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 $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $660 in Surakarta, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,001 in Surakarta, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,343 in Surakarta, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 113% more than Surakarta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% 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 64.0K

$1.59 Rp 28.4K

124.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

$12.17 Rp 218.1K

167.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

$3.10 Rp 55.6K

56.77%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

$1.67 Rp 29.9K

64.67%

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

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

$0.56 Rp 10.1K

135.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.27 Rp 4,841

159.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

$1.83 Rp 32.7K

59.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

$2.99 Rp 53.6K

26.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

$1.15 Rp 20.6K

48.70%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

$0.84 Rp 15.0K

194.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$0.75 Rp 13.4K

60.00%

Eggs

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

$1.25 Rp 22.4K

95.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

$9.01 Rp 161.5K

59.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

$2.87 Rp 51.5K

50.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

$7.15 Rp 128.2K

70.77%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

$2.28 Rp 40.9K

61.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

$1.55 Rp 27.7K

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

$2.10 Rp 37.7K

32.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

$1.35 Rp 24.2K

72.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

$1.36 Rp 24.4K

44.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

$1.64 Rp 29.4K

40.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.64 Rp 11.5K

65.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$0.43 Rp 7,642

69.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

$2.19 Rp 39.3K

49.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

$8.04 Rp 144.1K

183.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

$1.84 Rp 32.9K

52.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

-15.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

$0.42 Rp 7,500

-30.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

$9.86 Rp 176.6K

-18.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,047

$0.44 Rp 7,921

2.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

$0.31 Rp 5,622

45.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

$2.80 Rp 50.1K

122.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

$0.83 Rp 14.9K

2.41%

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

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

$20.6K Rp 369.9M

25.84%

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

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

$34.9K Rp 625.7M

-9.36%

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

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

$84.6 Rp 1.5M

-4.58%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

$2.22 Rp 39.7K

82.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

$19.39 Rp 347.4K

25.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

$19.74 Rp 353.7K

394.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

$6.01 Rp 107.7K

7.32%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

$2.21 Rp 39.7K

82.81%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$37.15 Rp 665.5K

718.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

$2,032 Rp 36.4M

225.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

$61.2 Rp 1.1M

-11.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

$38.27 Rp 685.7K

1.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$78.0 Rp 1.4M

10.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

$71.9 Rp 1.3M

6.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

$259 Rp 4.6M

280.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.8M

$157 Rp 2.8M

318.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

$585 Rp 10.5M

476.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

$328 Rp 5.9M

529.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

$158 Rp 2.8M

3.43%

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 9, 2026

Last update for Surakarta: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $259 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 3% 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: $297 vs $173 – 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: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, $660 in Surakarta – roughly 113% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,106 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 $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $37.15 in Surakarta. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 71% 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 $1,404. 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 $1,404 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.