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 $880 per month in San Rafael vs $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,409 per month in San Rafael vs $2,557 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,938 per month in San Rafael vs $3,723 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

San Rafael is about 37% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

San Rafael sits 34% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Rafael
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.94 ARS 14.8K
$3.57 Rp 64.5K
178.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.78 ARS 29.4K
$32.32 Rp 583.4K
-38.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.07 ARS 9,007
$5.01 Rp 90.4K
21.16%
Cappuccino
$1.78 ARS 2,641
$2.82 Rp 51.0K
-36.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 ARS 1,509
$1.35 Rp 24.4K
-24.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98 ARS 1,453
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
34.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.02 ARS 1,516
$2.93 Rp 53.0K
-65.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 ARS 2,289
$3.94 Rp 71.1K
-60.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Rafael
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 ARS 1,503
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
-43.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.48 ARS 2,196
$2.45 Rp 44.2K
-39.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 ARS 2,112
$1.15 Rp 20.7K
23.48%
Eggs
$1.62 ARS 2,409
$2.41 Rp 43.6K
-32.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.53 ARS 8,214
$14.33 Rp 258.7K
-61.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.48 ARS 11.1K
$4.19 Rp 75.6K
78.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.62 ARS 9,836
$12.06 Rp 217.7K
-45.11%
Apples (1kg)
$1.79 ARS 2,660
$3.64 Rp 65.7K
-50.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 ARS 2,268
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
-2.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 ARS 2,272
$2.79 Rp 50.3K
-45.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.89 ARS 1,327
$2.24 Rp 40.5K
-60.27%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 ARS 1,056
$1.98 Rp 35.7K
-64.14%
Onion (1kg)
$0.71 ARS 1,059
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
-68.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.60 ARS 895
$1.05 Rp 19.0K
-42.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ARS 1,830
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
55.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.80 ARS 2,667
$3.19 Rp 57.6K
-43.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.11 ARS 7,595
$23.49 Rp 424.1K
-78.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 ARS 1,605
$2.90 Rp 52.3K
-62.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 ARS 2,467
$2.76 Rp 49.7K
-39.86%
🚌 Getting Around
San Rafael
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.81 ARS 1,210
$0.27 Rp 4,813
200.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.37 Rp 151.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.42 ARS 617
$0.45 Rp 8,167
-6.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 ARS 1,505
$0.46 Rp 8,298
119.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.78 ARS 7,105
$6.07 Rp 109.6K
-21.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 ARS 1,258
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
-1.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9K ARS 47.4M
$26.6K Rp 480.0M
20.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K ARS 50.3M
$32.5K Rp 587.6M
4.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Rafael
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.5 ARS 116.6K
$79.0 Rp 1.4M
-0.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.56 ARS 9,740
$4.09 Rp 73.9K
60.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.59 ARS 23.2K
$23.85 Rp 430.5K
-34.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Rafael
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.63 ARS 39.5K
$98.8 Rp 1.8M
-73.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.92 ARS 20.7K
$6.35 Rp 114.7K
119.21%
Cinema Ticket
$5.92 ARS 8,795
$4.01 Rp 72.3K
47.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Rafael
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$104 ARS 153.8K
$297 Rp 5.4M
-65.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,127 ARS 3.2M
$6,602 Rp 119.2M
-67.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Rafael
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.8 ARS 122.9K
$53.4 Rp 964.5K
54.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$77.6 ARS 115.3K
$38.11 Rp 688.1K
103.67%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$149 ARS 221.5K
$88.7 Rp 1.6M
68.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 ARS 179.3K
$76.6 Rp 1.4M
57.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Rafael
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$336 ARS 498.9K
$1,020 Rp 18.4M
-67.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$234 ARS 347.4K
$680 Rp 12.3M
-65.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$679 ARS 1.0M
$3,469 Rp 62.6M
-80.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$533 ARS 790.8K
$2,090 Rp 37.7M
-74.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,080 ARS 3.1M
$2,729 Rp 49.3M
-23.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,499 ARS 2.2M
$2,295 Rp 41.4M
-34.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Rafael
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$164 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
79
13.28
494.88%

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

Last update for San Rafael: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $336 in San Rafael 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in San Rafael versus $32.00 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
Which city is more expensive, San Rafael or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali costs about 58% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in San Rafael and in Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,319 per month in San Rafael and $2,088 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, San Rafael or Ubud, Bali?
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.
How much does it cost to live in San Rafael compared to Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $880 in San Rafael and $1,392 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in San Rafael and in Ubud, Bali?
Kindergarten costs $104 per month in San Rafael and $297 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in San Rafael or in Ubud, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Rafael, where all-in costs run around $880, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. In San Rafael it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, San Rafael or Ubud, Bali?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. San Rafael costs $880 versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is San Rafael compared to Ubud, Bali?
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.
Should I move to San Rafael or to Ubud, Bali?
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.

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