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 $1,053 per month in San Juan del Sur vs $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,662 per month in San Juan del Sur vs $2,348 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,271 per month in San Juan del Sur vs $3,327 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

San Juan del Sur is about 23% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

San Juan del Sur sits 23% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.24 NIO 155

$3.44 Rp 61.0K

23.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.90 NIO 1,242

$36.31 Rp 644.5K

-6.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.62 NIO 206

$5.71 Rp 101.3K

-1.58%

Cappuccino

$2.56 NIO 93.8

$2.67 Rp 47.4K

-4.12%

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

$0.90 NIO 32.79

$1.75 Rp 31.1K

-48.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 NIO 26.56

$0.87 Rp 15.5K

-16.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.46 NIO 53.5

$2.95 Rp 52.4K

-50.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 NIO 72.0

$4.52 Rp 80.2K

-56.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 NIO 45.33

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

-23.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 NIO 54.6

$2.33 Rp 41.4K

-36.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.22 NIO 44.54

$1.11 Rp 19.7K

9.91%

Eggs

$2.29 NIO 83.7

$2.20 Rp 39.1K

4.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.77 NIO 285

$17.69 Rp 314.0K

-56.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.45 NIO 236

$4.10 Rp 72.7K

57.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.21 NIO 264

$12.18 Rp 216.1K

-40.80%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 NIO 133

$3.71 Rp 65.8K

-2.43%

Banana (1kg)

$0.57 NIO 21.05

$1.59 Rp 28.2K

-64.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 NIO 67.9

$2.28 Rp 40.5K

-18.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 NIO 80.3

$1.95 Rp 34.7K

12.31%

Potato (1kg)

$3.14 NIO 115

$1.91 Rp 33.8K

64.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 NIO 80.5

$2.33 Rp 41.4K

-5.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 NIO 36.60

$1.01 Rp 17.9K

-0.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 NIO 37.51

$0.55 Rp 9,795

85.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.59 NIO 94.7

$2.23 Rp 39.6K

16.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.74 NIO 357

$23.07 Rp 409.5K

-57.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.41 NIO 51.6

$2.42 Rp 42.9K

-41.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 NIO 85.2

$3.00 Rp 53.2K

-22.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,825

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.98 Rp 159.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.68 NIO 61.5

$0.48 Rp 8,586

250.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 NIO 58.6

$0.43 Rp 7,697

272.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.68 NIO 245

$5.64 Rp 100.1K

18.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 NIO 49.27

$0.80 Rp 14.3K

68.75%

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

$23.3K NIO 853.2K

$24.9K Rp 442.7M

-6.61%

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

$26.3K NIO 962.9K

$31.7K Rp 562.8M

-17.09%

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

$60.4 NIO 2,212

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

-25.87%

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

$10.53 NIO 386

$6.49 Rp 115.2K

62.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.64 NIO 1,342

$18.77 Rp 333.1K

95.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.97 NIO 1,098

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

-47.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 Rp 332.4K

Cinema Ticket

$8.38 NIO 307

$4.54 Rp 80.5K

84.58%

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

$240 NIO 8,802

$481 Rp 8.5M

-50.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,957 NIO 218.2K

$5,711 Rp 101.4M

4.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.3 NIO 2,574

$45.52 Rp 807.9K

54.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$71.9 NIO 2,633

$35.88 Rp 636.9K

100.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 NIO 4,810

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

63.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 NIO 3,975

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

37.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$424 NIO 15.5K

$1,115 Rp 19.8M

-61.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$383 NIO 14.0K

$698 Rp 12.4M

-45.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$919 NIO 33.7K

$3,637 Rp 64.5M

-74.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$771 NIO 28.2K

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

-55.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$343 NIO 12.6K

$168 Rp 3.0M

104.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.25

13.78

-25.62%

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

Last update for San Juan del Sur: September 12, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $424 in San Juan del Sur versus $1,115 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 104% 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $220 vs $295 – 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: $1,053 in San Juan del Sur, $1,368 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 30% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,580 per month in San Juan del Sur and $2,052 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 34% 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 $1,053, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. 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 $1,053 in San Juan del Sur to $1,368 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.