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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $652 in Semarang, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,022 in Semarang, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,391 in Semarang, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 118% more than Semarang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Semarang is 51% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.9K

$1.80 Rp 32.3K

97.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 586.8K

$12.32 Rp 220.9K

165.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.7K

$3.69 Rp 66.1K

34.15%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.6K

$1.50 Rp 26.9K

80.67%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.1K

$0.52 Rp 9,352

157.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.27 Rp 4,833

159.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.3K

$1.99 Rp 35.6K

46.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.9K

$3.01 Rp 53.9K

31.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

$1.02 Rp 18.4K

77.45%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.1K

$1.03 Rp 18.5K

144.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.8K

$0.80 Rp 14.3K

45.00%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$1.52 Rp 27.3K

61.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 263.7K

$6.11 Rp 109.5K

140.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.4K

$2.93 Rp 52.6K

47.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 217.5K

$8.73 Rp 156.5K

39.06%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.8K

$2.59 Rp 46.4K

48.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.9K

$1.59 Rp 28.6K

-1.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.8K

$1.88 Rp 33.7K

50.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.7K

$1.58 Rp 28.3K

47.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.3K

$1.30 Rp 23.3K

46.92%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.5K

$1.88 Rp 33.8K

17.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.2K

$0.91 Rp 16.3K

10.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

$0.41 Rp 7,300

90.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.4K

$2.26 Rp 40.5K

46.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 425.5K

$14.10 Rp 252.7K

68.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 50.0K

$2.58 Rp 46.3K

8.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.3K

$2.88 Rp 51.5K

-0.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,819

$0.26 Rp 4,661

3.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.9K

$13.11 Rp 234.9K

-38.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,181

$0.93 Rp 16.7K

-50.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,068

$0.31 Rp 5,634

45.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 109.3K

$2.88 Rp 51.6K

111.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$0.86 Rp 15.4K

-8.14%

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

$26.1K Rp 468.8M

$24.5K Rp 439.9M

6.56%

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

$32.1K Rp 575.8M

$31.2K Rp 558.6M

3.08%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$94.0 Rp 1.7M

-14.94%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.9K

$2.74 Rp 49.1K

48.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 421.6K

$23.89 Rp 428.2K

-1.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$23.84 Rp 427.4K

314.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.8K

$5.06 Rp 90.6K

31.03%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.3K

$3.05 Rp 54.6K

36.07%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$44.50 Rp 797.7K

583.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.5M

$2,399 Rp 43.0M

175.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 995.6K

$37.42 Rp 670.8K

48.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 686.7K

$32.67 Rp 585.6K

17.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$66.9 Rp 1.2M

32.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$43.76 Rp 784.5K

77.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$255 Rp 4.6M

294.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$154 Rp 2.8M

339.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.7M

$536 Rp 9.6M

542.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.6M

$413 Rp 7.4M

393.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.9M

$1,187 Rp 21.3M

139.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.6M

$564 Rp 10.1M

301.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$184 Rp 3.3M

-9.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

7.83

69.60%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Semarang: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $255 in Semarang. 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 11% higher in Semarang, 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 $12.00 in Semarang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $190 – making Semarang 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 Semarang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 118%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $978 in Semarang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Semarang, 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 $12.00 in Semarang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali and $652 in Semarang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Semarang, where all-in costs run around $652, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Semarang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Semarang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Semarang. 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.