😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,392 in Ubud, Bali versus $666 in Tanjung Balai Karimun.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,557 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,024 in Tanjung Balai Karimun.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,723 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,382 in Tanjung Balai Karimun.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 109% more expensive than in Tanjung Balai Karimun, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Tanjung Balai Karimun is 50% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Tanjung Balai Karimun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57Rp 64.5K
$1.56Rp 28.1K
128.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.32Rp 583.4K
$12.18Rp 219.9K
165.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.01Rp 90.4K
$3.45Rp 62.3K
45.22%
Cappuccino
$2.82Rp 51.0K
$1.72Rp 31.0K
63.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35Rp 24.4K
$0.52Rp 9,326
159.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73Rp 13.2K
$0.26Rp 4,646
180.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.93Rp 53.0K
$2.52Rp 45.4K
16.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94Rp 71.1K
$3.56Rp 64.2K
10.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Tanjung Balai Karimun
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78Rp 32.1K
$1.23Rp 22.2K
44.72%
White Bread(500g)
$2.45Rp 44.2K
$1.17Rp 21.1K
109.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.15Rp 20.7K
$0.94Rp 17.0K
22.34%
Eggs
$2.41Rp 43.6K
$1.52Rp 27.4K
58.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.33Rp 258.7K
$8.26Rp 149.2K
73.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.19Rp 75.6K
$3.25Rp 58.7K
28.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.06Rp 217.7K
$7.75Rp 140.0K
55.61%
Apples(1kg)
$3.64Rp 65.7K
$2.38Rp 42.9K
52.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57Rp 28.3K
$1.43Rp 25.9K
9.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.79Rp 50.3K
$1.85Rp 33.4K
50.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24Rp 40.5K
$1.49Rp 26.9K
50.34%
Potato(1kg)
$1.98Rp 35.7K
$1.36Rp 24.6K
45.59%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28Rp 41.1K
$1.97Rp 35.6K
15.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05Rp 19.0K
$0.97Rp 17.6K
8.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79Rp 14.2K
$0.41Rp 7,407
92.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.19Rp 57.6K
$2.48Rp 44.7K
28.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.49Rp 424.1K
$22.96Rp 414.6K
2.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90Rp 52.3K
$2.09Rp 37.7K
38.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76Rp 49.7K
$3.08Rp 55.6K
-10.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Tanjung Balai Karimun
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,813
$0.30Rp 5,401
-10.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.37Rp 151.1K
$9.77Rp 176.4K
-14.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 8,167
$0.52Rp 9,443
-13.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.46Rp 8,298
$0.38Rp 6,805
21.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.07Rp 109.6K
$2.95Rp 53.2K
105.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.86Rp 15.6K
$0.82Rp 14.8K
4.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KRp 480.0M
$24.5KRp 443.1M
8.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5KRp 587.6M
$27.4KRp 495.2M
18.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Tanjung Balai Karimun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.0Rp 1.4M
$70.7Rp 1.3M
11.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09Rp 73.9K
$4.18Rp 75.5K
-2.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.85Rp 430.5K
$22.71Rp 410.0K
5.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Tanjung Balai Karimun
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.8Rp 1.8M
$23.36Rp 421.8K
322.86%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35Rp 114.7K
$6.02Rp 108.7K
5.48%
Cinema Ticket
$4.01Rp 72.3K
$3.04Rp 54.9K
31.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Tanjung Balai Karimun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$297Rp 5.4M
$92.4Rp 1.7M
221.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,602Rp 119.2M
$7,730Rp 139.6M
-14.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Tanjung Balai Karimun
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4Rp 964.5K
$41.76Rp 753.9K
27.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.11Rp 688.1K
$30.97Rp 559.1K
23.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.7Rp 1.6M
$65.8Rp 1.2M
34.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.6Rp 1.4M
$74.0Rp 1.3M
3.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Tanjung Balai Karimun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,020Rp 18.4M
$258Rp 4.7M
294.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$680Rp 12.3M
$158Rp 2.9M
330.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,469Rp 62.6M
$576Rp 10.4M
502.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,090Rp 37.7M
$334Rp 6.0M
525.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,729Rp 49.3M
$1,137Rp 20.5M
140.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,295Rp 41.4M
$626Rp 11.3M
266.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Tanjung Balai Karimun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$164Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
9.15
45.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026
Last update for Tanjung Balai Karimun: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali and $258 in Tanjung Balai Karimun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $12.00 in Tanjung Balai Karimun for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $213 per month, with Tanjung Balai Karimun 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 Tanjung Balai Karimun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tanjung Balai Karimun cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Tanjung Balai Karimun is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 109% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,088 in Ubud, Bali and $1,000 in Tanjung Balai Karimun 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.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Tanjung Balai Karimun?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $258 in Tanjung Balai Karimun. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Tanjung Balai Karimun runs roughly 17% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $297 in Ubud, Bali versus $92.4 in Tanjung Balai Karimun. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Tanjung Balai Karimun?
At $666 in Tanjung Balai Karimun versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tanjung Balai Karimun but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Tanjung Balai Karimun the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Tanjung Balai Karimun more family-friendly?
For families, Tanjung Balai Karimun is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Tanjung Balai Karimun?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Tanjung Balai Karimun 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Tanjung Balai Karimun gentler on the wallet – expenses run 109% 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