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 $1,045 per month in San Juan del Sur vs $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,739 per month in San Juan del Sur vs $2,549 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,432 per month in San Juan del Sur vs $3,694 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 22% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.22 NIO 155

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

18.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 NIO 1,221

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

2.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.54 NIO 203

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

13.99%

Cappuccino

$2.47 NIO 90.3

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

-10.18%

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

$0.84 NIO 30.95

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

-36.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 NIO 25.09

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

-1.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.30 NIO 47.56

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

-55.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 NIO 74.7

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

-46.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 NIO 45.87

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

-26.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 NIO 54.6

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

-39.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 NIO 45.01

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

2.50%

Eggs

$1.97 NIO 72.0

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

-19.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.07 NIO 296

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

-43.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.29 NIO 230

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

45.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.02 NIO 294

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

-34.32%

Apples (1kg)

$3.85 NIO 141

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

4.62%

Banana (1kg)

$0.89 NIO 32.41

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

-42.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.84 NIO 67.4

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

-34.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 NIO 83.6

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

-2.15%

Potato (1kg)

$3.18 NIO 116

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

61.42%

Onion (1kg)

$2.16 NIO 79.0

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

-6.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 NIO 37.09

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

-4.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 NIO 36.86

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

38.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.64 NIO 96.5

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

-19.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.68 NIO 355

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

-57.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 NIO 53.3

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

-48.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.26 NIO 82.6

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

-18.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.49 NIO 54.5

$0.45 Rp 8,047

231.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.77 NIO 248

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

8.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 NIO 47.32

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

51.76%

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

$22.9K NIO 840.3K

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

-11.68%

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

$26.6K NIO 973.5K

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

-16.04%

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

$42.02 NIO 1,539

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

-47.96%

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

$10.46 NIO 383

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

157.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.59 NIO 1,340

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

49.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.48 NIO 1,116

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

-68.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

Cinema Ticket

$8.12 NIO 297

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

100.99%

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

$124 NIO 4,535

$304 Rp 5.4M

-59.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,023 NIO 220.6K

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

-9.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$76.8 NIO 2,812

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

41.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$72.0 NIO 2,637

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

85.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$132 NIO 4,823

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

52.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 NIO 3,915

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

39.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$473 NIO 17.3K

$986 Rp 17.7M

-51.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$416 NIO 15.3K

$658 Rp 11.8M

-36.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$948 NIO 34.7K

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

-71.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$956 NIO 35.0K

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

-53.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$281 NIO 10.3K

$163 Rp 2.9M

72.04%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $473 in San Juan del Sur versus $986 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 72% 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 $33.00 in San Juan del Sur versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $224 vs $297 – making San Juan del Sur 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 Juan del Sur vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,045 in San Juan del Sur, $1,404 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 34% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,568 per month in San Juan del Sur and $2,106 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 $33.00 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 $1,045, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. 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 $1,045 in San Juan del Sur to $1,404 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.