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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $708 per month in Surabaya vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,133 per month in Surabaya vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,557 per month in Surabaya vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Surabaya is about 50% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Surabaya sits 47% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.52 Rp 27.4K

$3.56 Rp 64.3K

-57.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.12 Rp 218.6K

$32.73 Rp 590.3K

-62.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.13 Rp 56.4K

$4.95 Rp 89.2K

-36.77%

Cappuccino

$1.82 Rp 32.7K

$2.71 Rp 48.9K

-32.84%

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

$0.60 Rp 10.8K

$1.34 Rp 24.2K

-55.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 Rp 4,648

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

-62.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 Rp 43.5K

$2.92 Rp 52.7K

-17.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 Rp 72.4K

$3.96 Rp 71.4K

1.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 Rp 25.0K

$1.81 Rp 32.6K

-23.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 Rp 26.3K

$2.52 Rp 45.4K

-42.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 Rp 16.8K

$1.16 Rp 20.9K

-19.83%

Eggs

$1.44 Rp 26.0K

$2.46 Rp 44.4K

-41.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.04 Rp 163.1K

$14.71 Rp 265.3K

-38.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.29 Rp 59.4K

$4.32 Rp 77.9K

-23.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.45 Rp 152.5K

$12.14 Rp 218.9K

-30.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.42 Rp 43.6K

$3.84 Rp 69.3K

-36.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 Rp 27.8K

$1.56 Rp 28.1K

-1.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 39.6K

$2.83 Rp 51.1K

-22.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 Rp 25.7K

$2.33 Rp 41.9K

-39.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 Rp 23.8K

$1.91 Rp 34.5K

-30.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.80 Rp 32.4K

$2.20 Rp 39.7K

-18.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 Rp 21.4K

$1.01 Rp 18.3K

16.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 Rp 7,603

$0.78 Rp 14.0K

-46.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.54 Rp 45.8K

$3.32 Rp 59.8K

-23.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.78 Rp 446.9K

$23.74 Rp 428.0K

4.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 Rp 31.8K

$2.79 Rp 50.3K

-36.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 Rp 56.7K

$2.86 Rp 51.6K

9.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 Rp 8,572

$0.27 Rp 4,848

77.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.40 Rp 169.6K

$8.03 Rp 144.8K

17.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 Rp 7,997

$0.46 Rp 8,230

-4.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 Rp 5,216

$0.45 Rp 8,116

-35.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.77 Rp 50.0K

$6.10 Rp 109.9K

-54.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 15.2K

$0.79 Rp 14.3K

6.33%

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

$20.6K Rp 372.2M

$26.1K Rp 471.6M

-21.08%

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

$35.8K Rp 645.7M

$32.1K Rp 579.2M

11.47%

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

$84.9 Rp 1.5M

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

6.15%

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

$4.09 Rp 73.7K

$4.06 Rp 73.3K

0.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.75 Rp 356.2K

$23.52 Rp 424.1K

-16.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.59 Rp 389.4K

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

-78.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.57 Rp 82.4K

$6.63 Rp 119.6K

-31.07%

Cinema Ticket

$2.85 Rp 51.4K

$4.15 Rp 74.8K

-31.33%

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

$188 Rp 3.4M

$304 Rp 5.5M

-38.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,556 Rp 172.3M

$6,613 Rp 119.3M

44.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.6 Rp 1.1M

$55.5 Rp 1.0M

10.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.56 Rp 695.3K

$38.31 Rp 690.9K

0.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 Rp 1.4M

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

-12.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

7.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$242 Rp 4.4M

$1,006 Rp 18.1M

-75.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 Rp 2.4M

$675 Rp 12.2M

-79.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$762 Rp 13.7M

$3,442 Rp 62.1M

-77.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 Rp 7.1M

$2,039 Rp 36.8M

-80.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,209 Rp 39.8M

$2,841 Rp 51.2M

-22.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,067 Rp 19.2M

$2,264 Rp 40.8M

-52.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$276 Rp 5.0M

$165 Rp 3.0M

66.73%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.33

13.28

-37.27%

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

Last update for Surabaya: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $242 in Surabaya 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 67% higher in Surabaya, 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 Surabaya versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $226 vs $302 – making Surabaya 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $708 in Surabaya, $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 100% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,062 per month in Surabaya 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 Surabaya, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 34% 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 $12.00 in Surabaya and $33.00 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 Surabaya, where all-in costs run around $708, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Surabaya 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 $708 in Surabaya to $1,419 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 Surabaya. 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.