😐A single person spends $2,496 per month in Sandnes vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,891 per month in Sandnes vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $5,286 per month in Sandnes vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
😐Sandnes costs about 76% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Sandnes and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Sandnes by 86%, Ubud, Bali by 6%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.26NOK 263
$3.56Rp 63.7K
693.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$120NOK 1,115
$32.73Rp 584.5K
266.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.28NOK 123
$4.95Rp 88.4K
168.28%
Cappuccino
$5.23NOK 48.55
$2.71Rp 48.4K
92.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60NOK 33.41
$1.34Rp 24.0K
168.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85NOK 26.48
$0.70Rp 12.5K
307.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.07NOK 93.5
$2.92Rp 52.1K
244.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.93NOK 92.3
$3.96Rp 70.7K
150.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.16NOK 20.11
$1.81Rp 32.3K
19.34%
White Bread(500g)
$3.29NOK 30.56
$2.52Rp 45.0K
30.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.22NOK 29.94
$1.16Rp 20.7K
177.59%
Eggs
$4.26NOK 39.59
$2.46Rp 43.9K
73.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.43NOK 115
$14.71Rp 262.7K
-15.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.26NOK 132
$4.32Rp 77.1K
230.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$35.26NOK 328
$12.14Rp 216.7K
190.44%
Apples(1kg)
$3.50NOK 32.48
$3.84Rp 68.6K
-8.85%
Banana(1kg)
$2.60NOK 24.19
$1.56Rp 27.8K
66.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.95NOK 27.44
$2.83Rp 50.6K
4.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.80NOK 44.58
$2.33Rp 41.5K
106.01%
Potato(1kg)
$2.23NOK 20.71
$1.91Rp 34.2K
16.75%
Onion(1kg)
$2.29NOK 21.31
$2.20Rp 39.3K
4.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.78NOK 25.87
$1.01Rp 18.1K
175.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.90NOK 17.61
$0.78Rp 13.8K
143.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.93NOK 139
$3.32Rp 59.2K
349.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.10NOK 159
$23.74Rp 423.9K
-27.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.26NOK 30.29
$2.79Rp 49.8K
16.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16NOK 38.62
$2.86Rp 51.1K
45.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.20NOK 39.00
$0.27Rp 4,800
1455.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$71.6NOK 665
$8.03Rp 143.4K
792.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$15.17NOK 141
$0.46Rp 8,150
3197.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.08NOK 19.29
$0.45Rp 8,037
362.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$47.21NOK 439
$6.10Rp 108.9K
673.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.12NOK 19.74
$0.79Rp 14.2K
168.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1KNOK 316.8K
$26.1KRp 467.0M
30.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4KNOK 310.5K
$32.1KRp 573.6M
4.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$216NOK 2,004
$79.9Rp 1.4M
169.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.16NOK 410
$4.06Rp 72.6K
987.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$78.4NOK 728
$23.52Rp 420.0K
233.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.79NOK 463
$98.7Rp 1.8M
-49.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.1NOK 465
$6.63Rp 118.4K
655.66%
Cinema Ticket
$18.17NOK 169
$4.15Rp 74.1K
337.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$319NOK 2,966
$304Rp 5.4M
5.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,931NOK 83.0K
$6,613Rp 118.1M
35.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$118NOK 1,093
$55.5Rp 991.8K
111.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0NOK 538
$38.31Rp 684.1K
51.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104NOK 964
$88.6Rp 1.6M
17.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158NOK 1,468
$77.9Rp 1.4M
102.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,273NOK 11.8K
$1,006Rp 18.0M
26.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$880NOK 8,171
$675Rp 12.1M
30.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,683NOK 15.6K
$3,442Rp 61.5M
-51.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,469NOK 13.6K
$2,039Rp 36.4M
-27.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,183NOK 66.7K
$2,841Rp 50.7M
152.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,139NOK 38.4K
$2,264Rp 40.4M
82.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,827NOK 35.5K
$165Rp 3.0M
2215.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.4
13.28
-66.87%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sandnes: May 31, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,273 in Sandnes versus $1,006 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 2216% higher in Sandnes, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $120 in Sandnes versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $472 vs $302 – making Ubud, Bali 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
Sandnes vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Sandnes?
Yes – Sandnes is pricier by about 76%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,745 per month in Sandnes and $2,129 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $319 per month in Sandnes and $304 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Sandnes and Ubud, Bali?
Groceries cost about 56% more in Sandnes, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Sandnes or Ubud, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,419, than in Sandnes at $2,496. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sandnes it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sandnes or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ubud, Bali – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Sandnes or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sandnes makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.