😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $668 in Jambi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,582 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,041 in Jambi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,757 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,414 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 5% above, Jambi is 50% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Jambi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.42Rp 58.7K
$1.67Rp 28.7K
104.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96Rp 566.5K
$18.52Rp 318.3K
77.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.08Rp 87.3K
$3.32Rp 57.1K
53.01%
Cappuccino
$2.82Rp 48.5K
$1.41Rp 24.2K
100.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37Rp 23.5K
$1.26Rp 21.7K
8.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71Rp 12.2K
$0.23Rp 3,954
208.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.97Rp 51.0K
$2.53Rp 43.5K
17.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91Rp 67.2K
$2.48Rp 42.7K
57.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Jambi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75Rp 30.0K
$1.21Rp 20.8K
44.63%
White Bread(500g)
$2.52Rp 43.2K
$1.17Rp 20.1K
115.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.21Rp 20.8K
$0.89Rp 15.3K
35.96%
Eggs
$2.33Rp 40.1K
$1.54Rp 26.5K
51.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.50Rp 249.2K
$7.94Rp 136.4K
82.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.36Rp 74.9K
$3.13Rp 53.8K
39.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.05Rp 207.0K
$7.73Rp 132.8K
55.89%
Apples(1kg)
$3.82Rp 65.6K
$2.41Rp 41.5K
58.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61Rp 27.7K
$1.50Rp 25.7K
7.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.70Rp 46.5K
$1.85Rp 31.8K
45.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23Rp 38.3K
$1.57Rp 26.9K
42.04%
Potato(1kg)
$1.90Rp 32.6K
$1.39Rp 23.9K
36.69%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18Rp 37.5K
$1.89Rp 32.5K
15.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.03Rp 17.7K
$0.97Rp 16.7K
6.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77Rp 13.3K
$0.45Rp 7,673
71.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.18Rp 54.7K
$2.56Rp 44.0K
24.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.23Rp 399.2K
$23.65Rp 406.4K
-1.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.85Rp 48.9K
$2.09Rp 35.9K
36.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72Rp 46.7K
$3.10Rp 53.3K
-12.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Jambi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,022
$0.32Rp 5,582
-9.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.43Rp 144.8K
$10.03Rp 172.3K
-15.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.49Rp 8,344
$0.54Rp 9,242
-9.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45Rp 7,812
$0.35Rp 5,941
28.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.28Rp 107.8K
$2.85Rp 49.0K
120.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85Rp 14.6K
$0.83Rp 14.2K
2.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1KRp 447.8M
$25.0KRp 429.7M
4.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5KRp 541.8M
$27.2KRp 466.6M
16.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Jambi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.8Rp 1.4M
$69.8Rp 1.2M
14.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09Rp 70.3K
$4.39Rp 75.4K
-6.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.06Rp 413.6K
$22.54Rp 387.4K
6.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Jambi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$96.2Rp 1.7M
$17.21Rp 295.7K
458.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.53Rp 112.2K
$6.27Rp 107.8K
4.15%
Cinema Ticket
$4.13Rp 71.1K
$2.79Rp 47.9K
48.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Jambi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$297Rp 5.1M
$93.9Rp 1.6M
215.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,661Rp 114.5M
$7,452Rp 128.1M
-10.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Jambi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.0Rp 944.5K
$42.00Rp 721.7K
30.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.75Rp 666.0K
$30.46Rp 523.5K
27.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.6Rp 1.5M
$67.5Rp 1.2M
32.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9Rp 1.4M
$73.6Rp 1.3M
7.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Jambi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,018Rp 17.5M
$257Rp 4.4M
295.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$660Rp 11.3M
$159Rp 2.7M
315.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,435Rp 59.0M
$587Rp 10.1M
485.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,053Rp 35.3M
$334Rp 5.7M
515.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,981Rp 51.2M
$1,200Rp 20.6M
148.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,368Rp 40.7M
$837Rp 14.4M
182.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Jambi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$172Rp 3.0M
$217Rp 3.7M
-20.60%
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: April 21, 2026
Last update for Jambi: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,018 in Ubud, Bali and $257 in Jambi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Jambi pays 26% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $33 in Ubud, Bali vs $19 in Jambi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $299 vs $214 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 ($1,408 vs $668 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 26% 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: $1,018 in Ubud, Bali versus $257 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 $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $668 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 $668 in Jambi versus $1,408 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