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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $508 in Karawang, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $755 in Karawang, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,001 in Karawang, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 176% more than Karawang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% above the global median, while Karawang is 62% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

$1.27 Rp 22.8K

181.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

$8.97 Rp 160.7K

262.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

$3.36 Rp 60.3K

44.64%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

$1.45 Rp 26.0K

89.66%

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

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

$0.47 Rp 8,442

180.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.24 Rp 4,314

191.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

$3.47 Rp 62.2K

-16.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

$3.46 Rp 62.0K

9.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

$1.21 Rp 21.8K

41.32%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

$1.06 Rp 19.0K

133.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$0.89 Rp 15.9K

34.83%

Eggs

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

$1.52 Rp 27.3K

60.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

$2.99 Rp 53.5K

380.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

$2.98 Rp 53.4K

44.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

$7.65 Rp 137.0K

59.61%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

$1.96 Rp 35.2K

87.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

$1.20 Rp 21.4K

29.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

$1.39 Rp 25.0K

100.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

$0.53 Rp 9,546

339.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

$1.03 Rp 18.5K

91.26%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

$1.66 Rp 29.7K

39.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.96 Rp 17.2K

10.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$0.42 Rp 7,530

73.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

$2.61 Rp 46.8K

25.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

$21.71 Rp 388.9K

4.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

$2.10 Rp 37.5K

33.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$3.46 Rp 61.9K

-19.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

$0.71 Rp 12.6K

-59.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

$10.08 Rp 180.6K

-20.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,047

$0.71 Rp 12.8K

-36.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

$0.77 Rp 13.8K

-41.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

$1.19 Rp 21.4K

424.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

$0.85 Rp 15.3K

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

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

$24.7K Rp 442.6M

5.15%

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

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

$25.8K Rp 462.5M

22.63%

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

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

$43.12 Rp 772.6K

87.27%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

$4.55 Rp 81.5K

-10.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

$13.66 Rp 244.7K

78.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

$22.04 Rp 394.9K

343.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

$15.13 Rp 271.1K

-57.37%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

$3.00 Rp 53.8K

34.67%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$48.25 Rp 864.4K

530.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

$7,474 Rp 133.9M

-11.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

$18.29 Rp 327.6K

196.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

$30.36 Rp 543.9K

27.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$52.8 Rp 945.6K

63.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

$54.4 Rp 974.5K

40.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

$154 Rp 2.8M

540.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.8M

$77.6 Rp 1.4M

747.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

$245 Rp 4.4M

1276.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

$123 Rp 2.2M

1582.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

$1,141 Rp 20.4M

140.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

$643 Rp 11.5M

246.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

$408 Rp 7.3M

-59.95%

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 Karawang: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $154 in Karawang. 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 150% higher in Karawang, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $9.00 in Karawang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $181 – making Karawang 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

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

Ubud, Bali costs about 176% more than Karawang, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $763 in Karawang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $9.00 in Karawang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,404 in Ubud, Bali and $508 in Karawang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Karawang, where all-in costs run around $508, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. In Karawang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Karawang costs $508 versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Karawang. 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.