

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

$18.42 KWD 5.66

$4.07 Rp 73.0K

352.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.41 KWD 7.81

$24.33 Rp 436.4K

4.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$108 KWD 33.12

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

9.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.54 KWD 10.00

$6.34 Rp 113.7K

413.25%

Cinema Ticket

$11.21 KWD 3.45

$3.99 Rp 71.5K

180.95%

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

$402 KWD 124

$305 Rp 5.5M

31.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,536 KWD 1,702

$6,642 Rp 119.2M

-16.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.38 KWD 13.03

$54.1 Rp 971.2K

-21.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.94 KWD 13.20

$37.81 Rp 678.2K

13.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 KWD 26.67

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

-0.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.5 KWD 25.36

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

8.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$868 KWD 267

$992 Rp 17.8M

-12.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$666 KWD 205

$673 Rp 12.1M

-0.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,643 KWD 812

$3,375 Rp 60.5M

-21.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,321 KWD 406

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

-35.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 39.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,931 KWD 594

$167 Rp 3.0M

1056.59%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $868 in Salmiya versus $992 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 1057% higher in Salmiya, 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 $49.00 in Salmiya versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $168 in Salmiya vs $297 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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,416 in Salmiya, $1,408 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 1% apart. Salmiya costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,124 per month in Salmiya and $2,112 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 $49.00 in Salmiya and $32.00 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 $1,416 in Salmiya and $1,408 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,408, than in Salmiya at $1,416. 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 $1,408 in Ubud, Bali to $1,416 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.