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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $364 in Salem, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $589 in Salem, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $814 in Salem, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 290% more than Salem, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Salem is 73% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

$2.34 ₹223

52.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

$8.24 ₹785

297.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

$4.69 ₹446

5.54%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

$1.29 ₹123

110.08%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

$0.46 ₹44.16

191.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.22 ₹20.92

218.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

$1.76 ₹167

65.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

$5.32 ₹507

-25.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

$0.58 ₹55.2

212.07%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

$0.39 ₹37.53

546.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

$0.69 ₹66.0

68.12%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

$0.78 ₹74.3

215.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

$9.13 ₹870

61.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

$2.77 ₹264

55.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

$2.02 ₹192

90.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

$0.77 ₹73.1

102.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

$1.55 ₹147

82.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

$0.42 ₹40.19

454.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

$0.40 ₹38.12

377.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

$0.48 ₹45.81

358.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

$0.24 ₹22.90

320.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$0.36 ₹34.62

116.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

$2.86 ₹273

16.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

$3.75 ₹357

533.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

$1.78 ₹169

56.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

$2.70 ₹258

5.93%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$5.48 ₹522

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,800

$0.24 ₹22.97

12.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

$8.47 ₹807

-5.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,150

$1.13 ₹107

-59.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,037

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

$1.13 ₹107

439.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$1.20 ₹115

-34.17%

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

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

$17.0K ₹1.6M

54.17%

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

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

$28.9K ₹2.8M

11.21%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$34.50 ₹3,286

131.71%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

$3.43 ₹327

18.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

$7.03 ₹670

234.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$16.03 ₹1,527

515.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

$11.04 ₹1,052

-39.95%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

$2.35 ₹223

76.60%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$32.41 ₹3,087

837.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

$1,305 ₹124.3K

406.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

$21.65 ₹2,062

156.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

$23.68 ₹2,256

61.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$40.93 ₹3,899

116.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$27.60 ₹2,629

182.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$101 ₹9,597

898.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$64.0 ₹6,098

954.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

$267 ₹25.5K

1187.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

$167 ₹15.9K

1122.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

$1,280 ₹121.9K

121.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

$438 ₹41.7K

417.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$347 ₹33.1K

-52.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

9.47

40.23%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Salem: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $101 in Salem. 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 110% higher in Salem, 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 $8.00 in Salem. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $109 – making Salem 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 Salem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, $364 in Salem – roughly 290% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $546 in Salem. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali and $364 in Salem. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 5% less in Salem. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Salem, where all-in costs run around $364, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Salem it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $364 in Salem to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Salem. 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.