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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $660 in Surakarta, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $999 in Surakarta, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,339 in Surakarta, rent included.

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

Ubud, Bali sits 7% above the global median, while Surakarta is 51% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 61.9K

$1.50 Rp 26.0K

138.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

$12.10 Rp 209.8K

169.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

$3.16 Rp 54.7K

60.44%

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

$1.65 Rp 28.6K

71.52%

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

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

$0.60 Rp 10.5K

123.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

$0.27 Rp 4,721

155.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

$1.85 Rp 32.1K

61.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

$2.84 Rp 49.3K

35.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

$1.15 Rp 19.9K

51.30%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

$0.90 Rp 15.6K

182.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$0.75 Rp 13.0K

58.67%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

$1.23 Rp 21.4K

97.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

$8.99 Rp 155.8K

63.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

$2.89 Rp 50.1K

44.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

$7.27 Rp 126.0K

64.24%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

$2.40 Rp 41.6K

53.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

$1.54 Rp 26.7K

4.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

$2.12 Rp 36.7K

26.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

$1.39 Rp 24.1K

67.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

$1.37 Rp 23.8K

39.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

$1.65 Rp 28.6K

32.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

$0.62 Rp 10.8K

70.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

$0.46 Rp 7,898

56.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

$2.18 Rp 37.7K

43.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

$8.86 Rp 153.6K

165.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

$1.78 Rp 30.8K

53.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

$3.15 Rp 54.6K

-8.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,029

$0.45 Rp 7,757

-35.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

$10.08 Rp 174.7K

-18.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,863

$0.44 Rp 7,642

2.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,305

$0.29 Rp 5,002

44.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

$2.69 Rp 46.7K

129.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

$0.77 Rp 13.3K

9.09%

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

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

$20.8K Rp 359.7M

26.46%

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

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

$35.1K Rp 608.9M

-7.55%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$84.9 Rp 1.5M

-7.58%

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

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

$2.22 Rp 38.5K

77.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

$19.77 Rp 342.6K

23.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

$19.77 Rp 342.6K

388.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

$6.00 Rp 104.0K

5.83%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

$2.21 Rp 38.3K

82.81%

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

$37.42 Rp 648.5K

708.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

$2,046 Rp 35.5M

218.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

$62.3 Rp 1.1M

-13.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

$38.19 Rp 661.9K

-0.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

$77.7 Rp 1.3M

11.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$70.9 Rp 1.2M

11.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

$262 Rp 4.5M

286.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.7M

$156 Rp 2.7M

332.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

$581 Rp 10.1M

483.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

$331 Rp 5.7M

533.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

$164 Rp 2.8M

5.70%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Surakarta: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $262 in Surakarta. 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 6% higher in Ubud, Bali, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $12.00 in Surakarta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $177 – making Surakarta 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 Surakarta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, $660 in Surakarta – roughly 118% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $990 in Surakarta. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Ubud, Bali and $37.42 in Surakarta. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 69% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Surakarta, where all-in costs run around $660, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. In Surakarta 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 $660 in Surakarta to $1,438 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 Surakarta. 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.