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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $4,891 in San Rafael, CA versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $6,339 in San Rafael, CA versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,787 in San Rafael, CA versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in San Rafael, CA is roughly 250% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: San Rafael, CA 256% above, Ubud, Bali 2% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$28.56 $28.56

$3.37 Rp 59.7K

747.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$112 $112

$38.59 Rp 682.4K

190.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.06 $12.06

$5.52 Rp 97.6K

118.48%

Cappuccino

$4.84 $4.84

$2.64 Rp 46.8K

83.33%

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

$3.06 $3.06

$1.67 Rp 29.6K

83.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 $3.05

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

296.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.89 $5.89

$2.63 Rp 46.6K

123.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.95 $6.95

$4.28 Rp 75.7K

62.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.55 Rp 27.3K

-8.39%

White Bread (500g)

$4.34 $4.34

$2.22 Rp 39.3K

95.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$9.80 $9.80

$1.13 Rp 19.9K

767.26%

Eggs

$5.50 $5.50

$2.09 Rp 36.9K

163.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.06 $21.06

$17.39 Rp 307.6K

21.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.69 $16.69

$3.87 Rp 68.4K

331.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.04 $19.04

$12.55 Rp 221.9K

51.71%

Apples (1kg)

$7.25 $7.25

$3.62 Rp 63.9K

100.28%

Banana (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$1.56 Rp 27.6K

84.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.65 $6.65

$2.35 Rp 41.6K

182.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.64 $8.64

$2.06 Rp 36.4K

319.42%

Potato (1kg)

$5.42 $5.42

$1.90 Rp 33.6K

185.26%

Onion (1kg)

$4.78 $4.78

$2.34 Rp 41.3K

104.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.06 $3.06

$1.03 Rp 18.2K

197.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.73 $3.73

$0.55 Rp 9,809

578.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$10.87 $10.87

$2.25 Rp 39.8K

383.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.12 $14.12

$23.81 Rp 421.0K

-40.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.31 Rp 40.9K

-6.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 $3.23

$2.80 Rp 49.5K

15.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 $1.94

$0.27 Rp 4,816

618.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$64.0 $64.0

$8.66 Rp 153.2K

638.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.05 $4.05

$0.48 Rp 8,515

743.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.39 $4.39

$0.45 Rp 7,887

875.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.80 $28.80

$5.72 Rp 101.1K

403.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

75.00%

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

$32.6K $32.6K

$24.5K Rp 433.0M

33.07%

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

$26.8K $26.8K

$32.1K Rp 568.0M

-16.43%

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

$254 $254

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

203.78%

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

$82.7 $82.7

$6.46 Rp 114.2K

1179.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.9 $61.9

$18.99 Rp 335.9K

226.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$122 $122

$56.0 Rp 989.8K

118.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.45 $29.45

$18.62 Rp 329.2K

58.16%

Cinema Ticket

$14.18 $14.18

$4.28 Rp 75.7K

231.31%

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

$2,076 $2,076

$487 Rp 8.6M

326.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.9K $24.9K

$5,856 Rp 103.6M

325.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.4 $60.4

$45.56 Rp 805.6K

32.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.93 $42.93

$36.38 Rp 643.3K

18.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.6 $95.6

$82.0 Rp 1.4M

16.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$130 $130

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

62.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,319 $3,319

$1,117 Rp 19.7M

197.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,166 $3,166

$701 Rp 12.4M

351.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,291 $4,291

$3,537 Rp 62.5M

21.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,845 $3,845

$1,762 Rp 31.2M

118.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,640 $7,640

$2,826 Rp 50.0M

170.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,471 $5,471

$2,292 Rp 40.5M

138.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,085 $7,085

$170 Rp 3.0M

4073.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

-56.46%

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

Last update for San Rafael, CA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,319 in San Rafael, CA and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

San Rafael, CA pays 4073% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $112 in San Rafael, CA vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $574 vs $293 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

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, CA vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 250% lower than in San Rafael, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 4073% higher in San Rafael, CA, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $3,319 in San Rafael, CA versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $4,891 per month in San Rafael, CA versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali – a 250% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 639% less than in San Rafael, CA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,396 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,891 in San Rafael, CA, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in San Rafael, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,396 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, San Rafael, CA and Ubud, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 250% less than in San Rafael, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.