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 $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $644 in Semarang, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,036 in Semarang, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,429 in Semarang, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 119% more than Semarang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Semarang is 52% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.1K

$1.79 Rp 32.1K

92.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 581.1K

$12.50 Rp 224.6K

158.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 87.1K

$3.64 Rp 65.4K

32.97%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.4K

$1.46 Rp 26.2K

88.36%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.9K

$0.48 Rp 8,703

187.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

$0.27 Rp 4,829

177.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.8K

$2.01 Rp 36.1K

48.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.2K

$2.89 Rp 51.9K

33.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.2K

$1.07 Rp 19.3K

62.62%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.2K

$1.00 Rp 18.0K

146.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

$0.86 Rp 15.4K

36.05%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.7K

$1.59 Rp 28.5K

52.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 260.6K

$6.13 Rp 110.1K

136.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 78.2K

$2.82 Rp 50.6K

54.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 215.3K

$8.48 Rp 152.4K

41.27%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.8K

$2.60 Rp 46.6K

43.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$1.60 Rp 28.7K

1.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.3K

$1.95 Rp 35.1K

40.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.3K

$1.57 Rp 28.2K

42.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.5K

$1.23 Rp 22.2K

56.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.9K

$1.86 Rp 33.4K

22.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.87 Rp 15.6K

21.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$0.40 Rp 7,269

80.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 59.0K

$2.29 Rp 41.2K

43.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.8K

$13.53 Rp 243.1K

71.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$2.56 Rp 46.0K

8.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.1K

$2.83 Rp 50.8K

-3.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,786

$0.26 Rp 4,710

3.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.7K

$12.96 Rp 232.9K

-37.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,675

$0.87 Rp 15.7K

-44.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,545

$0.31 Rp 5,572

35.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.8K

$2.87 Rp 51.5K

116.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$0.80 Rp 14.4K

1.25%

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

$26.6K Rp 478.2M

$24.8K Rp 445.4M

7.38%

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

$32.2K Rp 578.5M

$30.4K Rp 546.4M

5.86%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$92.7 Rp 1.7M

-15.49%

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

$4.07 Rp 73.1K

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

48.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 437.1K

$23.45 Rp 421.5K

3.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$23.69 Rp 425.7K

316.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.9K

$5.24 Rp 94.1K

20.99%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.6K

$3.05 Rp 54.8K

30.82%

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

$305 Rp 5.5M

$44.58 Rp 801.1K

584.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.4M

$2,388 Rp 42.9M

178.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 972.9K

$36.26 Rp 651.6K

49.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 679.4K

$32.31 Rp 580.6K

17.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

$67.1 Rp 1.2M

29.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

$43.45 Rp 780.8K

75.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.8M

$255 Rp 4.6M

289.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.1M

$152 Rp 2.7M

341.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.7M

$544 Rp 9.8M

520.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

$419 Rp 7.5M

389.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.4M

$1,179 Rp 21.2M

137.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 40.0M

$545 Rp 9.8M

308.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$189 Rp 3.4M

-11.54%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Semarang: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 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 13% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $12.00 in Semarang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $188 – 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 119%, 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 $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $966 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 $32.00 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 $1,408 in Ubud, Bali and $644 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 $644, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. 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.