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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,333 in Shuwaikh, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,305 in Shuwaikh, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,275 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,278 in Shuwaikh, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 3% more than Shuwaikh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Shuwaikh is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

$12.84 KWD 3.94

-74.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

$64.6 KWD 19.79

-44.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

$9.02 KWD 2.77

-37.58%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.30 KWD 1.01

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.83 KWD 1.48

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

$5.30 KWD 1.63

-46.79%

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

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

$0.71 KWD 0.22

146.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

$0.37 KWD 0.11

116.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

$1.60 KWD 0.49

0.63%

White Bread (500g)

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

$1.48 KWD 0.45

53.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

$1.96 KWD 0.60

-40.31%

Eggs

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

$2.13 KWD 0.65

1.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

$4.42 KWD 1.36

298.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

$6.72 KWD 2.06

-39.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

$10.38 KWD 3.18

17.34%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

$2.54 KWD 0.78

42.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

$1.85 KWD 0.57

-11.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

$1.82 KWD 0.56

26.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

$1.56 KWD 0.48

25.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

$1.38 KWD 0.42

33.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

$1.45 KWD 0.44

63.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

$2.30 KWD 0.71

-54.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 Rp 9,560

$0.54 KWD 0.17

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.29 KWD 1.01

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 KWD 0.44

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

$2.80 KWD 0.86

-17.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,365

$0.79 KWD 0.24

-68.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,631

$4.82 KWD 1.48

-89.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 Rp 8,349

$3.23 KWD 0.99

-85.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

$15.94 KWD 4.89

-64.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

$0.33 KWD 0.10

145.45%

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

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

$21.4K KWD 6,558

16.93%

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

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

$20.3K KWD 6,211

53.36%

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

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

$65.5 KWD 20.09

26.23%

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

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

$22.72 KWD 6.97

-71.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

$30.56 KWD 9.37

-38.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

$98.2 KWD 30.09

-43.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$11.22 KWD 3.44

-61.68%

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

$494 Rp 8.7M

$297 KWD 91.1

66.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

$9,312 KWD 2,855

-36.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

$37.63 KWD 11.54

22.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

$40.08 KWD 12.29

-9.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

$98.0 KWD 30.04

-17.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

$87.4 KWD 26.80

-9.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

$724 KWD 222

53.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$693 Rp 12.2M

$587 KWD 180

18.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

$1,813 KWD 556

100.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

$1,345 KWD 412

27.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 2.9M

$4,173 KWD 1,279

-96.00%

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 6, 2026

Last update for Shuwaikh: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $724 in Shuwaikh. 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 2397% higher in Shuwaikh, 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 Shuwaikh. Groceries tell a different story – $294 in Ubud, Bali vs $187 in Shuwaikh – so Shuwaikh 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 Shuwaikh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, $1,333 in Shuwaikh – roughly 3% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,067 per month in Ubud, Bali and $2,000 in Shuwaikh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Shuwaikh, 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 $1,378 in Ubud, Bali and $1,333 in Shuwaikh. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Ubud, Bali and $297 in Shuwaikh. 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 Shuwaikh, where all-in costs run around $1,333, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,378. In Shuwaikh 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 $1,333 in Shuwaikh to $1,378 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 Shuwaikh. 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.