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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $708 in Surabaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,133 in Surabaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,557 in Surabaya, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 100% more than Surabaya, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Surabaya is 47% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 64.3K

$1.52 Rp 27.4K

134.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 590.3K

$12.12 Rp 218.6K

170.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 89.2K

$3.13 Rp 56.4K

58.15%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.9K

$1.82 Rp 32.7K

48.90%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.2K

$0.60 Rp 10.8K

123.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.26 Rp 4,648

169.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.7K

$2.41 Rp 43.5K

21.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 71.4K

$4.02 Rp 72.4K

-1.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.6K

$1.38 Rp 25.0K

31.16%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.4K

$1.46 Rp 26.3K

72.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.9K

$0.93 Rp 16.8K

24.73%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 44.4K

$1.44 Rp 26.0K

70.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 265.3K

$9.04 Rp 163.1K

62.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.9K

$3.29 Rp 59.4K

31.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 218.9K

$8.45 Rp 152.5K

43.67%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 69.3K

$2.42 Rp 43.6K

58.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 28.1K

$1.54 Rp 27.8K

1.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 51.1K

$2.19 Rp 39.6K

29.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.9K

$1.42 Rp 25.7K

64.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.5K

$1.32 Rp 23.8K

44.70%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.7K

$1.80 Rp 32.4K

22.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.3K

$1.18 Rp 21.4K

-14.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 14.0K

$0.42 Rp 7,603

85.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.8K

$2.54 Rp 45.8K

30.71%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 428.0K

$24.78 Rp 446.9K

-4.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 50.3K

$1.77 Rp 31.8K

57.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.6K

$3.14 Rp 56.7K

-8.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,848

$0.48 Rp 8,572

-43.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 144.8K

$9.40 Rp 169.6K

-14.57%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,230

$0.44 Rp 7,997

4.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,116

$0.29 Rp 5,216

55.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 109.9K

$2.77 Rp 50.0K

120.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.3K

$0.84 Rp 15.2K

-5.95%

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

$26.1K Rp 471.6M

$20.6K Rp 372.2M

26.71%

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

$32.1K Rp 579.2M

$35.8K Rp 645.7M

-10.29%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$84.9 Rp 1.5M

-5.80%

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

$4.06 Rp 73.3K

$4.09 Rp 73.7K

-0.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 424.1K

$19.75 Rp 356.2K

19.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$21.59 Rp 389.4K

357.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 119.6K

$4.57 Rp 82.4K

45.08%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.8K

$2.85 Rp 51.4K

45.61%

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

$304 Rp 5.5M

$188 Rp 3.4M

62.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 119.3M

$9,556 Rp 172.3M

-30.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 1.0M

$61.6 Rp 1.1M

-9.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 690.9K

$38.56 Rp 695.3K

-0.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$77.8 Rp 1.4M

13.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

-6.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.1M

$242 Rp 4.4M

315.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.2M

$135 Rp 2.4M

398.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 62.1M

$762 Rp 13.7M

351.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.8M

$393 Rp 7.1M

418.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 51.2M

$2,209 Rp 39.8M

28.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.8M

$1,067 Rp 19.2M

112.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$276 Rp 5.0M

-40.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

8.33

59.42%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $242 in Surabaya. 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 67% higher in Surabaya, 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 Surabaya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $226 – making Surabaya 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 Surabaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, $708 in Surabaya – roughly 100% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,062 in Surabaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Surabaya, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 34% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $12.00 in Surabaya. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Surabaya, where all-in costs run around $708, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Surabaya 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 $708 in Surabaya to $1,419 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 Surabaya. 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.