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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $527 per month in Surakarta vs $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $849 per month in Surakarta vs $2,348 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,172 per month in Surakarta vs $3,327 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Surakarta is about 61% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Surakarta sits 62% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.66 Rp 29.3K

$3.44 Rp 60.9K

-51.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.67 Rp 206.6K

$36.31 Rp 643.0K

-67.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.14 Rp 55.7K

$5.71 Rp 101.0K

-45.01%

Cappuccino

$1.59 Rp 28.2K

$2.67 Rp 47.3K

-40.45%

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

$0.49 Rp 8,756

$1.75 Rp 31.0K

-72.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 Rp 4,051

$0.87 Rp 15.4K

-73.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.43 Rp 25.3K

$2.95 Rp 52.3K

-51.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 51.4K

$4.52 Rp 80.0K

-35.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 Rp 16.1K

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

-43.83%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 Rp 13.3K

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

-67.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

$1.11 Rp 19.6K

-30.63%

Eggs

$1.01 Rp 17.9K

$2.20 Rp 39.0K

-54.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.02 Rp 142.0K

$17.69 Rp 313.3K

-54.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.75 Rp 30.9K

$4.10 Rp 72.5K

-57.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.35 Rp 94.8K

$12.18 Rp 215.6K

-56.08%

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 Rp 37.4K

$3.71 Rp 65.6K

-43.13%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 Rp 22.5K

$1.59 Rp 28.1K

-20.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 Rp 34.4K

$2.28 Rp 40.4K

-14.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 Rp 25.8K

$1.95 Rp 34.6K

-25.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 Rp 24.4K

$1.91 Rp 33.7K

-27.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 Rp 29.6K

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

-28.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 Rp 10.3K

$1.01 Rp 17.8K

-42.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 Rp 7,247

$0.55 Rp 9,773

-25.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.00 Rp 35.4K

$2.23 Rp 39.5K

-10.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.57 Rp 151.7K

$23.07 Rp 408.6K

-62.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 Rp 30.8K

$2.42 Rp 42.8K

-28.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 Rp 51.6K

$3.00 Rp 53.1K

-2.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 Rp 6,862

$0.27 Rp 4,814

44.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.73 Rp 402.5K

$8.98 Rp 159.1K

153.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 Rp 9,109

$0.48 Rp 8,566

6.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 Rp 8,269

$0.43 Rp 7,679

9.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 Rp 47.8K

$5.64 Rp 99.9K

-52.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 Rp 12.9K

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

-8.75%

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

$25.4K Rp 450.5M

$24.9K Rp 441.7M

1.99%

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

$33.5K Rp 592.7M

$31.7K Rp 561.5M

5.56%

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

$81.3 Rp 1.4M

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

-0.23%

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

$2.06 Rp 36.4K

$6.49 Rp 115.0K

-68.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.91 Rp 334.8K

$18.77 Rp 332.4K

0.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.12 Rp 285.5K

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

-71.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.56 Rp 151.6K

$18.73 Rp 331.7K

-54.30%

Cinema Ticket

$2.00 Rp 35.5K

$4.54 Rp 80.4K

-55.95%

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

$33.61 Rp 595.2K

$481 Rp 8.5M

-93.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,873 Rp 33.2M

$5,711 Rp 101.1M

-67.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.2 Rp 1.0M

$45.52 Rp 806.0K

30.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.91 Rp 653.5K

$35.88 Rp 635.4K

2.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.7 Rp 1.3M

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

-10.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.3 Rp 1.2M

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

-14.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$1,115 Rp 19.7M

-85.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$57.0 Rp 1.0M

$698 Rp 12.4M

-91.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$341 Rp 6.0M

$3,637 Rp 64.4M

-90.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$197 Rp 3.5M

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

-88.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

$168 Rp 3.0M

-3.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

13.78

-45.57%

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

Last update for Surakarta: September 15, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $167 in Surakarta versus $1,115 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 3% higher in Ubud, Bali, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Surakarta versus $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $152 vs $295 – making Surakarta 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $527 in Surakarta, $1,368 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 160% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $790 per month in Surakarta and $2,052 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Surakarta, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $33.61 per month in Surakarta and $481 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 94% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Surakarta, where all-in costs run around $527, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. In Surakarta 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 $527 in Surakarta to $1,368 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 Surakarta. 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.