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 $1,322 per month in Salwa vs $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,259 per month in Salwa vs $2,557 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,195 per month in Salwa vs $3,723 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Salwa is about 5% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Salwa sits 1% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.89 KWD 3.04

$3.57 Rp 64.5K

177.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.6 KWD 19.87

$32.32 Rp 583.4K

99.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.43 KWD 1.98

$5.01 Rp 90.4K

28.34%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.50 KWD 0.77

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 KWD 1.14

Cappuccino

$5.86 KWD 1.80

$2.82 Rp 51.0K

107.80%

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

$0.47 KWD 0.15

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

-65.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 KWD 0.11

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

-53.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 Rp 53.0K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 Rp 71.1K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 KWD 0.50

$1.78 Rp 32.1K

-9.55%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 KWD 0.23

$2.45 Rp 44.2K

-69.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 KWD 0.25

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

-29.57%

Eggs

$2.07 KWD 0.64

$2.41 Rp 43.6K

-14.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.33 KWD 1.64

$14.33 Rp 258.7K

-62.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.42 KWD 1.98

$4.19 Rp 75.6K

53.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.13 KWD 3.11

$12.06 Rp 217.7K

-16.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.45 KWD 0.75

$3.64 Rp 65.7K

-32.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 KWD 0.58

$1.57 Rp 28.3K

19.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.81 KWD 0.56

$2.79 Rp 50.3K

-35.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.85 KWD 0.26

$2.24 Rp 40.5K

-62.05%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 KWD 0.21

$1.98 Rp 35.7K

-65.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 KWD 0.41

$2.28 Rp 41.1K

-41.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 KWD 0.52

$1.05 Rp 19.0K

60.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 KWD 0.14

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

-41.77%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.28 KWD 1.01

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 KWD 0.31

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 KWD 0.41

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 KWD 0.88

$3.19 Rp 57.6K

-10.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 424.1K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 52.3K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 Rp 49.7K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 KWD 0.26

$0.27 Rp 4,813

207.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.02 KWD 13.54

$8.37 Rp 151.1K

425.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.21 KWD 0.99

$0.45 Rp 8,167

613.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.25 KWD 1.00

$0.46 Rp 8,298

606.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.57 KWD 5.10

$6.07 Rp 109.6K

172.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.34 KWD 0.10

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

-60.47%

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

$20.9K KWD 6,439

$26.6K Rp 480.0M

-21.26%

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

$17.7K KWD 5,439

$32.5K Rp 587.6M

-45.67%

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

$62.8 KWD 19.30

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

-20.58%

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

$18.68 KWD 5.75

$4.09 Rp 73.9K

356.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.12 KWD 8.04

$23.85 Rp 430.5K

9.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$94.5 KWD 29.07

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

-4.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.77 KWD 14.39

$6.35 Rp 114.7K

636.54%

Cinema Ticket

$11.27 KWD 3.47

$4.01 Rp 72.3K

181.05%

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

$408 KWD 125

$297 Rp 5.4M

37.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,527 KWD 2,008

$6,602 Rp 119.2M

-1.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.44 KWD 12.13

$53.4 Rp 964.5K

-26.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.24 KWD 13.30

$38.11 Rp 688.1K

13.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.3 KWD 25.02

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

-8.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.8 KWD 20.23

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

-14.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$792 KWD 244

$1,020 Rp 18.4M

-22.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$609 KWD 187

$680 Rp 12.3M

-10.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,551 KWD 477

$3,469 Rp 62.6M

-55.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,287 KWD 396

$2,090 Rp 37.7M

-38.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,729 Rp 49.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,295 Rp 41.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,611 KWD 1,111

$164 Rp 3.0M

2105.99%

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 Salwa: July 26, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $792 in Salwa versus $1,020 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 2106% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $165 in Salwa vs $298 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: $1,322 in Salwa, $1,392 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 5% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,984 per month in Salwa and $2,088 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.

Groceries cost about 80% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Salwa and $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Salwa, where all-in costs run around $1,322, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. 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 $1,322 in Salwa to $1,392 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.