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 $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $511 in Karawang, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $774 in Karawang, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,037 in Karawang, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 182% more than Karawang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 7% 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 61.9K

$1.33 Rp 23.0K

168.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

$9.19 Rp 159.3K

254.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

$3.30 Rp 57.1K

53.64%

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

$1.45 Rp 25.1K

95.17%

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

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

$0.47 Rp 8,201

185.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

$0.24 Rp 4,173

187.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

$3.34 Rp 57.9K

-10.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

$3.45 Rp 59.7K

11.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

$1.22 Rp 21.2K

42.62%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

$1.06 Rp 18.4K

139.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$0.87 Rp 15.1K

36.78%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

$1.57 Rp 27.3K

54.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

$3.02 Rp 52.4K

385.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

$3.08 Rp 53.4K

35.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

$7.65 Rp 132.5K

56.08%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

$2.05 Rp 35.5K

80.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

35.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

$1.41 Rp 24.4K

90.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

$0.58 Rp 9,999

301.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

$0.99 Rp 17.2K

92.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

$1.75 Rp 30.3K

25.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

$0.89 Rp 15.5K

19.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

$0.45 Rp 7,810

60.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

$2.53 Rp 43.9K

23.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

$23.18 Rp 401.8K

1.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

$2.04 Rp 35.4K

34.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

$3.54 Rp 61.3K

-18.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,029

$0.65 Rp 11.2K

-55.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

$9.88 Rp 171.3K

-17.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,863

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

-37.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,305

$0.77 Rp 13.4K

-45.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

$1.27 Rp 22.0K

385.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

$0.79 Rp 13.6K

6.33%

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

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

$24.2K Rp 418.9M

8.57%

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

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

$26.3K Rp 455.0M

23.73%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$44.20 Rp 766.0K

77.42%

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

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

$4.63 Rp 80.3K

-14.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

$13.79 Rp 239.0K

76.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

$22.20 Rp 384.7K

334.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

$15.09 Rp 261.6K

-57.92%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

$3.14 Rp 54.5K

28.66%

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

$47.65 Rp 825.9K

535.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

$7,597 Rp 131.7M

-14.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

$18.16 Rp 314.8K

196.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

$31.10 Rp 539.1K

22.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

$54.8 Rp 950.1K

58.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$54.0 Rp 935.8K

46.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

$156 Rp 2.7M

547.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.7M

$76.4 Rp 1.3M

782.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

$249 Rp 4.3M

1258.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

$123 Rp 2.1M

1604.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

$1,198 Rp 20.8M

149.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

$722 Rp 12.5M

223.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

$426 Rp 7.4M

-59.34%

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 28, 2026

Last update for Karawang: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $156 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 146% 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: $298 vs $185 – 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 182% 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 $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $766 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 $1,438 in Ubud, Bali and $511 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 $511, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. 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 $511 versus $1,438 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.