😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $641 in Tanjung Balai Karimun.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,348 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,009 in Tanjung Balai Karimun.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,377 in Tanjung Balai Karimun.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 113% more expensive than in Tanjung Balai Karimun, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Tanjung Balai Karimun is 53% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Tanjung Balai Karimun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44Rp 60.9K
$1.71Rp 30.3K
101.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.31Rp 643.0K
$13.98Rp 247.5K
159.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.71Rp 101.0K
$3.26Rp 57.6K
75.15%
Cappuccino
$2.67Rp 47.3K
$1.58Rp 28.0K
68.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75Rp 31.0K
$0.42Rp 7,476
316.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87Rp 15.4K
$0.23Rp 4,047
278.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.95Rp 52.3K
$2.41Rp 42.7K
22.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52Rp 80.0K
$3.83Rp 67.8K
18.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Tanjung Balai Karimun
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62Rp 28.7K
$1.01Rp 17.8K
60.40%
White Bread(500g)
$2.33Rp 41.3K
$0.95Rp 16.8K
145.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.11Rp 19.6K
$0.73Rp 13.0K
52.05%
Eggs
$2.20Rp 39.0K
$1.67Rp 29.5K
31.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.69Rp 313.3K
$8.12Rp 143.8K
117.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.10Rp 72.5K
$2.62Rp 46.4K
56.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.18Rp 215.6K
$7.00Rp 123.9K
74.00%
Apples(1kg)
$3.71Rp 65.6K
$2.31Rp 40.9K
60.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59Rp 28.1K
$1.46Rp 25.9K
8.90%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.28Rp 40.4K
$1.79Rp 31.6K
27.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.95Rp 34.6K
$1.14Rp 20.3K
71.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 33.7K
$1.47Rp 26.0K
29.93%
Onion(1kg)
$2.33Rp 41.3K
$1.71Rp 30.4K
36.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01Rp 17.8K
$0.77Rp 13.7K
31.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 9,773
$0.46Rp 8,082
19.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23Rp 39.5K
$2.65Rp 46.9K
-15.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.07Rp 408.6K
$21.67Rp 383.7K
6.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42Rp 42.8K
$2.02Rp 35.7K
19.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00Rp 53.1K
$3.32Rp 58.8K
-9.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Tanjung Balai Karimun
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,814
$0.30Rp 5,304
-10.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.98Rp 159.1K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,566
$0.49Rp 8,611
-2.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43Rp 7,679
$0.35Rp 6,132
22.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.64Rp 99.9K
$2.49Rp 44.2K
126.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.80Rp 14.2K
$0.81Rp 14.3K
-1.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9KRp 441.7M
$23.5KRp 416.5M
6.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7KRp 561.5M
$29.7KRp 525.9M
6.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Tanjung Balai Karimun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.5Rp 1.4M
$63.5Rp 1.1M
28.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49Rp 115.0K
$4.11Rp 72.8K
57.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.77Rp 332.4K
$22.22Rp 393.4K
-15.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Tanjung Balai Karimun
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.9Rp 1.0M
$21.70Rp 384.3K
162.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.73Rp 331.7K
$7.69Rp 136.2K
143.56%
Cinema Ticket
$4.54Rp 80.4K
$2.61Rp 46.2K
73.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Tanjung Balai Karimun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$481Rp 8.5M
$95.1Rp 1.7M
405.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,711Rp 101.1M
$8,545Rp 151.3M
-33.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Tanjung Balai Karimun
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.52Rp 806.0K
$41.76Rp 739.4K
9.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.88Rp 635.4K
$27.37Rp 484.7K
31.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.4Rp 1.4M
$74.1Rp 1.3M
8.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.7Rp 1.4M
$74.7Rp 1.3M
5.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Tanjung Balai Karimun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,115Rp 19.7M
$232Rp 4.1M
380.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$698Rp 12.4M
$159Rp 2.8M
338.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,637Rp 64.4M
$582Rp 10.3M
524.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,737Rp 30.8M
$407Rp 7.2M
327.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,784Rp 49.3M
$1,101Rp 19.5M
152.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,290Rp 40.5M
$602Rp 10.7M
280.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Tanjung Balai Karimun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$168Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
9.46
45.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026
Last update for Tanjung Balai Karimun: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali and $232 in Tanjung Balai Karimun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $14.00 in Tanjung Balai Karimun for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $295 vs $197 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, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 113% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,052 in Ubud, Bali and $962 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: $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $232 in Tanjung Balai Karimun. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Tanjung Balai Karimun?
Supermarket bills run roughly 50% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali and in Tanjung Balai Karimun?
All in, you'll spend $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $641 in Tanjung Balai Karimun – a 113% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Tanjung Balai Karimun?
At $641 in Tanjung Balai Karimun versus $1,368 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 113% 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