Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between San Jose and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,571 per month in San Jose vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,481 per month in San Jose vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,392 per month in San Jose vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

San Jose costs about 11% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both San Jose and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – San Jose by 17%, Ubud, Bali by 6%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.80 ₡4,935

$3.56 Rp 63.9K

203.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.5 ₡27.2K

$32.73 Rp 586.8K

81.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.15 ₡4,637

$4.95 Rp 88.7K

105.05%

Cappuccino

$3.88 ₡1,772

$2.71 Rp 48.6K

43.17%

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

$1.98 ₡906

$1.34 Rp 24.1K

47.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 ₡758

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

137.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.02 ₡1,380

$2.92 Rp 52.3K

3.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.75 ₡2,171

$3.96 Rp 70.9K

19.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.99 ₡908

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

9.94%

White Bread (500g)

$2.89 ₡1,321

$2.52 Rp 45.1K

14.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.21 ₡1,011

$1.16 Rp 20.8K

90.52%

Eggs

$2.93 ₡1,337

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

19.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.72 ₡4,439

$14.71 Rp 263.7K

-33.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.05 ₡4,133

$4.32 Rp 77.4K

109.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.49 ₡6,164

$12.14 Rp 217.5K

11.12%

Apples (1kg)

$4.40 ₡2,012

$3.84 Rp 68.8K

14.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 ₡682

$1.56 Rp 27.9K

-4.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.29 ₡1,959

$2.83 Rp 50.8K

51.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.45 ₡1,578

$2.33 Rp 41.7K

48.07%

Potato (1kg)

$3.55 ₡1,623

$1.91 Rp 34.3K

85.86%

Onion (1kg)

$3.09 ₡1,410

$2.20 Rp 39.5K

40.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 ₡443

$1.01 Rp 18.2K

-3.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 ₡1,288

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

261.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.40 ₡2,468

$3.32 Rp 59.4K

62.65%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.19 ₡10.1K

$23.74 Rp 425.5K

-6.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.53 ₡1,156

$2.79 Rp 50.0K

-9.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 ₡1,273

$2.86 Rp 51.3K

-2.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 ₡467

$0.27 Rp 4,819

277.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.73 ₡19.1K

$8.03 Rp 143.9K

419.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.82 ₡831

$0.46 Rp 8,181

295.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 ₡810

$0.45 Rp 8,068

293.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.93 ₡3,625

$6.10 Rp 109.3K

30.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ₡661

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

83.54%

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

$37.7K ₡17.2M

$26.1K Rp 468.8M

44.29%

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

$32.4K ₡14.8M

$32.1K Rp 575.8M

0.78%

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

$92.1 ₡42.1K

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

15.15%

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

$26.20 ₡12.0K

$4.06 Rp 72.9K

545.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$60.1 ₡27.4K

$23.52 Rp 421.6K

155.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.7 ₡25.9K

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

-42.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.58 ₡17.2K

$6.63 Rp 118.8K

466.82%

Cinema Ticket

$9.98 ₡4,562

$4.15 Rp 74.3K

140.48%

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

$560 ₡256.0K

$304 Rp 5.4M

84.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K ₡5.9M

$6,613 Rp 118.5M

93.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.7 ₡29.1K

$55.5 Rp 995.6K

14.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.1 ₡23.8K

$38.31 Rp 686.7K

35.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₡57.2K

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

41.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡48.9K

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

37.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$879 ₡401.6K

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

-12.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$541 ₡247.2K

$675 Rp 12.1M

-19.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,418 ₡647.7K

$3,442 Rp 61.7M

-58.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,017 ₡464.8K

$2,039 Rp 36.6M

-50.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,258 ₡1.0M

$2,841 Rp 50.9M

-20.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,806 ₡825.4K

$2,264 Rp 40.6M

-20.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,042 ₡476.1K

$165 Rp 3.0M

530.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

13.28

-23.42%

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

Last update for San Jose: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $879 in San Jose 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.

Salaries run about 531% higher in San Jose, 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 $60.0 in San Jose versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $367 vs $302 – 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 Jose vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – San Jose is pricier by about 11%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,356 per month in San Jose and $2,129 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in San Jose and $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,571 in San Jose and $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,419, than in San Jose at $1,571. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Jose it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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 Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Jose makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.