🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $607 in San Juan versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $996 in San Juan versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,384 in San Juan versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in San Juan costs roughly 57% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: San Juan is 55% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Juan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.85ARS 8,646
$3.45Rp 62.0K
69.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.44ARS 43.5K
$32.34Rp 580.1K
-8.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.88ARS 11.6K
$4.84Rp 86.9K
62.81%
Cappuccino
$1.54ARS 2,278
$2.75Rp 49.3K
-44.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96ARS 1,417
$1.38Rp 24.8K
-30.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91ARS 1,341
$0.75Rp 13.5K
21.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.94ARS 2,875
$2.99Rp 53.7K
-35.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98ARS 4,402
$3.85Rp 69.1K
-22.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Juan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.71ARS 1,055
$1.74Rp 31.1K
-59.20%
White Bread(500g)
$0.66ARS 975
$2.46Rp 44.1K
-73.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.24ARS 1,828
$1.17Rp 21.0K
5.98%
Eggs
$1.74ARS 2,568
$2.43Rp 43.6K
-28.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.34ARS 4,940
$14.50Rp 260.2K
-76.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.49ARS 5,157
$4.35Rp 78.0K
-19.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.09ARS 6,047
$11.98Rp 214.9K
-65.86%
Apples(1kg)
$1.48ARS 2,186
$3.72Rp 66.7K
-60.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53ARS 2,260
$1.63Rp 29.2K
-6.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.54ARS 2,272
$2.74Rp 49.2K
-43.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.15ARS 3,173
$2.24Rp 40.2K
-4.02%
Potato(1kg)
$0.64ARS 943
$1.92Rp 34.4K
-66.67%
Onion(1kg)
$0.62ARS 916
$2.28Rp 40.8K
-72.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.39ARS 570
$1.06Rp 19.1K
-63.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86ARS 1,272
$0.72Rp 12.9K
19.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.78ARS 2,626
$3.29Rp 58.9K
-45.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.91ARS 7,253
$23.19Rp 416.1K
-78.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.48ARS 2,184
$2.78Rp 49.8K
-46.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84ARS 2,727
$2.73Rp 49.0K
-32.60%
🚌 Getting Around
San Juan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29ARS 427
$0.27Rp 4,778
7.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$5.10ARS 7,537
$8.11Rp 145.4K
-37.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.41ARS 609
$0.48Rp 8,659
-14.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.03ARS 1,522
$0.42Rp 7,532
145.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.99ARS 7,381
$6.22Rp 111.6K
-19.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11ARS 1,634
$0.81Rp 14.6K
37.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.6KARS 46.6M
$26.6KRp 477.4M
18.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.0KARS 31.1M
$32.2KRp 577.4M
-34.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Juan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$77.7ARS 114.9K
$78.4Rp 1.4M
-0.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.10ARS 7,544
$4.07Rp 73.0K
25.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.17ARS 15.0K
$24.33Rp 436.4K
-58.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Juan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.83ARS 26.3K
$98.6Rp 1.8M
-81.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.07ARS 8,967
$6.34Rp 113.7K
-4.26%
Cinema Ticket
$1.97ARS 2,916
$3.99Rp 71.5K
-50.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Juan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$102ARS 150.9K
$305Rp 5.5M
-66.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,197ARS 3.2M
$6,642Rp 119.2M
-66.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Juan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.17ARS 72.7K
$54.1Rp 971.2K
-9.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.82ARS 73.6K
$37.81Rp 678.2K
31.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.7ARS 147.4K
$86.8Rp 1.6M
14.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118ARS 173.8K
$76.4Rp 1.4M
54.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Juan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$150ARS 221.1K
$992Rp 17.8M
-84.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$91.6ARS 135.3K
$673Rp 12.1M
-86.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$250ARS 369.7K
$3,375Rp 60.5M
-92.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$204ARS 301.1K
$2,050Rp 36.8M
-90.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,550ARS 3.8M
$2,805Rp 50.3M
-9.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,083ARS 3.1M
$2,227Rp 39.9M
-6.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Juan
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$709ARS 1.0M
$167Rp 3.0M
324.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
79
13.28
494.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for San Juan: July 11, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $150 in San Juan and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰San Juan pays 325% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $29.00 in San Juan vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $135 vs $297 per month, with San Juan cheaper across the board.
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 132% 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 325% 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: $150 in San Juan versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in San Juan and in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $102 in San Juan versus $305 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in San Juan or in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 120% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in San Juan or in Ubud, Bali?
At $607 in San Juan versus $1,408 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 $607 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 132% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.