Cost of Living Comparison Between San Juan del Sur and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between San Juan del Sur and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,058 per month in San Juan del Sur vs $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,734 per month in San Juan del Sur vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,410 per month in San Juan del Sur vs $3,732 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

San Juan del Sur is about 26% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

San Juan del Sur sits 21% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.08 NIO 151

$3.57 Rp 61.6K

14.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.82 NIO 1,246

$32.58 Rp 562.6K

3.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 NIO 207

$5.07 Rp 87.5K

11.05%

Cappuccino

$2.36 NIO 87.2

$2.83 Rp 48.8K

-16.61%

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

$0.81 NIO 29.77

$1.34 Rp 23.1K

-39.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 NIO 24.96

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

-1.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.32 NIO 48.83

$2.99 Rp 51.6K

-55.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 NIO 72.0

$3.85 Rp 66.4K

-49.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 NIO 45.13

$1.74 Rp 30.1K

-29.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 NIO 56.5

$2.54 Rp 43.8K

-39.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 NIO 45.25

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

3.36%

Eggs

$1.87 NIO 69.1

$2.43 Rp 41.9K

-23.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.94 NIO 293

$14.66 Rp 253.2K

-45.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.42 NIO 237

$4.18 Rp 72.1K

53.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.17 NIO 301

$11.94 Rp 206.1K

-31.57%

Apples (1kg)

$4.00 NIO 147

$3.69 Rp 63.6K

8.40%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 NIO 31.59

$1.61 Rp 27.7K

-46.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 NIO 65.5

$2.69 Rp 46.4K

-33.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.29 NIO 84.6

$2.33 Rp 40.2K

-1.72%

Potato (1kg)

$3.30 NIO 121

$1.91 Rp 32.9K

72.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 NIO 82.2

$2.19 Rp 37.7K

1.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 NIO 37.32

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

-4.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 NIO 37.19

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

40.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.60 NIO 95.9

$3.13 Rp 54.1K

-16.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.97 NIO 367

$23.49 Rp 405.6K

-57.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 NIO 51.6

$2.74 Rp 47.3K

-48.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 NIO 81.2

$2.88 Rp 49.7K

-23.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,010

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.54 NIO 56.6

$0.45 Rp 7,834

242.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,278

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.97 NIO 257

$6.16 Rp 106.3K

13.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 NIO 46.06

$0.84 Rp 14.5K

48.81%

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

$22.6K NIO 831.8K

$26.2K Rp 453.1M

-14.01%

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

$25.9K NIO 955.0K

$32.5K Rp 560.8M

-20.22%

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

$43.25 NIO 1,594

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

-44.85%

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

$10.71 NIO 395

$3.95 Rp 68.2K

171.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.69 NIO 1,352

$24.40 Rp 421.4K

50.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.06 NIO 1,108

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

-68.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 109.6K

Cinema Ticket

$7.84 NIO 289

$4.04 Rp 69.7K

94.06%

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

$125 NIO 4,603

$303 Rp 5.2M

-58.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,054 NIO 223.1K

$6,523 Rp 112.6M

-7.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$78.2 NIO 2,884

$53.8 Rp 929.5K

45.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$73.0 NIO 2,689

$37.98 Rp 655.8K

92.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 NIO 4,852

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

51.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 NIO 3,917

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

34.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$474 NIO 17.5K

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

-53.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$414 NIO 15.3K

$674 Rp 11.6M

-38.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$942 NIO 34.7K

$3,390 Rp 58.5M

-72.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$978 NIO 36.1K

$2,098 Rp 36.2M

-53.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$279 NIO 10.3K

$173 Rp 3.0M

61.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.25

13.28

-22.82%

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

Last update for San Juan del Sur: April 26, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $474 in San Juan del Sur versus $1,012 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 61% higher in San Juan del Sur, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $34.00 in San Juan del Sur versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $226 in San Juan del Sur vs $298 in Ubud, Bali – so San Juan del Sur wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 del Sur vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,058 in San Juan del Sur, $1,438 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 36% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,587 per month in San Juan del Sur and $2,158 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Juan del Sur, 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 $34.00 in San Juan del Sur and $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 32% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in San Juan del Sur, where all-in costs run around $1,058, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. In San Juan del Sur it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. San Juan del Sur has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,058 in San Juan del Sur to $1,438 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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