Cost of Living Comparison Between San Rafael and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between San Rafael and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $879 per month in San Rafael vs $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,436 per month in San Rafael vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,993 per month in San Rafael vs $3,732 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

San Rafael is about 39% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

San Rafael sits 34% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.17 ARS 14.2K

$3.57 Rp 61.9K

184.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.39 ARS 28.5K

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

-37.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.95 ARS 8,304

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

17.36%

Cappuccino

$1.78 ARS 2,486

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

-37.10%

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

$1.02 ARS 1,426

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

-23.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 ARS 1,414

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

46.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 ARS 1,435

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

-65.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.53 ARS 2,130

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

-60.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.04 ARS 1,456

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

-40.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ARS 2,088

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

-40.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 ARS 1,973

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

18.49%

Eggs

$1.57 ARS 2,197

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

-35.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.36 ARS 7,480

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

-63.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.67 ARS 10.7K

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

83.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.43 ARS 8,969

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

-46.15%

Apples (1kg)

$1.79 ARS 2,494

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

-51.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 ARS 2,031

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

-9.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 ARS 2,155

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

-42.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.92 ARS 1,288

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

-60.52%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 ARS 993

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

-62.83%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 ARS 1,015

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

-66.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 ARS 902

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

-38.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 ARS 1,709

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

69.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.75 ARS 2,445

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

-44.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.13 ARS 7,151

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

-78.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 ARS 1,557

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

-59.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ARS 2,211

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

-45.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 ARS 1,081

$0.29 Rp 5,029

165.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 ARS 619

$0.45 Rp 7,863

-2.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ARS 1,434

$0.42 Rp 7,305

145.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.01 ARS 6,992

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

-18.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 ARS 1,169

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

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

$31.7K ARS 44.3M

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

20.96%

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

$33.2K ARS 46.3M

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

2.11%

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

$76.5 ARS 106.8K

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

-2.44%

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

$6.61 ARS 9,227

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

67.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.28 ARS 21.3K

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

-37.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.84 ARS 36.1K

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

-73.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.92 ARS 19.4K

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

119.21%

Cinema Ticket

$6.03 ARS 8,408

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

49.26%

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

$104 ARS 145.0K

$303 Rp 5.2M

-65.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,131 ARS 3.0M

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

-67.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$83.1 ARS 115.9K

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

54.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$78.0 ARS 108.9K

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

105.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$149 ARS 207.5K

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

71.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 ARS 163.1K

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

48.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 ARS 468.2K

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

-66.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$234 ARS 326.2K

$674 Rp 11.7M

-65.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$693 ARS 967.1K

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

-79.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$530 ARS 739.6K

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

-74.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,882 ARS 2.6M

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

-36.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$456 ARS 635.7K

$173 Rp 3.0M

163.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

494.88%

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

Last update for San Rafael: April 26, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $336 in San Rafael 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 163% higher in San Rafael, 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 $20.00 in San Rafael versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $298 – making San Rafael 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 Rafael vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 64% more than San Rafael, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,319 per month in San Rafael 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 Rafael, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $879 in San Rafael and $1,438 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $104 per month in San Rafael and $303 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Rafael, where all-in costs run around $879, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. In San Rafael it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. San Rafael costs $879 versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Rafael. 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.