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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $661 in Palembang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,043 in Palembang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,426 in Palembang.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 113% more expensive than in Palembang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Palembang is 51% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.0K

$1.20 Rp 21.6K

187.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 580.1K

$17.90 Rp 321.1K

80.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 86.9K

$3.05 Rp 54.7K

58.69%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

$1.40 Rp 25.2K

96.43%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

$0.90 Rp 16.2K

53.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

$0.26 Rp 4,653

188.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.7K

$1.79 Rp 32.0K

67.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.1K

$3.75 Rp 67.2K

2.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

$1.31 Rp 23.5K

32.82%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$1.10 Rp 19.8K

123.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

$1.38 Rp 24.7K

-15.22%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.6K

$1.27 Rp 22.7K

91.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 260.2K

$7.96 Rp 142.9K

82.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 78.0K

$3.14 Rp 56.3K

38.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 214.9K

$8.48 Rp 152.2K

41.27%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.7K

$2.30 Rp 41.3K

61.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$1.46 Rp 26.2K

11.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.2K

$1.85 Rp 33.3K

48.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

$1.57 Rp 28.1K

42.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.4K

$1.37 Rp 24.5K

40.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

$1.98 Rp 35.5K

15.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.97 Rp 17.4K

9.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$0.50 Rp 9,028

44.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 58.9K

$2.42 Rp 43.5K

35.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.1K

$20.22 Rp 362.7K

14.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.8K

$2.05 Rp 36.8K

35.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.0K

$3.23 Rp 57.9K

-15.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,778

$0.48 Rp 8,661

-43.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.4K

$9.59 Rp 172.1K

-15.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,659

$0.57 Rp 10.2K

-15.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,532

$0.34 Rp 6,143

23.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.6K

$2.84 Rp 50.9K

119.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$0.76 Rp 13.6K

6.58%

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

$26.6K Rp 477.4M

$24.8K Rp 445.6M

7.13%

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

$32.2K Rp 577.4M

$28.1K Rp 503.8M

14.62%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$70.2 Rp 1.3M

11.66%

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

$4.07 Rp 73.0K

$4.18 Rp 74.9K

-2.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 436.4K

$23.42 Rp 420.1K

3.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$22.79 Rp 408.7K

332.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.7K

$6.02 Rp 108.0K

5.32%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.5K

$2.98 Rp 53.5K

33.89%

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

$305 Rp 5.5M

$94.2 Rp 1.7M

223.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.2M

$7,485 Rp 134.3M

-11.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 971.2K

$41.82 Rp 750.1K

29.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 678.2K

$30.61 Rp 549.1K

23.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

$65.9 Rp 1.2M

31.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

$72.9 Rp 1.3M

4.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.8M

$262 Rp 4.7M

278.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.1M

$158 Rp 2.8M

325.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.5M

$593 Rp 10.6M

469.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

$328 Rp 5.9M

525.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.3M

$976 Rp 17.5M

187.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 39.9M

$601 Rp 10.8M

270.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$300 Rp 5.4M

-44.41%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Palembang: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Ubud, Bali and $262 in Palembang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Palembang pays 80% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $18.00 in Palembang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $210 per month, with Palembang 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 Palembang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Palembang is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 113% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 80% lower in Palembang. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $262 in Palembang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $661 in Palembang – a 113% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Palembang runs roughly 18% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $661 in Palembang versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Palembang but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Palembang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Palembang is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Palembang are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Palembang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 113% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.