🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $868 in San Juan versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,372 in San Juan versus $2,327 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,877 in San Juan versus $3,275 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in San Juan costs roughly 37% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: San Juan is 37% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Juan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.11ARS 10.7K
$3.33Rp 58.7K
113.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.20ARS 60.6K
$35.82Rp 630.7K
12.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.48ARS 18.8K
$5.63Rp 99.1K
121.67%
Cappuccino
$2.58ARS 3,890
$2.82Rp 49.7K
-8.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19ARS 3,301
$1.75Rp 30.8K
25.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75ARS 2,640
$0.80Rp 14.0K
118.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.95ARS 5,959
$3.04Rp 53.6K
29.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.40ARS 6,638
$4.30Rp 75.7K
2.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Juan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32ARS 1,998
$1.61Rp 28.3K
-18.01%
White Bread(500g)
$1.41ARS 2,124
$2.27Rp 39.9K
-37.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.41ARS 2,123
$1.17Rp 20.6K
20.51%
Eggs
$1.46ARS 2,201
$2.17Rp 38.2K
-32.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.79ARS 4,207
$17.63Rp 310.5K
-84.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.28ARS 9,467
$4.05Rp 71.4K
55.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.79ARS 16.3K
$12.18Rp 214.5K
-11.41%
Apples(1kg)
$1.39ARS 2,092
$3.62Rp 63.7K
-61.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45ARS 2,183
$1.64Rp 28.8K
-11.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.35ARS 2,030
$2.31Rp 40.6K
-41.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.41ARS 2,120
$1.96Rp 34.5K
-28.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.39ARS 2,098
$1.84Rp 32.5K
-24.46%
Onion(1kg)
$1.44ARS 2,173
$2.37Rp 41.7K
-39.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39ARS 2,100
$1.05Rp 18.5K
32.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45ARS 2,195
$0.54Rp 9,560
168.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.83ARS 4,263
$2.30Rp 40.6K
23.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.07ARS 7,642
$23.08Rp 406.4K
-78.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44ARS 2,175
$2.34Rp 41.2K
-38.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41ARS 2,122
$3.07Rp 54.0K
-54.07%
🚌 Getting Around
San Juan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.03ARS 1,547
$0.25Rp 4,365
312.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$9.42Rp 165.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.02ARS 3,046
$0.49Rp 8,631
312.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.98ARS 1,478
$0.47Rp 8,349
108.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.86ARS 7,328
$5.60Rp 98.6K
-13.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.12ARS 1,687
$0.81Rp 14.2K
38.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KARS 40.2M
$25.0KRp 440.3M
6.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1KARS 50.0M
$31.1KRp 547.0M
6.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Juan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$137ARS 206.8K
$82.7Rp 1.5M
65.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.18ARS 15.4K
$6.49Rp 114.2K
56.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.04ARS 27.2K
$18.79Rp 330.8K
-3.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Juan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.82ARS 45.0K
$55.2Rp 972.6K
-46.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.21Rp 320.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.17ARS 10.8K
$4.30Rp 75.7K
66.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Juan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$173ARS 260.7K
$494Rp 8.7M
-65.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,198ARS 6.3M
$5,917Rp 104.2M
-29.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Juan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$106ARS 159.8K
$46.28Rp 814.8K
128.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.07ARS 65.0K
$36.44Rp 641.6K
18.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$57.7ARS 87.0K
$80.7Rp 1.4M
-28.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$35.91ARS 54.2K
$78.8Rp 1.4M
-54.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Juan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$250ARS 376.9K
$1,114Rp 19.6M
-77.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$203ARS 305.6K
$693Rp 12.2M
-70.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$507ARS 765.1K
$3,639Rp 64.1M
-86.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$395ARS 595.1K
$1,712Rp 30.1M
-76.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,761Rp 48.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,293Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Juan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$686ARS 1.0M
$167Rp 2.9M
310.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
54
13.78
291.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for San Juan: September 6, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $250 in San Juan and $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰San Juan pays 311% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $40.00 in San Juan vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $189 vs $294, with San Juan cheaper for home cooking.
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 Juan vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, San Juan or Ubud, Bali?
San Juan wins on cost – living expenses run 59% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making San Juan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in San Juan or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 311% higher in San Juan, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in San Juan compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $250 in San Juan versus $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in San Juan or in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 55% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in San Juan compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $868 per month in San Juan versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali – a 59% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in San Juan or in Ubud, Bali?
At $868 in San Juan versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in San Juan but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes San Juan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, San Juan or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but San Juan delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $868 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes San Juan hard to pass up.
How safe is San Juan compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, San Juan and Ubud, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find San Juan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.