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 $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $652 in Surakarta, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,557 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $991 in Surakarta, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,723 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,330 in Surakarta, rent included.

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

Ubud, Bali sits 5% 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 64.5K

$1.50 Rp 27.1K

138.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.32 Rp 583.4K

$12.08 Rp 218.0K

167.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.01 Rp 90.4K

$3.05 Rp 55.1K

64.26%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 51.0K

$1.72 Rp 31.1K

63.95%

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

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

$0.60 Rp 10.9K

125.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

$0.25 Rp 4,483

192.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 Rp 53.0K

$1.79 Rp 32.3K

63.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 Rp 71.1K

$2.89 Rp 52.1K

36.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 Rp 32.1K

$1.21 Rp 21.8K

47.11%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 Rp 44.2K

$0.87 Rp 15.8K

181.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

$0.76 Rp 13.7K

51.32%

Eggs

$2.41 Rp 43.6K

$1.25 Rp 22.5K

92.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 Rp 258.7K

$9.35 Rp 168.8K

53.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.19 Rp 75.6K

$2.86 Rp 51.7K

46.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.06 Rp 217.7K

$7.32 Rp 132.2K

64.75%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 Rp 65.7K

$2.30 Rp 41.6K

58.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.3K

$1.47 Rp 26.6K

6.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 50.3K

$2.11 Rp 38.2K

32.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.5K

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

65.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 Rp 35.7K

$1.32 Rp 23.9K

50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 41.1K

$1.68 Rp 30.2K

35.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 19.0K

$0.64 Rp 11.5K

64.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$0.45 Rp 8,158

75.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 Rp 57.6K

$2.17 Rp 39.2K

47.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 424.1K

$8.23 Rp 148.6K

185.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 52.3K

$1.83 Rp 33.0K

58.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 Rp 49.7K

$3.22 Rp 58.1K

-14.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,813

$0.45 Rp 8,102

-40.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 151.1K

$10.09 Rp 182.2K

-17.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,167

$0.47 Rp 8,523

-4.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,298

$0.31 Rp 5,597

48.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 Rp 109.6K

$2.78 Rp 50.3K

118.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

$0.83 Rp 14.9K

3.61%

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

$26.6K Rp 480.0M

$21.1K Rp 380.8M

26.03%

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

$32.5K Rp 587.6M

$35.3K Rp 636.5M

-7.69%

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

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

$84.1 Rp 1.5M

-5.98%

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

$4.09 Rp 73.9K

$2.23 Rp 40.2K

83.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.85 Rp 430.5K

$19.64 Rp 354.5K

21.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

$20.09 Rp 362.6K

391.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 114.7K

$6.13 Rp 110.7K

3.59%

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 Rp 72.3K

$2.09 Rp 37.8K

91.87%

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

$297 Rp 5.4M

$36.76 Rp 663.6K

708.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,602 Rp 119.2M

$2,073 Rp 37.4M

218.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 Rp 964.5K

$62.9 Rp 1.1M

-15.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.11 Rp 688.1K

$38.17 Rp 689.1K

-0.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

$77.1 Rp 1.4M

15.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

$72.8 Rp 1.3M

5.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 Rp 18.4M

$261 Rp 4.7M

290.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 Rp 12.3M

$160 Rp 2.9M

324.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,469 Rp 62.6M

$594 Rp 10.7M

483.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 Rp 37.7M

$338 Rp 6.1M

518.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,729 Rp 49.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,295 Rp 41.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 Rp 3.0M

$158 Rp 2.9M

3.59%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Surakarta: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $261 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 4% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $12.00 in Surakarta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $176 – 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: $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, $652 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 $2,088 per month in Ubud, Bali and $978 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 $297 per month in Ubud, Bali and $36.76 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 $652, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. 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 $652 in Surakarta to $1,392 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.