Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Salem, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Salem, MA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,379 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,388 in Salem, MA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,363 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,705 in Salem, MA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,347 in Ubud, Bali versus $6,022 in Salem, MA.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 59% less than in Salem, MA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 1% above, Salem, MA 147% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.31 Rp 59.1K

$25.25 $25.25

-86.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.08 Rp 697.6K

$100 $100

-61.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.62 Rp 100.3K

$11.07 $11.07

-49.23%

Cappuccino

$2.64 Rp 47.1K

$5.05 $5.05

-47.72%

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

$1.58 Rp 28.3K

$2.52 $2.52

-37.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 Rp 12.6K

$2.11 $2.11

-66.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.73 Rp 48.7K

$8.11 $8.11

-66.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 Rp 77.2K

$6.97 $6.97

-38.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 Rp 27.5K

$1.29 $1.29

19.38%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 Rp 41.0K

$4.53 $4.53

-49.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 Rp 18.4K

$4.32 $4.32

-76.16%

Eggs

$2.12 Rp 37.8K

$4.21 $4.21

-49.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.30 Rp 308.8K

$14.15 $14.15

22.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.03 Rp 71.9K

$11.60 $11.60

-65.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.42 Rp 221.8K

$16.77 $16.77

-25.94%

Apples (1kg)

$3.70 Rp 66.0K

$4.59 $4.59

-19.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 Rp 28.8K

$1.28 $1.28

26.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 Rp 40.4K

$4.47 $4.47

-49.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 Rp 35.5K

$4.77 $4.77

-58.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 Rp 32.6K

$4.40 $4.40

-58.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.25 Rp 40.2K

$2.93 $2.93

-23.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 Rp 18.7K

$2.45 $2.45

-57.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 Rp 10.0K

$2.22 $2.22

-74.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.22 Rp 39.7K

$10.16 $10.16

-78.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.22 Rp 414.5K

$13.18 $13.18

76.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.39 Rp 42.7K

$2.00 $2.00

19.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 Rp 51.3K

$3.51 $3.51

-18.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,435

$1.98 $1.98

-87.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.17 Rp 128.0K

$56.0 $56.0

-87.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,198

$2.98 $2.98

-84.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,271

$1.78 $1.78

-74.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.70 Rp 101.7K

$28.21 $28.21

-79.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.6K

$0.88 $0.88

-13.64%

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

$24.6K Rp 438.6M

$36.1K $36.1K

-31.85%

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

$31.0K Rp 553.9M

$26.0K $26.0K

19.45%

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

$82.2 Rp 1.5M

$203 $203

-59.56%

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

$6.33 Rp 113.0K

$59.1 $59.1

-89.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.54 Rp 331.0K

$66.0 $66.0

-71.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.1 Rp 1.0M

$42.78 $42.78

31.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.41 Rp 328.7K

Cinema Ticket

$4.26 Rp 76.1K

$14.86 $14.86

-71.33%

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

$489 Rp 8.7M

$1,433 $1,433

-65.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,793 Rp 103.4M

$23.2K $23.2K

-74.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.98 Rp 820.8K

$71.0 $71.0

-35.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.86 Rp 640.1K

$57.4 $57.4

-37.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 Rp 1.4M

$95.7 $95.7

-16.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.9 Rp 1.4M

$98.1 $98.1

-17.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,144 Rp 20.4M

$2,341 $2,341

-51.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$692 Rp 12.4M

$1,955 $1,955

-64.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,532 Rp 63.0M

$3,603 $3,603

-1.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,709 Rp 30.5M

$2,849 $2,849

-40.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,785 Rp 49.7M

$2,715 $2,715

2.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,261 Rp 40.4M

$2,396 $2,396

-5.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$169 Rp 3.0M

$9,399 $9,399

-98.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

6.12

125.16%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 15, 2026

Last update for Salem, MA: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,144 in Ubud, Bali and $2,341 in Salem, MA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Salem, MA pays 5452% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $39.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $100 in Salem, MA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $414 per month, with Ubud, Bali 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 Salem, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 146% lower than in Salem, MA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 5452% lower in Salem, MA. 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: $1,144 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,341 in Salem, MA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $489 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,433 in Salem, MA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 42% higher in Salem, MA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,379 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,388 in Salem, MA, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Salem, MA. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,379 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Salem, MA 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 Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 146% less than in Salem, MA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.