Cost of Living Comparison Between Sandnes and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Sandnes and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,541 per month in Sandnes vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,940 per month in Sandnes vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,340 per month in Sandnes vs $3,763 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Sandnes costs about 80% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sandnes and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Sandnes by 90%, Ubud, Bali by 5%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.47 NOK 274
$3.45 Rp 61.8K
725.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$122 NOK 1,177
$32.34 Rp 578.5K
277.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.21 NOK 127
$4.84 Rp 86.7K
172.93%
Cappuccino
$5.23 NOK 50.4
$2.75 Rp 49.1K
90.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50 NOK 33.71
$1.38 Rp 24.8K
153.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 NOK 28.39
$0.75 Rp 13.4K
293.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$10.20 NOK 98.2
$2.99 Rp 53.5K
241.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.03 NOK 96.6
$3.85 Rp 68.9K
160.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.11 NOK 20.29
$1.74 Rp 31.1K
21.26%
White Bread (500g)
$3.42 NOK 32.96
$2.46 Rp 44.0K
39.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.21 NOK 30.93
$1.17 Rp 20.9K
174.36%
Eggs
$4.26 NOK 41.07
$2.43 Rp 43.5K
75.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.53 NOK 121
$14.50 Rp 259.5K
-13.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.98 NOK 135
$4.35 Rp 77.8K
221.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$36.26 NOK 349
$11.98 Rp 214.3K
202.67%
Apples (1kg)
$3.61 NOK 34.78
$3.72 Rp 66.5K
-2.96%
Banana (1kg)
$2.56 NOK 24.70
$1.63 Rp 29.1K
57.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.06 NOK 29.47
$2.74 Rp 49.1K
11.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.72 NOK 45.47
$2.24 Rp 40.1K
110.71%
Potato (1kg)
$2.19 NOK 21.13
$1.92 Rp 34.3K
14.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 NOK 21.78
$2.28 Rp 40.7K
-0.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.80 NOK 26.94
$1.06 Rp 19.0K
164.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.89 NOK 18.24
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
162.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.08 NOK 145
$3.29 Rp 58.8K
358.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.15 NOK 156
$23.19 Rp 414.9K
-30.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.19 NOK 30.74
$2.78 Rp 49.7K
14.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.01 NOK 38.60
$2.73 Rp 48.9K
46.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.19 NOK 40.36
$0.27 Rp 4,765
1451.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$69.8 NOK 672
$8.11 Rp 145.0K
760.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$14.93 NOK 144
$0.48 Rp 8,636
3010.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 NOK 19.77
$0.42 Rp 7,511
388.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$46.06 NOK 444
$6.22 Rp 111.3K
640.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.11 NOK 20.33
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
160.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K NOK 337.4K
$26.6K Rp 476.1M
31.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.3K NOK 311.4K
$32.2K Rp 575.9M
0.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$223 NOK 2,145
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
184.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.73 NOK 421
$4.07 Rp 72.8K
974.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$78.8 NOK 759
$24.33 Rp 435.2K
223.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.2 NOK 483
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
-49.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.8 NOK 489
$6.34 Rp 113.3K
700.47%
Cinema Ticket
$18.46 NOK 178
$3.99 Rp 71.3K
362.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$322 NOK 3,100
$305 Rp 5.5M
5.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,185 NOK 88.5K
$6,642 Rp 118.8M
38.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$120 NOK 1,156
$54.1 Rp 968.6K
121.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.8 NOK 576
$37.81 Rp 676.3K
58.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 NOK 1,001
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
19.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158 NOK 1,520
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
106.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,260 NOK 12.1K
$992 Rp 17.7M
27.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$852 NOK 8,202
$673 Rp 12.0M
26.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,690 NOK 16.3K
$3,375 Rp 60.4M
-49.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,465 NOK 14.1K
$2,050 Rp 36.7M
-28.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,886 NOK 66.3K
$2,805 Rp 50.2M
145.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,934 NOK 37.9K
$2,227 Rp 39.8M
76.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,554 NOK 34.2K
$167 Rp 3.0M
2028.89%
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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,260 in Sandnes versus $992 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 2029% 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 $122 in Sandnes versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $472 vs $297 – 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 80%, 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 $3,811 per month in Sandnes and $2,112 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 $322 per month in Sandnes and $305 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Groceries cost about 59% 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 living in Sandnes or in Ubud, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,408, than in Sandnes at $2,541. 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.

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