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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,276 in Salwa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,207 in Salwa, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,138 in Salwa, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 7% more than Salwa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Salwa is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 Rp 61.0K

$11.51 KWD 3.54

-70.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.31 Rp 644.5K

$64.8 KWD 19.93

-44.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 Rp 101.3K

$6.43 KWD 1.98

-11.20%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.20 KWD 0.98

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.78 KWD 1.47

Cappuccino

$2.67 Rp 47.4K

$5.26 KWD 1.62

-49.24%

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

$1.75 Rp 31.1K

$0.51 KWD 0.16

243.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 Rp 15.5K

$0.31 KWD 0.10

180.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.4K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 Rp 80.2K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$1.65 KWD 0.51

-1.82%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 Rp 41.4K

$0.73 KWD 0.23

219.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 Rp 19.7K

$0.78 KWD 0.24

42.31%

Eggs

$2.20 Rp 39.1K

$2.06 KWD 0.63

6.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.69 Rp 314.0K

$4.34 KWD 1.33

307.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 Rp 72.7K

$6.59 KWD 2.03

-37.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 216.1K

$10.23 KWD 3.14

19.06%

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 Rp 65.8K

$2.38 KWD 0.73

55.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.2K

$1.88 KWD 0.58

-15.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.5K

$1.81 KWD 0.55

25.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 Rp 34.7K

$0.83 KWD 0.26

134.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.8K

$0.63 KWD 0.19

203.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.4K

$1.43 KWD 0.44

62.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 17.9K

$2.35 KWD 0.72

-57.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,795

$0.48 KWD 0.15

14.58%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.30 KWD 1.01

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 KWD 0.31

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 KWD 0.42

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 Rp 39.6K

$2.69 KWD 0.83

-17.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.07 Rp 409.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 Rp 42.9K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.2K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,825

$0.82 KWD 0.25

-67.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.98 Rp 159.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,586

$3.27 KWD 1.00

-85.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,697

$3.22 KWD 0.99

-86.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.64 Rp 100.1K

$15.89 KWD 4.88

-64.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.3K

$0.36 KWD 0.11

122.22%

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

$24.9K Rp 442.7M

$20.7K KWD 6,356

20.60%

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

$31.7K Rp 562.8M

$17.5K KWD 5,389

80.82%

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

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

$64.7 KWD 19.87

26.00%

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

$6.49 Rp 115.2K

$22.51 KWD 6.92

-71.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.77 Rp 333.1K

$29.77 KWD 9.15

-36.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

$97.0 KWD 29.80

-41.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 Rp 332.4K

$9.63 KWD 2.96

94.50%

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 Rp 80.5K

$11.45 KWD 3.52

-60.35%

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

$481 Rp 8.5M

$297 KWD 91.2

61.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,711 Rp 101.4M

$9,584 KWD 2,945

-40.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.52 Rp 807.9K

$37.75 KWD 11.60

20.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 Rp 636.9K

$40.04 KWD 12.30

-10.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$81.3 KWD 24.97

-1.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

$63.7 KWD 19.59

23.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 Rp 19.8M

$722 KWD 222

54.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$698 Rp 12.4M

$584 KWD 179

19.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,637 Rp 64.5M

$1,755 KWD 539

107.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

$1,353 KWD 416

28.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 Rp 3.0M

$3,547 KWD 1,090

-95.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

6.53

111.03%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Salwa: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $722 in Salwa. 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 2011% higher in Salwa, 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $65.0 in Salwa. Groceries tell a different story – $295 in Ubud, Bali vs $166 in Salwa – so Salwa wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Salwa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, $1,276 in Salwa – roughly 7% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,052 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,914 in Salwa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Salwa, 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 $1,368 in Ubud, Bali and $1,276 in Salwa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $481 per month in Ubud, Bali and $297 in Salwa. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Salwa, where all-in costs run around $1,276, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. In Salwa 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 $1,276 in Salwa to $1,368 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 Salwa. 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.