😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $628 in Jambi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $991 in Jambi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,275 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,354 in Jambi.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 119% more expensive than in Jambi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Jambi is 54% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Jambi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33Rp 58.7K
$1.57Rp 27.7K
112.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.82Rp 631.0K
$12.57Rp 221.4K
184.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.63Rp 99.2K
$2.92Rp 51.5K
92.81%
Cappuccino
$2.82Rp 49.7K
$1.37Rp 24.1K
105.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75Rp 30.8K
$0.46Rp 8,113
280.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80Rp 14.0K
$0.21Rp 3,774
280.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.04Rp 53.6K
$2.35Rp 41.5K
29.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30Rp 75.7K
$3.44Rp 60.6K
25.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Jambi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.61Rp 28.3K
$1.20Rp 21.2K
34.17%
White Bread(500g)
$2.27Rp 40.0K
$1.12Rp 19.6K
102.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17Rp 20.6K
$0.88Rp 15.5K
32.95%
Eggs
$2.17Rp 38.2K
$1.51Rp 26.6K
43.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.63Rp 310.6K
$6.31Rp 111.1K
179.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.05Rp 71.4K
$3.17Rp 55.9K
27.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.18Rp 214.6K
$7.28Rp 128.2K
67.31%
Apples(1kg)
$3.62Rp 63.7K
$2.22Rp 39.1K
63.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64Rp 28.8K
$1.31Rp 23.1K
25.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31Rp 40.6K
$1.73Rp 30.5K
33.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.96Rp 34.5K
$1.23Rp 21.6K
59.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84Rp 32.5K
$1.34Rp 23.6K
37.31%
Onion(1kg)
$2.37Rp 41.8K
$1.93Rp 34.0K
22.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05Rp 18.5K
$0.68Rp 12.0K
54.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54Rp 9,564
$0.44Rp 7,727
22.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.30Rp 40.6K
$2.68Rp 47.2K
-14.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.08Rp 406.5K
$23.12Rp 407.1K
-0.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34Rp 41.2K
$1.88Rp 33.1K
24.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07Rp 54.0K
$3.09Rp 54.4K
-0.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Jambi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25Rp 4,366
$0.31Rp 5,458
-19.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.42Rp 165.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.49Rp 8,635
$0.52Rp 9,183
-5.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.47Rp 8,352
$0.31Rp 5,496
51.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.60Rp 98.7K
$3.23Rp 56.9K
73.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.2K
$0.80Rp 14.0K
1.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0KRp 440.5M
$24.2KRp 426.5M
3.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1KRp 547.2M
$29.2KRp 513.8M
6.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Jambi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.7Rp 1.5M
$64.5Rp 1.1M
28.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49Rp 114.3K
$4.08Rp 71.8K
59.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.79Rp 331.0K
$18.16Rp 319.9K
3.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Jambi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.2Rp 973.0K
$15.26Rp 268.8K
261.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.21Rp 320.8K
$9.00Rp 158.5K
102.33%
Cinema Ticket
$4.30Rp 75.7K
$2.75Rp 48.4K
56.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Jambi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$494Rp 8.7M
$91.6Rp 1.6M
439.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,917Rp 104.2M
$7,065Rp 124.4M
-16.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Jambi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.28Rp 815.2K
$40.03Rp 705.0K
15.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.44Rp 641.9K
$25.35Rp 446.4K
43.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.7Rp 1.4M
$72.3Rp 1.3M
11.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.8Rp 1.4M
$62.1Rp 1.1M
26.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Jambi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,114Rp 19.6M
$262Rp 4.6M
324.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$693Rp 12.2M
$167Rp 2.9M
316.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,639Rp 64.1M
$626Rp 11.0M
480.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,712Rp 30.2M
$421Rp 7.4M
306.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,761Rp 48.6M
$1,137Rp 20.0M
142.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,293Rp 40.4M
$709Rp 12.5M
223.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Jambi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$167Rp 2.9M
$208Rp 3.7M
-19.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
9.46
45.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026
Last update for Jambi: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali and $262 in Jambi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Jambi pays 24% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $13.00 in Jambi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $294 vs $199 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 in Jambi?
Ubud, Bali and Jambi differ by about 119% in total monthly costs ($1,378 vs $628 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, salaries run 24% lower in Jambi. 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 in Jambi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $262 in Jambi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 48% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Jambi?
All in, you'll spend $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $628 in Jambi – a 119% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $628 in Jambi versus $1,378 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 119% 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