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 $1,036 per month in San Juan del Sur vs $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,716 per month in San Juan del Sur vs $2,557 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,396 per month in San Juan del Sur vs $3,723 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 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.09 NIO 150

$3.57 Rp 64.5K

14.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.15 NIO 1,251

$32.32 Rp 583.4K

5.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.74 NIO 210

$5.01 Rp 90.4K

14.57%

Cappuccino

$2.33 NIO 85.3

$2.82 Rp 51.0K

-17.38%

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

$0.78 NIO 28.73

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

-42.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 NIO 26.08

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

-2.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.32 NIO 48.50

$2.93 Rp 53.0K

-54.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 NIO 74.4

$3.94 Rp 71.1K

-48.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 NIO 46.61

$1.78 Rp 32.1K

-28.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 NIO 55.4

$2.45 Rp 44.2K

-38.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 NIO 43.16

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

2.61%

Eggs

$1.91 NIO 69.9

$2.41 Rp 43.6K

-20.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.07 NIO 295

$14.33 Rp 258.7K

-43.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.34 NIO 232

$4.19 Rp 75.6K

51.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.22 NIO 301

$12.06 Rp 217.7K

-31.84%

Apples (1kg)

$3.78 NIO 139

$3.64 Rp 65.7K

3.85%

Banana (1kg)

$0.91 NIO 33.41

$1.57 Rp 28.3K

-42.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 NIO 64.2

$2.79 Rp 50.3K

-37.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 NIO 83.6

$2.24 Rp 40.5K

1.79%

Potato (1kg)

$3.11 NIO 114

$1.98 Rp 35.7K

57.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 NIO 83.1

$2.28 Rp 41.1K

-0.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 NIO 37.35

$1.05 Rp 19.0K

-2.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 NIO 38.65

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

34.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.60 NIO 95.0

$3.19 Rp 57.6K

-18.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.84 NIO 361

$23.49 Rp 424.1K

-58.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 NIO 51.2

$2.90 Rp 52.3K

-51.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 NIO 83.4

$2.76 Rp 49.7K

-17.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,813

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 151.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.54 NIO 56.3

$0.45 Rp 8,167

242.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,298

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.61 NIO 242

$6.07 Rp 109.6K

8.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 NIO 45.37

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

44.19%

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

$23.4K NIO 856.1K

$26.6K Rp 480.0M

-12.08%

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

$26.0K NIO 953.0K

$32.5K Rp 587.6M

-20.05%

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

$43.22 NIO 1,583

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

-45.30%

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

$10.70 NIO 392

$4.09 Rp 73.9K

161.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.53 NIO 1,338

$23.85 Rp 430.5K

53.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.26 NIO 1,108

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

-69.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 114.7K

Cinema Ticket

$8.24 NIO 302

$4.01 Rp 72.3K

105.49%

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

$126 NIO 4,606

$297 Rp 5.4M

-57.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,030 NIO 220.8K

$6,602 Rp 119.2M

-8.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$77.8 NIO 2,849

$53.4 Rp 964.5K

45.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$72.9 NIO 2,670

$38.11 Rp 688.1K

91.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$133 NIO 4,857

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

49.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 NIO 3,972

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

41.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$472 NIO 17.3K

$1,020 Rp 18.4M

-53.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$410 NIO 15.0K

$680 Rp 12.3M

-39.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$967 NIO 35.4K

$3,469 Rp 62.6M

-72.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$962 NIO 35.2K

$2,090 Rp 37.7M

-53.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,729 Rp 49.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,295 Rp 41.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$353 NIO 12.9K

$164 Rp 3.0M

115.49%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $472 in San Juan del Sur versus $1,020 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 115% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $225 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: $1,036 in San Juan del Sur, $1,392 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 $1,555 per month in San Juan del Sur and $2,088 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 $32.00 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 $1,036, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. 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 $1,036 in San Juan del Sur to $1,392 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.