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 $997 per month in Sal vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,518 per month in Sal vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,038 per month in Sal vs $3,763 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

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

Sal sits 25% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.72 CVE 552

$3.45 Rp 61.8K

65.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.66 CVE 4,500

$32.34 Rp 578.5K

44.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.38 CVE 712

$4.84 Rp 86.7K

52.48%

Cappuccino

$2.37 CVE 229

$2.75 Rp 49.1K

-13.82%

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

$2.43 CVE 234

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

76.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.17 CVE 113

$0.75 Rp 13.4K

56.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.98 CVE 384

$2.99 Rp 53.5K

33.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 CVE 311

$3.85 Rp 68.9K

-16.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 CVE 142

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

-15.52%

White Bread (500g)

$2.18 CVE 210

$2.46 Rp 44.0K

-11.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 CVE 149

$1.17 Rp 20.9K

31.62%

Eggs

$2.73 CVE 264

$2.43 Rp 43.5K

12.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.08 CVE 1,068

$14.50 Rp 259.5K

-23.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.32 CVE 803

$4.35 Rp 77.8K

91.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.37 CVE 1,579

$11.98 Rp 214.3K

36.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.82 CVE 272

$3.72 Rp 66.5K

-24.19%

Banana (1kg)

$2.55 CVE 246

$1.63 Rp 29.1K

56.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.97 CVE 286

$2.74 Rp 49.1K

8.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.05 CVE 390

$2.24 Rp 40.1K

80.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.62 CVE 156

$1.92 Rp 34.3K

-15.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 CVE 192

$2.28 Rp 40.7K

-12.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.86 CVE 180

$1.06 Rp 19.0K

75.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 CVE 107

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

54.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.74 CVE 457

$3.29 Rp 58.8K

44.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.65 CVE 641

$23.19 Rp 414.9K

-71.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.07 CVE 296

$2.78 Rp 49.7K

10.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 CVE 189

$2.73 Rp 48.9K

-28.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 CVE 100

$0.27 Rp 4,765

285.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.12 CVE 205

$0.48 Rp 8,636

341.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.77 CVE 267

$0.42 Rp 7,511

559.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.00 CVE 1,254

$6.22 Rp 111.3K

109.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 CVE 143

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

82.72%

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

$26.6K Rp 476.1M

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

$32.2K Rp 575.9M

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

$91.3 CVE 8,808

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

16.57%

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

$4.07 Rp 72.8K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$56.0 CVE 5,402

$24.33 Rp 435.2K

130.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.94 CVE 3,370

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

-64.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.3K

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.3K

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

$146 CVE 14.0K

$305 Rp 5.5M

-52.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,548 CVE 245.8K

$6,642 Rp 118.8M

-61.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.14 CVE 3,003

$54.1 Rp 968.6K

-42.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 676.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 CVE 14.0K

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

89.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$333 CVE 32.2K

$992 Rp 17.7M

-66.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$294 CVE 28.4K

$673 Rp 12.0M

-56.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$440 CVE 42.5K

$3,375 Rp 60.4M

-86.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$388 CVE 37.4K

$2,050 Rp 36.7M

-81.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$672 CVE 64.8K

$2,805 Rp 50.2M

-76.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$343 CVE 33.1K

$2,227 Rp 39.8M

-84.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$257 CVE 24.8K

$167 Rp 3.0M

53.92%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $333 in Sal versus $992 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 54% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $301 vs $297 – 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: $997 in Sal, $1,408 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 41% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,495 per month in Sal and $2,112 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 $32.00 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 $997, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. 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 $997 in Sal to $1,408 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.