😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,397 in Ubud, Bali versus $919 in Surin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,588 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,472 in Surin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,778 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,025 in Surin.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 52% more expensive than in Surin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Surin is 31% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Surin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.43Rp 61.4K
$3.01฿102
13.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.97Rp 572.3K
$27.19฿916
17.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.05Rp 90.4K
$6.28฿212
-19.59%
Cappuccino
$2.71Rp 48.6K
$2.01฿67.8
34.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39Rp 24.9K
$0.72฿24.40
93.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74Rp 13.3K
$0.56฿18.90
32.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.89Rp 51.8K
$2.52฿85.1
14.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79Rp 67.9K
$3.67฿124
3.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Surin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79Rp 32.1K
$1.75฿58.9
2.29%
White Bread(500g)
$2.51Rp 44.9K
$1.39฿46.74
80.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.21Rp 21.7K
$1.27฿42.70
-4.72%
Eggs
$2.37Rp 42.4K
$2.20฿74.3
7.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.43Rp 258.4K
$18.71฿631
-22.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.15Rp 74.3K
$3.09฿104
34.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.11Rp 216.9K
$10.75฿362
12.65%
Apples(1kg)
$3.77Rp 67.5K
$3.11฿105
21.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63Rp 29.1K
$1.24฿41.91
31.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.71Rp 48.5K
$1.95฿65.7
38.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26Rp 40.4K
$1.61฿54.1
40.37%
Potato(1kg)
$1.93Rp 34.5K
$1.47฿49.66
31.29%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19Rp 39.3K
$1.26฿42.42
73.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02Rp 18.2K
$1.02฿34.41
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72Rp 12.8K
$0.52฿17.40
38.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.18Rp 57.0K
$4.25฿143
-25.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.84Rp 426.8K
$16.98฿572
40.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.77Rp 49.7K
$1.81฿61.1
53.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75Rp 49.3K
$2.78฿93.9
-1.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Surin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,785
$0.88฿29.77
-69.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.20Rp 146.7K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,653
$1.06฿35.82
-54.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42Rp 7,544
$1.20฿40.48
-65.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.03Rp 107.9K
$6.06฿204
-0.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82Rp 14.7K
$1.29฿43.44
-36.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KRp 475.6M
$27.2K฿916.6K
-2.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2KRp 576.6M
$27.2K฿916.5K
18.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Surin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.3Rp 1.4M
$74.9฿2,526
4.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.91Rp 70.0K
$13.86฿467
-71.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.91Rp 428.2K
$18.57฿626
28.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Surin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$96.2Rp 1.7M
$48.67฿1,641
97.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.53Rp 116.8K
$12.42฿419
-47.42%
Cinema Ticket
$4.01Rp 71.8K
$7.10฿239
-43.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Surin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$303Rp 5.4M
$295฿9,942
2.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,551Rp 117.3M
$9,760฿329.0K
-32.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Surin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.3Rp 990.3K
$33.37฿1,125
65.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.32Rp 686.1K
$34.35฿1,158
11.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.5Rp 1.6M
$101฿3,407
-12.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7Rp 1.4M
$71.3฿2,405
7.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Surin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$986Rp 17.6M
$429฿14.5K
129.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$682Rp 12.2M
$286฿9,641
138.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,420Rp 61.2M
$798฿26.9K
328.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,075Rp 37.1M
$660฿22.3K
214.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,762Rp 49.5M
$1,919฿64.7K
43.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,243Rp 40.2M
$1,553฿52.3K
44.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Surin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$169Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
5.45
143.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 22, 2026
Last update for Surin: July 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $986 in Ubud, Bali and $429 in Surin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $27.00 in Surin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $254 per month, with Surin cheaper across the board.
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 Surin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Surin?
Surin wins on cost – living expenses run 52% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Surin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali and in Surin?
You'd need roughly $2,096 in Ubud, Bali and $1,378 in Surin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali compared to Surin?
Rent for a central apartment: $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $429 in Surin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Surin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Surin?
All in, you'll spend $1,397 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $919 in Surin – a 52% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Surin?
At $919 in Surin versus $1,397 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Surin but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Surin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Surin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Surin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $919 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Surin hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Surin?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Surin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Surin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 52% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared