Cost of Living Comparison Between General Santos and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between General Santos and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $701 in General Santos versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,078 in General Santos versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,455 in General Santos versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in General Santos costs roughly 51% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: General Santos is 48% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
General Santos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.45 ₱275
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
25.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.55 ₱650
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
-67.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.84 ₱175
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
-42.63%
Cappuccino
$2.06 ₱127
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
-23.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ₱21.95
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
-73.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 ₱18.33
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
-57.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.13 ₱69.5
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
-61.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 ₱56.2
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
-77.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
General Santos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 ₱86.2
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
-22.65%
White Bread (500g)
$0.93 ₱57.3
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
-63.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.85 ₱52.3
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
-26.72%
Eggs
$2.06 ₱127
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
-16.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.15 ₱379
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
-58.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.01 ₱185
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
-30.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.38 ₱394
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
-47.45%
Apples (1kg)
$2.96 ₱183
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
-22.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.14 ₱70.6
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
-26.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.30 ₱142
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
-18.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.43 ₱26.29
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
-81.55%
Potato (1kg)
$0.92 ₱56.9
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
-51.83%
Onion (1kg)
$3.14 ₱193
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
42.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 ₱63.7
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
1.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 ₱36.94
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
-23.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.17 ₱134
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
-34.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.18 ₱504
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
-65.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 ₱67.0
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
-60.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50 ₱92.6
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
-47.55%
🚌 Getting Around
General Santos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 ₱20.82
$0.27 Rp 4,800
25.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.93 ₱550
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
11.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.82 ₱50.6
$0.46 Rp 8,150
78.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.16 ₱9.83
$0.45 Rp 8,037
-64.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 ₱81.0
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
-78.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 ₱67.7
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
39.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.6K ₱1.3M
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
-21.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K ₱1.3M
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
-36.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
General Santos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$74.6 ₱4,601
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
-6.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.23 ₱2,111
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
743.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.19 ₱2,231
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
53.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
General Santos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.55 ₱2,069
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-66.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$1.75 ₱108
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
-73.60%
Cinema Ticket
$3.11 ₱192
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
-25.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
General Santos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$58.8 ₱3,628
$304 Rp 5.4M
-80.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,404 ₱86.5K
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
-78.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
General Santos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.99 ₱2,774
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
-19.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.05 ₱990
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
-58.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.6 ₱4,293
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
-21.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.7 ₱4,234
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
-11.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
General Santos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$271 ₱16.7K
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
-73.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$179 ₱11.0K
$675 Rp 12.1M
-73.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$584 ₱36.0K
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
-83.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$389 ₱24.0K
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
-80.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
General Santos
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$165 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.5
13.28
-51.05%

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

Last update for General Santos: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $271 in General Santos and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $11.00 in General Santos vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $166 vs $302 per month, with General Santos 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
General Santos vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, General Santos or Ubud, Bali?
General Santos wins on cost – living expenses run 102% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making General Santos the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in General Santos vs Ubud, Bali?
You'd need roughly $1,052 in General Santos and $2,129 in Ubud, Bali 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in General Santos vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $271 in General Santos versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in General Santos vs Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in General Santos – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in General Santos compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $701 per month in General Santos versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – a 102% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in General Santos or Ubud, Bali?
At $701 in General Santos versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in General Santos but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes General Santos the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, General Santos or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but General Santos delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $701 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes General Santos hard to pass up.
How safe is General Santos compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, General Santos and Ubud, Bali 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find General Santos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 102% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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