Cirebon vs Ubud
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Cirebon is approximately 94% less expensive than Ubud based on cost of living including rent. This makes Cirebon a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Cirebon has a FIRE Score of 78/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 60, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Cirebon is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
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Best in rowIndonesia
Cirebon
Indonesia
Ubud
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Cirebon
Cirebon is a cheap place to live, with a 1-bedroom in the center at $280/mo and a single person spending about $380/mo excluding rent, but the average local net salary of $168/mo means you must arrive with outside income. The catch is the expat scene: very few expats, limited English, and a retiree score of 54/100, so do not expect an easy social landing. The $2,000/mo income floor for both the retirement and remote worker visas is steep for a city this small, and the digital nomad score of 56/100 reflects it. Come for the low costs and the 5 km hop to CBN, not for community.
About Indonesia
Skip this if you need English-speaking doctors or a fast path to citizenship, both weak here. But budget retirees can live well on $429.70/mo excl. rent plus sub-$320 rent, and the $2,000/mo Retirement KITAS is achievable. Best suited for low-cost-focused retirees, not remote workers facing the $387/mo nomad visa threshold.
Ubud ranks meaningfully higher on safety. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Cirebon is approximately 94% less expensive than Ubud based on cost of living including rent. This makes Cirebon a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Cirebon has a FIRE Score of 78/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 60, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Cirebon is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Cirebon
Cirebon is a cheap place to live, with a 1-bedroom in the center at $280/mo and a single person spending about $380/mo excluding rent, but the average local net salary of $168/mo means you must arrive with outside income. The catch is the expat scene: very few expats, limited English, and a retiree score of 54/100, so do not expect an easy social landing. The $2,000/mo income floor for both the retirement and remote worker visas is steep for a city this small, and the digital nomad score of 56/100 reflects it. Come for the low costs and the 5 km hop to CBN, not for community.
About Indonesia
Skip this if you need English-speaking doctors or a fast path to citizenship, both weak here. But budget retirees can live well on $429.70/mo excl. rent plus sub-$320 rent, and the $2,000/mo Retirement KITAS is achievable. Best suited for low-cost-focused retirees, not remote workers facing the $387/mo nomad visa threshold.
$2,527/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Ubud
Ubud is a bargain for renters who can live on local wages, but the numbers expose the catch: a $168/mo average net salary cannot touch $544/mo city-center rent, so this town runs on foreign income, not local opportunity. The $2,000/mo income floor on both the Indonesia Retirement Visa (KITAS) and the Indonesia Remote Worker Visa (E33G) tells you exactly who Ubud is built for. Internet at 20 Mbps and a 57/100 digital nomad score make remote work possible but not painless, and healthcare rated only Fair is the real long-term risk. Come for the $3 meals and $2 cappuccinos, stay only if you have a first-world paycheck and a high tolerance for humid, monsoon-soaked air.
About Indonesia
Skip this if you need English-speaking doctors or a fast path to citizenship, both weak here. But budget retirees can live well on $429.70/mo excl. rent plus sub-$320 rent, and the $2,000/mo Retirement KITAS is achievable. Best suited for low-cost-focused retirees, not remote workers facing the $387/mo nomad visa threshold.
$2,264/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | Cirebon | Ubud |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $280 | $544.43 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $200 | $406.81 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $550 | $1935.77 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $400 | $1395.99 |
| Safety Index | 60 | 70 |
| Internet Speed | 35Mbps | 20Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Cirebon | Ubud |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $483/mo | $736/mo |
| Excluding rent | $283/mo | $329/mo |
| Rent | $200/mo | $407/mo |
| Groceries | $83.00/mo | $113/mo |
| Dining out | $27.00/mo | $28.00/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $30.00/mo | $83.00/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $143/mo | $105/mo |
| Transport | N/A | N/A |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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