😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $666 in Tanjung Balai Karimun.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,032 in Tanjung Balai Karimun.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,694 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,397 in Tanjung Balai Karimun.
😐Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 111% more expensive than Tanjung Balai Karimun, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 4% above, Tanjung Balai Karimun is 50% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Tanjung Balai Karimun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57Rp 64.0K
$1.51Rp 27.1K
136.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.50Rp 582.3K
$12.42Rp 222.5K
161.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.86Rp 87.1K
$3.48Rp 62.3K
39.66%
Cappuccino
$2.75Rp 49.2K
$1.65Rp 29.5K
66.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32Rp 23.7K
$0.51Rp 9,139
158.82%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70Rp 12.6K
$0.28Rp 5,075
150.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.91Rp 52.2K
$2.44Rp 43.7K
19.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79Rp 68.0K
$3.55Rp 63.6K
6.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Tanjung Balai Karimun
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71Rp 30.6K
$1.22Rp 21.8K
40.16%
White Bread(500g)
$2.47Rp 44.3K
$1.13Rp 20.2K
118.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.20Rp 21.5K
$0.93Rp 16.6K
29.03%
Eggs
$2.44Rp 43.8K
$1.53Rp 27.5K
59.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.38Rp 257.7K
$8.02Rp 143.7K
79.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.31Rp 77.1K
$3.13Rp 56.0K
37.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.21Rp 218.7K
$7.78Rp 139.3K
56.94%
Apples(1kg)
$3.68Rp 66.0K
$2.38Rp 42.6K
54.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55Rp 27.8K
$1.44Rp 25.8K
7.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.79Rp 49.9K
$1.88Rp 33.6K
48.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 41.8K
$1.51Rp 27.0K
54.30%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97Rp 35.3K
$1.37Rp 24.5K
43.80%
Onion(1kg)
$2.31Rp 41.4K
$1.96Rp 35.2K
17.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 19.1K
$0.89Rp 15.9K
19.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73Rp 13.1K
$0.41Rp 7,386
78.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.28Rp 58.8K
$2.56Rp 45.9K
28.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.79Rp 408.4K
$20.88Rp 374.2K
9.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81Rp 50.3K
$2.05Rp 36.8K
37.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78Rp 49.9K
$3.21Rp 57.6K
-13.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Tanjung Balai Karimun
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,217
$0.32Rp 5,773
-9.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.06Rp 144.4K
$9.80Rp 175.5K
-17.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 8,047
$0.53Rp 9,514
-15.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45Rp 8,094
$0.35Rp 6,239
28.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.24Rp 111.7K
$2.90Rp 52.0K
115.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85Rp 15.2K
$0.82Rp 14.7K
3.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0KRp 465.4M
$25.0KRp 448.1M
3.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7KRp 567.2M
$28.0KRp 501.6M
13.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Tanjung Balai Karimun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8Rp 1.4M
$68.6Rp 1.2M
17.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06Rp 72.7K
$4.25Rp 76.1K
-4.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.42Rp 437.6K
$22.79Rp 408.4K
7.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Tanjung Balai Karimun
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$97.7Rp 1.7M
$23.17Rp 415.0K
321.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.45Rp 115.5K
$6.10Rp 109.3K
5.74%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04Rp 72.4K
$2.98Rp 53.4K
35.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Tanjung Balai Karimun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304Rp 5.4M
$94.0Rp 1.7M
223.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,621Rp 118.6M
$7,511Rp 134.6M
-11.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Tanjung Balai Karimun
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.2Rp 971.7K
$42.25Rp 757.0K
28.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.78Rp 694.7K
$31.28Rp 560.4K
23.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.1Rp 1.5M
$67.0Rp 1.2M
28.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7Rp 1.4M
$73.5Rp 1.3M
4.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Tanjung Balai Karimun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$986Rp 17.7M
$257Rp 4.6M
283.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$658Rp 11.8M
$158Rp 2.8M
316.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,369Rp 60.4M
$582Rp 10.4M
478.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,066Rp 37.0M
$333Rp 6.0M
520.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,741Rp 49.1M
$1,219Rp 21.8M
124.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,228Rp 39.9M
$787Rp 14.1M
182.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Tanjung Balai Karimun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$163Rp 2.9M
-
-
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: June 9, 2026
Last update for Tanjung Balai Karimun: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $986 in Ubud, Bali and $257 in Tanjung Balai Karimun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $12.00 in Tanjung Balai Karimun for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $207 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 111% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,106 in Ubud, Bali and $999 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: $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $257 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 22% 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 $304 in Ubud, Bali versus $94.0 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 Ubud, Bali or Tanjung Balai Karimun?
At $666 in Tanjung Balai Karimun versus $1,404 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 111% 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