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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $652 per month in Semarang vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,022 per month in Semarang vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,391 per month in Semarang vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Semarang is about 54% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Semarang sits 51% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.80 Rp 32.3K

$3.56 Rp 63.9K

-49.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.32 Rp 220.9K

$32.73 Rp 586.8K

-62.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.69 Rp 66.1K

$4.95 Rp 88.7K

-25.45%

Cappuccino

$1.50 Rp 26.9K

$2.71 Rp 48.6K

-44.65%

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

$0.52 Rp 9,352

$1.34 Rp 24.1K

-61.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 Rp 4,833

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

-61.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 Rp 35.6K

$2.92 Rp 52.3K

-31.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 Rp 53.9K

$3.96 Rp 70.9K

-23.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 Rp 18.4K

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

-43.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 Rp 18.5K

$2.52 Rp 45.1K

-59.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 Rp 14.3K

$1.16 Rp 20.8K

-31.03%

Eggs

$1.52 Rp 27.3K

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

-38.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 Rp 109.5K

$14.71 Rp 263.7K

-58.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.93 Rp 52.6K

$4.32 Rp 77.4K

-32.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.73 Rp 156.5K

$12.14 Rp 217.5K

-28.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.59 Rp 46.4K

$3.84 Rp 68.8K

-32.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.6K

$1.56 Rp 27.9K

1.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 Rp 33.7K

$2.83 Rp 50.8K

-33.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 Rp 28.3K

$2.33 Rp 41.7K

-32.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.30 Rp 23.3K

$1.91 Rp 34.3K

-31.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.88 Rp 33.8K

$2.20 Rp 39.5K

-14.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 Rp 16.3K

$1.01 Rp 18.2K

-9.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 Rp 7,300

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

-47.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.26 Rp 40.5K

$3.32 Rp 59.4K

-31.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.10 Rp 252.7K

$23.74 Rp 425.5K

-40.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 Rp 46.3K

$2.79 Rp 50.0K

-7.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 51.5K

$2.86 Rp 51.3K

0.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 Rp 4,661

$0.27 Rp 4,819

-3.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.11 Rp 234.9K

$8.03 Rp 143.9K

63.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 Rp 16.7K

$0.46 Rp 8,181

102.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 Rp 5,634

$0.45 Rp 8,068

-31.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.88 Rp 51.6K

$6.10 Rp 109.3K

-52.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 Rp 15.4K

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

8.86%

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

$24.5K Rp 439.9M

$26.1K Rp 468.8M

-6.16%

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

$31.2K Rp 558.6M

$32.1K Rp 575.8M

-2.99%

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

$94.0 Rp 1.7M

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

17.56%

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

$2.74 Rp 49.1K

$4.06 Rp 72.9K

-32.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.89 Rp 428.2K

$23.52 Rp 421.6K

1.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.84 Rp 427.4K

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

-75.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.06 Rp 90.6K

$6.63 Rp 118.8K

-23.68%

Cinema Ticket

$3.05 Rp 54.6K

$4.15 Rp 74.3K

-26.51%

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

$44.50 Rp 797.7K

$304 Rp 5.4M

-85.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,399 Rp 43.0M

$6,613 Rp 118.5M

-63.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.42 Rp 670.8K

$55.5 Rp 995.6K

-32.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.67 Rp 585.6K

$38.31 Rp 686.7K

-14.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.9 Rp 1.2M

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

-24.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.76 Rp 784.5K

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

-43.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 Rp 4.6M

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

-74.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$154 Rp 2.8M

$675 Rp 12.1M

-77.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$536 Rp 9.6M

$3,442 Rp 61.7M

-84.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$413 Rp 7.4M

$2,039 Rp 36.6M

-79.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,187 Rp 21.3M

$2,841 Rp 50.9M

-58.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$564 Rp 10.1M

$2,264 Rp 40.6M

-75.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$184 Rp 3.3M

$165 Rp 3.0M

11.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.83

13.28

-41.04%

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

Last update for Semarang: May 30, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $255 in Semarang 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 11% higher in Semarang, 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 $12.00 in Semarang versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $302 – making Semarang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 118%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $978 per month in Semarang 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 Semarang, 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 $12.00 in Semarang and $33.00 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 $652 in Semarang and $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Semarang, where all-in costs run around $652, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Semarang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Semarang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Semarang. 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.