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 $888 per month in Sal vs $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,374 per month in Sal vs $2,334 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,860 per month in Sal vs $3,273 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Sal is about 36% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Sal sits 35% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 CVE 564

$3.37 Rp 59.7K

76.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$46.67 CVE 4,428

$38.59 Rp 682.4K

20.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.41 CVE 1,083

$5.52 Rp 97.6K

106.70%

Cappuccino

$2.43 CVE 231

$2.64 Rp 46.8K

-7.95%

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

$2.72 CVE 258

$1.67 Rp 29.6K

62.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 CVE 112

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

53.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.79 CVE 454

$2.63 Rp 46.6K

82.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 CVE 293

$4.28 Rp 75.7K

-28.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 CVE 150

$1.55 Rp 27.3K

1.94%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 CVE 221

$2.22 Rp 39.3K

4.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 CVE 117

$1.13 Rp 19.9K

8.85%

Eggs

$2.91 CVE 276

$2.09 Rp 36.9K

39.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.60 CVE 911

$17.39 Rp 307.6K

-44.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.82 CVE 742

$3.87 Rp 68.4K

102.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.71 CVE 1,586

$12.55 Rp 221.9K

33.15%

Apples (1kg)

$3.34 CVE 317

$3.62 Rp 63.9K

-7.73%

Banana (1kg)

$2.48 CVE 235

$1.56 Rp 27.6K

58.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.45 CVE 327

$2.35 Rp 41.6K

46.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.03 CVE 383

$2.06 Rp 36.4K

95.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.72 CVE 163

$1.90 Rp 33.6K

-9.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 CVE 182

$2.34 Rp 41.3K

-17.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.62 CVE 153

$1.03 Rp 18.2K

57.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 CVE 107

$0.55 Rp 9,809

105.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.78 CVE 453

$2.25 Rp 39.8K

112.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.87 CVE 652

$23.81 Rp 421.0K

-71.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.14 CVE 393

$2.31 Rp 40.9K

79.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 CVE 186

$2.80 Rp 49.5K

-30.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.03 CVE 98.1

$0.27 Rp 4,816

281.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.66 Rp 153.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 CVE 198

$0.48 Rp 8,515

333.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.19 CVE 303

$0.45 Rp 7,887

608.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.22 CVE 1,254

$5.72 Rp 101.1K

131.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 CVE 130

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

80.26%

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

$24.5K Rp 433.0M

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

$32.1K Rp 568.0M

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

$63.5 CVE 6,024

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

-24.01%

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

$6.46 Rp 114.2K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$50.6 CVE 4,804

$18.99 Rp 335.9K

166.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.27 CVE 2,777

$56.0 Rp 989.8K

-47.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.62 Rp 329.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 Rp 75.7K

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

$120 CVE 11.4K

$487 Rp 8.6M

-75.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,856 Rp 103.6M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.98 CVE 2,939

$45.56 Rp 805.6K

-32.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.38 Rp 643.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 Rp 1.4M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 CVE 13.8K

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

80.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$267 CVE 25.4K

$1,117 Rp 19.7M

-76.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$172 CVE 16.4K

$701 Rp 12.4M

-75.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$317 CVE 30.1K

$3,537 Rp 62.5M

-91.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$207 CVE 19.6K

$1,762 Rp 31.2M

-88.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$682 CVE 64.7K

$2,826 Rp 50.0M

-75.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$349 CVE 33.1K

$2,292 Rp 40.5M

-84.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$267 CVE 25.3K

$170 Rp 3.0M

57.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.25

13.78

-61.90%

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

Last update for Sal: September 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $267 in Sal versus $1,117 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 57% 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 $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $307 vs $293 – 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: $888 in Sal, $1,396 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 57% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,331 per month in Sal and $2,095 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 $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% 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 $888, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. 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 $888 in Sal to $1,396 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.