Cost of Living Comparison Between Sal and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Sal and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,014 per month in Sal vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,540 per month in Sal vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,066 per month in Sal vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Sal is about 29% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Sal sits 24% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.80 CVE 549

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

62.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.87 CVE 4,437

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

43.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.28 CVE 690

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

47.07%

Cappuccino

$2.28 CVE 216

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

-15.87%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 CVE 230

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

81.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 CVE 106

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

60.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.85 CVE 364

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

31.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.11 CVE 295

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

-21.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 CVE 142

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

-17.13%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 CVE 210

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

-11.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 CVE 147

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

33.62%

Eggs

$2.87 CVE 272

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

16.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.06 CVE 1,048

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

-24.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.21 CVE 777

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

90.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.60 CVE 1,572

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

36.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.93 CVE 278

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

-23.70%

Banana (1kg)

$2.54 CVE 240

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

62.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.94 CVE 279

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

3.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.16 CVE 394

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

78.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.63 CVE 154

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

-14.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 CVE 186

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

-10.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.84 CVE 174

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

82.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 CVE 108

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

46.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.84 CVE 459

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

45.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.99 CVE 662

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

-70.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.98 CVE 283

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

6.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 CVE 187

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

-31.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 CVE 97.7

$0.27 Rp 4,800

281.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.13 CVE 201

$0.46 Rp 8,150

363.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.83 CVE 268

$0.45 Rp 8,037

528.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.83 CVE 1,214

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

110.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 CVE 135

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

81.01%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$89.8 CVE 8,500

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

12.31%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.2 CVE 5,225

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

134.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.47 CVE 3,358

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

-64.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$150 CVE 14.2K

$304 Rp 5.4M

-50.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,546 CVE 241.1K

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

-61.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.74 CVE 3,006

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

-42.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$146 CVE 13.8K

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

87.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$335 CVE 31.7K

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

-66.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$295 CVE 27.9K

$675 Rp 12.1M

-56.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$446 CVE 42.2K

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

-87.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 CVE 37.9K

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

-80.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$674 CVE 63.8K

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

-76.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$348 CVE 33.0K

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

-84.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$263 CVE 24.9K

$165 Rp 3.0M

59.14%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

13.28

-53.54%

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

Last update for Sal: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $335 in Sal versus $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 59% higher in Sal, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Sal versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $304 vs $302 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Sal vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,014 in Sal, $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 40% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,521 per month in Sal and $2,129 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sal, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Sal and $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Ubud, Bali – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sal, where all-in costs run around $1,014, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Sal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,014 in Sal to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Sal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.