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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $863 in Suzhou, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,459 in Suzhou, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,275 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,055 in Suzhou, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 60% more than Suzhou, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Suzhou is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

$4.22 ¥28.24

-21.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

$29.50 ¥198

21.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

$5.36 ¥35.92

5.04%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

$3.41 ¥22.86

-17.30%

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

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

$0.69 ¥4.62

153.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

$0.39 ¥2.59

105.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

$2.22 ¥14.88

36.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$4.42 ¥29.58

-2.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

$1.96 ¥13.16

-17.86%

White Bread (500g)

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

$1.96 ¥13.11

15.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

$1.24 ¥8.29

-5.65%

Eggs

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

$1.83 ¥12.26

18.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

$17.65 ¥118

-0.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

$3.41 ¥22.86

18.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

$8.41 ¥56.3

44.83%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

$2.04 ¥13.64

77.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

$1.21 ¥8.14

35.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

$1.34 ¥8.97

72.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

$1.42 ¥9.51

38.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

$0.64 ¥4.30

187.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

$1.12 ¥7.49

111.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

$0.83 ¥5.55

26.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 Rp 9,560

$0.58 ¥3.90

-6.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

$4.50 ¥30.16

-48.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

$9.13 ¥61.1

152.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

$1.06 ¥7.10

120.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

$2.05 ¥13.74

49.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,365

$0.35 ¥2.36

-28.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

$43.83 ¥294

-78.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,631

$1.76 ¥11.80

-72.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 Rp 8,349

$0.36 ¥2.41

30.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

$10.01 ¥67.1

-44.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

$1.26 ¥8.42

-35.71%

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

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

$19.3K ¥129.1K

29.74%

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

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

$18.0K ¥120.2K

73.04%

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

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

$100 ¥672

-17.60%

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

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

$13.11 ¥87.8

-50.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

$10.94 ¥73.3

71.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

$33.27 ¥223

66.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

$18.59 ¥125

-2.04%

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$5.83 ¥39.02

-26.24%

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

$494 Rp 8.7M

$1,214 ¥8,130

-59.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

$21.3K ¥142.3K

-72.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

$52.1 ¥349

-11.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

$40.37 ¥270

-9.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

$82.1 ¥550

-1.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

$87.6 ¥587

-10.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

$457 ¥3,064

143.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$693 Rp 12.2M

$191 ¥1,281

262.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

$1,052 ¥7,046

245.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

$594 ¥3,981

188.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

$5,337 ¥35.7K

-48.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

$2,809 ¥18.8K

-18.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 2.9M

$1,342 ¥8,987

-87.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

3.53

290.37%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Last update for Suzhou: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $457 in Suzhou. 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 703% higher in Suzhou, 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $29.00 in Suzhou. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $294 vs $219 – making Suzhou 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 Suzhou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, $863 in Suzhou – roughly 60% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,067 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,295 in Suzhou. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,378 in Ubud, Bali and $863 in Suzhou. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 365% less in Suzhou. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Suzhou, where all-in costs run around $863, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,378. In Suzhou 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 $863 in Suzhou to $1,378 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 Suzhou. 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.