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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $689 in Semey.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,093 in Semey.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,694 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,497 in Semey.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 104% more expensive than Semey, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 4% above, Semey is 49% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Semey
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
$4.49 ₸2,194
-20.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
$27.81 ₸13.6K
16.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
$4.86 ₸2,375
-
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
$1.59 ₸775
72.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
$0.92 ₸448
43.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
$0.55 ₸269
27.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
$1.18 ₸578
146.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
$1.81 ₸886
109.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Semey
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
$0.68 ₸332
151.47%
White Bread (500g)
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
$0.32 ₸156
671.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
$1.60 ₸780
-25.00%
Eggs
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
$1.28 ₸623
90.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
$8.91 ₸4,350
61.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
$4.63 ₸2,262
-6.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
$7.05 ₸3,441
73.19%
Apples (1kg)
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
$1.34 ₸655
174.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
$1.95 ₸950
-20.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
$1.93 ₸943
44.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
$1.91 ₸933
21.99%
Potato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
$0.55 ₸266
258.18%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
$0.38 ₸184
507.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$0.94 ₸461
12.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
$0.76 ₸372
-3.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
$2.57 ₸1,253
27.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
$6.68 ₸3,263
241.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
$0.98 ₸479
186.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$1.54 ₸753
80.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Semey
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,217
$0.22 ₸109
31.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,047
$0.95 ₸465
-52.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,094
$0.67 ₸326
-32.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
$4.76 ₸2,326
31.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
$0.47 ₸228
80.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
$20.4K ₸10.0M
27.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
$24.6K ₸12.0M
28.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Semey
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
$50.4 ₸24.6K
60.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
$8.66 ₸4,232
-53.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
$12.96 ₸6,330
88.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Semey
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
$33.37 ₸16.3K
192.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
$9.92 ₸4,846
-34.98%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
$4.35 ₸2,125
-7.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Semey
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$212 ₸103.6K
43.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
$4,930 ₸2.4M
34.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Semey
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
$57.1 ₸27.9K
-5.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
$34.79 ₸17.0K
11.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
$87.3 ₸42.6K
-1.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
$78.4 ₸38.3K
-2.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Semey
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$986 Rp 17.7M
$320 ₸156.2K
208.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$658 Rp 11.8M
$199 ₸97.4K
229.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
$518 ₸252.9K
550.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
$395 ₸192.9K
422.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Semey
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$163 Rp 2.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
18.39
-27.79%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Last update for Semey: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $986 in Ubud, Bali and $320 in Semey. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $28.00 in Semey for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $165 per month, with Semey 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 Semey: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Semey cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Semey is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 104% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,106 in Ubud, Bali and $1,034 in Semey to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Semey?
Rent for a central apartment: $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $320 in Semey. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $304 in Ubud, Bali versus $212 in Semey. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or Semey?
Dining out is cheaper in Semey – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Semey?
At $689 in Semey versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Semey but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Semey the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Semey more family-friendly?
For families, Semey is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Semey?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Semey are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Semey gentler on the wallet – expenses run 104% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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