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