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 $4,457 per month in San Francisco, CA vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,585 per month in San Francisco, CA vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $8,713 per month in San Francisco, CA vs $3,763 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

San Francisco, CA costs about 217% 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 234%, Ubud, Bali by 5%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Francisco, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.17 $25.17
$3.45 Rp 62.1K
629.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$132 $132
$32.34 Rp 581.1K
308.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.14 $15.14
$4.84 Rp 87.1K
212.81%
Cappuccino
$5.78 $5.78
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
110.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 $3.25
$1.38 Rp 24.9K
135.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 $2.47
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
229.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.12 $8.12
$2.99 Rp 53.8K
171.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.98 $7.98
$3.85 Rp 69.2K
107.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Francisco, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.74 Rp 31.2K
-16.09%
White Bread (500g)
$5.21 $5.21
$2.46 Rp 44.2K
111.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.54 $6.54
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
458.97%
Eggs
$6.10 $6.10
$2.43 Rp 43.7K
151.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$23.31 $23.31
$14.50 Rp 260.6K
60.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.24 $15.24
$4.35 Rp 78.2K
250.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.58 $23.58
$11.98 Rp 215.3K
96.83%
Apples (1kg)
$7.02 $7.02
$3.72 Rp 66.8K
88.71%
Banana (1kg)
$2.82 $2.82
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
73.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.38 $5.38
$2.74 Rp 49.3K
96.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.38 $7.38
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
229.46%
Potato (1kg)
$3.90 $3.90
$1.92 Rp 34.5K
103.13%
Onion (1kg)
$3.96 $3.96
$2.28 Rp 40.9K
73.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.79 $2.79
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
163.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.88 $2.88
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
300.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.02 $14.02
$3.29 Rp 59.0K
326.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.73 $14.73
$23.19 Rp 416.8K
-36.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
-10.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
22.34%
🚌 Getting Around
San Francisco, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.93 $2.93
$0.27 Rp 4,786
985.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$93.8 $93.8
$8.11 Rp 145.7K
1056.35%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.13 $4.13
$0.48 Rp 8,675
760.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.98 $1.98
$0.42 Rp 7,545
371.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.45 $39.45
$6.22 Rp 111.8K
534.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 $1.27
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
56.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5K $35.5K
$26.6K Rp 478.2M
33.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7K $25.7K
$32.2K Rp 578.5M
-20.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Francisco, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$221 $221
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
182.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$65.4 $65.4
$4.07 Rp 73.1K
1506.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.1 $67.1
$24.33 Rp 437.1K
175.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Francisco, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.9 $98.9
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
0.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.81 $12.81
$6.34 Rp 113.9K
102.05%
Cinema Ticket
$17.28 $17.28
$3.99 Rp 71.6K
333.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Francisco, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,185 $3,185
$305 Rp 5.5M
944.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$38.7K $38.7K
$6,642 Rp 119.4M
483.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Francisco, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.7 $69.7
$54.1 Rp 972.9K
28.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.05 $46.05
$37.81 Rp 679.4K
21.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 $100
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
15.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150 $150
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
96.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Francisco, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,297 $3,297
$992 Rp 17.8M
232.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,837 $2,837
$673 Rp 12.1M
321.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,406 $5,406
$3,375 Rp 60.7M
60.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,438 $4,438
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
116.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.7K $10.7K
$2,805 Rp 50.4M
280.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,742 $8,742
$2,227 Rp 40.0M
292.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Francisco, CA
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$7,420 $7,420
$167 Rp 3.0M
4344.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.36
13.28
-52.11%

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

Last update for San Francisco, CA: July 11, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,297 in San Francisco, CA 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 4344% 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 $132 in San Francisco, CA versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $558 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
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 217%, 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 $6,685 per month in San Francisco, CA and $2,112 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 88% 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 $132 in San Francisco, CA and $32.00 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 $1,408, than in San Francisco, CA at $4,457. 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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