Cost of Living Comparison Between San Fernando, La Union and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between San Fernando, La Union and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $677 per month in San Fernando, La Union vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,032 per month in San Fernando, La Union vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,387 per month in San Fernando, La Union vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

San Fernando, La Union is about 52% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

San Fernando, La Union sits 49% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Fernando, La Union
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.62 ₱224
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
1.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.01 ₱1,111
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
-44.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.24 ₱200
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
-34.55%
Cappuccino
$2.48 ₱153
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
-8.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 ₱48.35
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
-41.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ₱22.54
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
-47.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.30 ₱79.9
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
-55.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 ₱130
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
-46.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Fernando, La Union
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.94 ₱181
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
62.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.27 ₱78.3
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
-49.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.93 ₱57.4
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
-19.83%
Eggs
$2.00 ₱123
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
-18.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.17 ₱504
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
-44.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.24 ₱261
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
-1.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.51 ₱463
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
-38.14%
Apples (1kg)
$2.96 ₱182
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
-22.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 ₱95.4
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
-0.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.64 ₱163
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
-6.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.61 ₱99.3
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
-30.90%
Potato (1kg)
$2.30 ₱142
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
20.42%
Onion (1kg)
$2.61 ₱161
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
18.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 ₱65.5
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
4.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 ₱44.80
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
-6.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 ₱180
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
-12.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.20 ₱506
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
-65.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21 ₱74.5
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
-56.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 ₱123
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
-30.42%
🚌 Getting Around
San Fernando, La Union
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.28 ₱17.37
$0.27 Rp 4,800
3.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.82 ₱50.6
$0.46 Rp 8,150
78.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.24 ₱14.88
$0.45 Rp 8,037
-46.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.07 ₱128
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
-66.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 ₱71.2
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
46.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K ₱1.6M
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
0.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7K ₱1.3M
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
-35.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Fernando, La Union
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$111 ₱6,873
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
39.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.80 ₱2,023
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
707.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.83 ₱1,716
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
18.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Fernando, La Union
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$13.42 ₱828
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-86.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.49 ₱277
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
-32.28%
Cinema Ticket
$5.82 ₱359
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
40.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Fernando, La Union
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$153 ₱9,463
$304 Rp 5.4M
-49.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,736 ₱353.7K
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
-13.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Fernando, La Union
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.93 ₱2,770
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
-19.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.48 ₱1,633
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
-30.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$35.74 ₱2,204
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
-59.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.67 ₱2,508
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
-47.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Fernando, La Union
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$131 ₱8,067
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
-87.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$123 ₱7,593
$675 Rp 12.1M
-81.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$249 ₱15.4K
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
-92.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$215 ₱13.3K
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
-89.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,315 ₱142.8K
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
-18.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$974 ₱60.1K
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
-56.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Fernando, La Union
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$165 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.67
13.28
-49.77%

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

Last update for San Fernando, La Union: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $131 in San Fernando, La Union 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in San Fernando, La Union versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $216 vs $302 – making San Fernando, La Union 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
San Fernando, La Union vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than San Fernando, La Union?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 110%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,016 per month in San Fernando, La Union and $2,129 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in San Fernando, La Union, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in San Fernando, La Union vs Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $677 in San Fernando, La Union and $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $153 per month in San Fernando, La Union and $304 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for San Fernando, La Union or Ubud, Bali?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in San Fernando, La Union, where all-in costs run around $677, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In San Fernando, La Union it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is San Fernando, La Union or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward San Fernando, La Union – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, San Fernando, La Union or Ubud, Bali?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with San Fernando, La Union. 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.

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