🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $83.1 in Serowe versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $144 in Serowe versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $205 in Serowe versus $3,732 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Serowe costs roughly 94% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Serowe is 94% below, Ubud, Bali is 7% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Serowe
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$3.57Rp 61.9K
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$32.58Rp 564.7K
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$5.07Rp 87.8K
-
Cappuccino
-
$2.83Rp 49.0K
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.34Rp 23.2K
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.69Rp 12.0K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.99Rp 51.8K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.85Rp 66.7K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Serowe
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37P 18.83
$1.74Rp 30.2K
-21.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.09P 15.02
$2.54Rp 44.0K
-57.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.19Rp 20.6K
-
Eggs
$1.74P 23.95
$2.43Rp 42.0K
-28.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$14.66Rp 254.1K
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$4.18Rp 72.4K
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.14P 56.9
$11.94Rp 206.9K
-65.33%
Apples(1kg)
$1.35P 18.58
$3.69Rp 63.9K
-63.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.05P 14.49
$1.61Rp 27.8K
-34.78%
Oranges(1kg)
-
$2.69Rp 46.5K
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60P 21.99
$2.33Rp 40.4K
-31.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47P 20.22
$1.91Rp 33.0K
-23.04%
Onion(1kg)
$1.38P 18.93
$2.19Rp 37.9K
-36.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.06Rp 18.3K
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74P 10.14
$0.72Rp 12.5K
2.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.13Rp 54.3K
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$23.49Rp 407.1K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.74Rp 47.5K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.88Rp 49.9K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Serowe
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.29Rp 5,029
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.17Rp 141.6K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$0.45Rp 7,863
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.42Rp 7,305
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$6.16Rp 106.7K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$0.84Rp 14.6K
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$26.2KRp 454.9M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$32.5KRp 562.9M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Serowe
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$78.4Rp 1.4M
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$3.95Rp 68.5K
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$24.40Rp 423.0K
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Serowe
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$96.5Rp 1.7M
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.35Rp 110.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.04Rp 70.0K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Serowe
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$112P 1,537
$303Rp 5.2M
-63.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,797P 24.7K
$6,523Rp 113.1M
-72.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Serowe
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$53.8Rp 933.1K
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$37.98Rp 658.3K
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$86.8Rp 1.5M
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$78.9Rp 1.4M
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Serowe
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,012Rp 17.5M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$674Rp 11.7M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$3,390Rp 58.8M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,098Rp 36.4M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,985Rp 51.7M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,339Rp 40.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Serowe
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$173Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
13.28
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Serowe: April 26, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026
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
Serowe vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Serowe or Ubud, Bali?
Serowe wins on cost – living expenses run 1632% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Serowe the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Serowe vs Ubud, Bali?
You'd need roughly $125 in Serowe and $2,158 in Ubud, Bali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does it cost to live in Serowe compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $83.1 per month in Serowe versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali – a 1632% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Are groceries more expensive in Serowe or Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 267% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Serowe or Ubud, Bali?
At $83.1 in Serowe versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Serowe but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Serowe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Serowe or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Serowe delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $83.1 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Serowe hard to pass up.
How safe is Serowe compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Serowe and Ubud, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Serowe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1632% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.