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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $666 in Jambi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,040 in Jambi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,694 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,413 in Jambi.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 111% more expensive than Jambi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 4% above, Jambi is 50% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Jambi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.7K
$1.66 Rp 30.1K
115.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.50 Rp 589.5K
$18.48 Rp 335.2K
75.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.86 Rp 88.2K
$3.47 Rp 63.0K
40.06%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.8K
$1.47 Rp 26.7K
87.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 Rp 24.0K
$1.26 Rp 22.8K
4.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.7K
$0.21 Rp 3,795
233.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.91 Rp 52.8K
$2.43 Rp 44.1K
19.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 Rp 68.8K
$2.50 Rp 45.3K
51.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Jambi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 Rp 31.0K
$1.19 Rp 21.5K
43.70%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 Rp 44.9K
$1.14 Rp 20.6K
116.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.8K
$0.94 Rp 17.1K
27.66%
Eggs
$2.44 Rp 44.3K
$1.57 Rp 28.5K
55.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.38 Rp 260.9K
$7.90 Rp 143.2K
82.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.31 Rp 78.1K
$3.09 Rp 56.0K
39.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.21 Rp 221.4K
$8.11 Rp 147.1K
50.55%
Apples (1kg)
$3.68 Rp 66.8K
$2.34 Rp 42.4K
57.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 Rp 28.1K
$1.49 Rp 27.0K
4.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 50.5K
$1.80 Rp 32.7K
55.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 42.3K
$1.51 Rp 27.4K
54.30%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.7K
$1.37 Rp 24.8K
43.80%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.9K
$1.94 Rp 35.2K
19.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.3K
$0.91 Rp 16.6K
16.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
$0.42 Rp 7,576
73.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28 Rp 59.5K
$2.47 Rp 44.9K
32.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.79 Rp 413.4K
$21.84 Rp 396.0K
4.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 Rp 50.9K
$2.10 Rp 38.1K
33.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 50.5K
$3.07 Rp 55.7K
-9.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Jambi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,281
$0.30 Rp 5,414
-3.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.06 Rp 146.2K
$9.58 Rp 173.7K
-15.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,146
$0.53 Rp 9,585
-15.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,193
$0.37 Rp 6,760
21.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.24 Rp 113.1K
$2.91 Rp 52.7K
114.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 15.4K
$0.79 Rp 14.3K
7.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K Rp 471.2M
$25.0K Rp 452.9M
4.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 574.1M
$27.5K Rp 498.8M
15.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Jambi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 Rp 1.5M
$69.6 Rp 1.3M
16.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 73.6K
$4.19 Rp 76.0K
-3.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.42 Rp 442.9K
$23.18 Rp 420.4K
5.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Jambi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$97.7 Rp 1.8M
$17.22 Rp 312.4K
467.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.45 Rp 116.9K
$6.11 Rp 110.8K
5.56%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 73.3K
$2.72 Rp 49.3K
48.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Jambi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.5M
$95.1 Rp 1.7M
219.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,621 Rp 120.1M
$7,698 Rp 139.6M
-13.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Jambi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2 Rp 983.6K
$41.73 Rp 756.7K
29.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.78 Rp 703.2K
$30.43 Rp 551.9K
27.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 Rp 1.6M
$67.9 Rp 1.2M
26.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
$73.5 Rp 1.3M
4.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Jambi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$986 Rp 17.9M
$263 Rp 4.8M
274.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$658 Rp 11.9M
$158 Rp 2.9M
316.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,369 Rp 61.1M
$592 Rp 10.7M
468.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,066 Rp 37.5M
$331 Rp 6.0M
524.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,741 Rp 49.7M
$1,178 Rp 21.4M
132.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,228 Rp 40.4M
$636 Rp 11.5M
250.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Jambi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$163 Rp 3.0M
$201 Rp 3.6M
-18.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
9.15
45.14%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Last update for Jambi: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $986 in Ubud, Bali and $263 in Jambi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jambi pays 23% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $18.00 in Jambi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $209 per month, with Jambi cheaper across the board.

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
Ubud, Bali vs Jambi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and Jambi?
Ubud, Bali and Jambi differ by about 111% in total monthly costs ($1,404 vs $666 including rent). Jambi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Jambi earns 23% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and Jambi?
Rent for a central apartment: $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $263 in Jambi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Jambi?
All in, you'll spend $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $666 in Jambi – a 111% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Ubud, Bali and Jambi?
A monthly transit pass in Jambi runs roughly 19% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $666 in Jambi versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Jambi but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Jambi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Jambi?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ubud, Bali or Jambi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Jambi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ubud, Bali or Jambi?
Expats usually find Jambi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 111% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities