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 $581 per month in Semarang vs $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $928 per month in Semarang vs $2,327 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,274 per month in Semarang vs $3,275 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Semarang is about 58% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Semarang sits 58% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.45 Rp 25.5K

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

-56.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.54 Rp 185.6K

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

-70.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.14 Rp 55.3K

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

-44.23%

Cappuccino

$1.24 Rp 21.9K

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

-56.03%

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

$0.49 Rp 8,635

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

-72.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 Rp 3,148

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

-77.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

-42.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 Rp 60.3K

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

-20.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 Rp 19.8K

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

-30.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 Rp 16.9K

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

-57.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.79 Rp 14.0K

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

-32.48%

Eggs

$1.38 Rp 24.3K

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

-36.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.66 Rp 99.6K

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

-67.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.36 Rp 41.6K

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

-41.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.16 Rp 143.6K

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

-33.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.52 Rp 44.5K

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

-30.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 Rp 27.0K

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

-6.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.81 Rp 31.9K

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

-21.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.5K

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

-20.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 Rp 31.5K

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

-2.72%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 Rp 39.3K

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

-5.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 Rp 14.6K

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

-20.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 Rp 7,375

$0.54 Rp 9,560

-22.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.26 Rp 39.8K

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

-1.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.17 Rp 249.5K

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

-38.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 Rp 41.4K

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

0.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 Rp 47.5K

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

-12.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 Rp 4,246

$0.25 Rp 4,365

-4.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.32 Rp 252.2K

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

52.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 Rp 15.6K

$0.49 Rp 8,631

81.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 Rp 5,129

$0.47 Rp 8,349

-38.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

-1.23%

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

$23.0K Rp 405.1M

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

-8.01%

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

$31.1K Rp 547.6M

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

0.12%

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

$68.1 Rp 1.2M

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

-17.71%

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

$2.69 Rp 47.3K

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

-58.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.77 Rp 365.6K

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

10.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.00 Rp 369.8K

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

-61.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.76 Rp 83.8K

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

-73.86%

Cinema Ticket

$2.22 Rp 39.1K

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

-48.37%

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

$40.97 Rp 721.3K

$494 Rp 8.7M

-91.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,231 Rp 39.3M

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

-62.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.65 Rp 504.3K

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

-38.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.45 Rp 518.4K

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

-19.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.8 Rp 1.0M

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

-27.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.84 Rp 701.5K

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

-49.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$229 Rp 4.0M

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

-79.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$143 Rp 2.5M

$693 Rp 12.2M

-79.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$496 Rp 8.7M

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

-86.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 Rp 6.9M

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

-77.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,178 Rp 20.7M

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

-57.33%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$557 Rp 9.8M

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

-75.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$196 Rp 3.5M

$167 Rp 2.9M

17.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.83

13.78

-43.18%

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

Last update for Semarang: September 6, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $229 in Semarang versus $1,114 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 17% 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 $11.00 in Semarang versus $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $183 vs $294 – 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 137%, 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 $872 per month in Semarang and $2,067 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 $11.00 in Semarang and $36.00 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 $581 in Semarang and $1,378 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 $581, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,378. 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.