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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,276 per month in Salwa vs $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,207 per month in Salwa vs $2,348 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,138 per month in Salwa vs $3,327 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Salwa is about 7% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Salwa sits 7% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.51 KWD 3.54

$3.44 Rp 61.0K

234.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.8 KWD 19.93

$36.31 Rp 644.5K

78.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.43 KWD 1.98

$5.71 Rp 101.3K

12.61%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.20 KWD 0.98

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.78 KWD 1.47

Cappuccino

$5.26 KWD 1.62

$2.67 Rp 47.4K

97.00%

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

$0.51 KWD 0.16

$1.75 Rp 31.1K

-70.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 KWD 0.10

$0.87 Rp 15.5K

-64.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.4K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 Rp 80.2K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 KWD 0.51

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

1.85%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 KWD 0.23

$2.33 Rp 41.4K

-68.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.78 KWD 0.24

$1.11 Rp 19.7K

-29.73%

Eggs

$2.06 KWD 0.63

$2.20 Rp 39.1K

-6.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.34 KWD 1.33

$17.69 Rp 314.0K

-75.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.59 KWD 2.03

$4.10 Rp 72.7K

60.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.23 KWD 3.14

$12.18 Rp 216.1K

-16.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 KWD 0.73

$3.71 Rp 65.8K

-35.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 KWD 0.58

$1.59 Rp 28.2K

18.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.81 KWD 0.55

$2.28 Rp 40.5K

-20.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.83 KWD 0.26

$1.95 Rp 34.7K

-57.44%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 KWD 0.19

$1.91 Rp 33.8K

-67.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.43 KWD 0.44

$2.33 Rp 41.4K

-38.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.35 KWD 0.72

$1.01 Rp 17.9K

132.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 KWD 0.15

$0.55 Rp 9,795

-12.73%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.30 KWD 1.01

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 KWD 0.31

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 KWD 0.42

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.69 KWD 0.83

$2.23 Rp 39.6K

20.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.07 Rp 409.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 Rp 42.9K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.2K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 KWD 0.25

$0.27 Rp 4,825

203.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.98 Rp 159.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.27 KWD 1.00

$0.48 Rp 8,586

581.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.22 KWD 0.99

$0.43 Rp 7,697

648.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.89 KWD 4.88

$5.64 Rp 100.1K

181.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

$0.80 Rp 14.3K

-55.00%

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

$20.7K KWD 6,356

$24.9K Rp 442.7M

-17.08%

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

$17.5K KWD 5,389

$31.7K Rp 562.8M

-44.70%

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

$64.7 KWD 19.87

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

-20.64%

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

$22.51 KWD 6.92

$6.49 Rp 115.2K

246.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.77 KWD 9.15

$18.77 Rp 333.1K

58.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.0 KWD 29.80

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

70.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.63 KWD 2.96

$18.73 Rp 332.4K

-48.59%

Cinema Ticket

$11.45 KWD 3.52

$4.54 Rp 80.5K

152.20%

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

$297 KWD 91.2

$481 Rp 8.5M

-38.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,584 KWD 2,945

$5,711 Rp 101.4M

67.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.75 KWD 11.60

$45.52 Rp 807.9K

-17.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.04 KWD 12.30

$35.88 Rp 636.9K

11.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.3 KWD 24.97

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

1.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.7 KWD 19.59

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

-18.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$722 KWD 222

$1,115 Rp 19.8M

-35.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$584 KWD 179

$698 Rp 12.4M

-16.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,755 KWD 539

$3,637 Rp 64.5M

-51.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,353 KWD 416

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

-22.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,547 KWD 1,090

$168 Rp 3.0M

2011.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

13.78

-52.61%

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

Last update for Salwa: September 13, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $722 in Salwa versus $1,115 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 2011% higher in Salwa, 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 $65.0 in Salwa versus $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $166 in Salwa vs $295 in Ubud, Bali – so Salwa 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,276 in Salwa, $1,368 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 7% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,914 per month in Salwa and $2,052 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,276 in Salwa and $1,368 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $297 per month in Salwa and $481 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Salwa, where all-in costs run around $1,276, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. In Salwa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali 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 $1,276 in Salwa to $1,368 in Ubud, Bali. 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 Salwa. 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.