Cost of Living Comparison Between San Francisco, CA and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between San Francisco, CA and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,463 per month in San Francisco, CA vs $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,812 per month in San Francisco, CA vs $2,334 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,161 per month in San Francisco, CA vs $3,273 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

San Francisco, CA costs about 220% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both San Francisco, CA and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – San Francisco, CA by 225%, Ubud, Bali by 2%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Francisco, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.72 $24.72
$3.37 Rp 59.7K
633.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$121 $121
$38.59 Rp 682.4K
212.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.27 $15.27
$5.52 Rp 97.6K
176.63%
Cappuccino
$5.79 $5.79
$2.64 Rp 46.8K
119.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 $3.18
$1.67 Rp 29.6K
90.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 $2.75
$0.77 Rp 13.6K
257.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.99 $7.99
$2.63 Rp 46.6K
203.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.79 $8.79
$4.28 Rp 75.7K
105.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Francisco, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 $1.73
$1.55 Rp 27.3K
11.61%
White Bread (500g)
$5.91 $5.91
$2.22 Rp 39.3K
166.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.15 $5.15
$1.13 Rp 19.9K
355.75%
Eggs
$5.19 $5.19
$2.09 Rp 36.9K
148.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.23 $17.23
$17.39 Rp 307.6K
-0.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.46 $16.46
$3.87 Rp 68.4K
325.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.66 $23.66
$12.55 Rp 221.9K
88.53%
Apples (1kg)
$6.66 $6.66
$3.62 Rp 63.9K
83.98%
Banana (1kg)
$3.01 $3.01
$1.56 Rp 27.6K
92.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.70 $4.70
$2.35 Rp 41.6K
100.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.12 $7.12
$2.06 Rp 36.4K
245.63%
Potato (1kg)
$3.15 $3.15
$1.90 Rp 33.6K
65.79%
Onion (1kg)
$3.88 $3.88
$2.34 Rp 41.3K
65.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.06 $3.06
$1.03 Rp 18.2K
197.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.85 $2.85
$0.55 Rp 9,809
418.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.07 $12.07
$2.25 Rp 39.8K
436.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.23 $15.23
$23.81 Rp 421.0K
-36.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.29 $3.29
$2.31 Rp 40.9K
42.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 $3.43
$2.80 Rp 49.5K
22.50%
🚌 Getting Around
San Francisco, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.04 $3.04
$0.27 Rp 4,816
1025.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$91.4 $91.4
$8.66 Rp 153.2K
954.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.07 $4.07
$0.48 Rp 8,515
747.92%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.07 $2.07
$0.45 Rp 7,887
360.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$38.35 $38.35
$5.72 Rp 101.1K
570.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.48 $1.48
$0.76 Rp 13.4K
94.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.3K $37.3K
$24.5K Rp 433.0M
52.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$32.1K Rp 568.0M
-20.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Francisco, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$247 $247
$83.6 Rp 1.5M
195.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$64.2 $64.2
$6.46 Rp 114.2K
893.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$77.5 $77.5
$18.99 Rp 335.9K
308.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Francisco, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$132 $132
$56.0 Rp 989.8K
135.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.24 $22.24
$18.62 Rp 329.2K
19.44%
Cinema Ticket
$17.76 $17.76
$4.28 Rp 75.7K
314.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Francisco, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,872 $2,872
$487 Rp 8.6M
490.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$41.2K $41.2K
$5,856 Rp 103.6M
603.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Francisco, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.2 $81.2
$45.56 Rp 805.6K
78.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.9 $54.9
$36.38 Rp 643.3K
50.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 $107
$82.0 Rp 1.4M
30.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156 $156
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
94.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Francisco, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,768 $3,768
$1,117 Rp 19.7M
237.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,660 $2,660
$701 Rp 12.4M
279.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$6,137 $6,137
$3,537 Rp 62.5M
73.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,015 $5,015
$1,762 Rp 31.2M
184.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.7K $10.7K
$2,826 Rp 50.0M
277.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,549 $9,549
$2,292 Rp 40.5M
316.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Francisco, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,663 $6,663
$170 Rp 3.0M
3824.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.5
13.78
-52.83%

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

Last update for San Francisco, CA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,768 in San Francisco, CA 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 3824% higher in San Francisco, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $121 in San Francisco, CA versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $546 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
San Francisco, CA vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than San Francisco, CA?
Yes – San Francisco, CA is pricier by about 220%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $6,695 per month in San Francisco, CA and $2,095 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 Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in San Francisco, CA and in Ubud, Bali?
Groceries cost about 86% more in San Francisco, CA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in San Francisco, CA or in Ubud, Bali?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $121 in San Francisco, CA and $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in San Francisco, CA or in Ubud, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,396, than in San Francisco, CA at $4,463. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Francisco, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is San Francisco, CA or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ubud, Bali – 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 Francisco, CA 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 Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Francisco, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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