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 $2,496 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
$28.26 NOK 263
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
693.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$120 NOK 1,115
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
266.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.28 NOK 123
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
168.28%
Cappuccino
$5.23 NOK 48.55
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
92.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 NOK 33.41
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
168.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 NOK 26.48
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
307.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$10.07 NOK 93.5
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
244.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.93 NOK 92.3
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
150.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.16 NOK 20.11
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
19.34%
White Bread (500g)
$3.29 NOK 30.56
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
30.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.22 NOK 29.94
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
177.59%
Eggs
$4.26 NOK 39.59
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
73.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.43 NOK 115
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
-15.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.26 NOK 132
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
230.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$35.26 NOK 328
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
190.44%
Apples (1kg)
$3.50 NOK 32.48
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
-8.85%
Banana (1kg)
$2.60 NOK 24.19
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
66.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.95 NOK 27.44
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
4.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.80 NOK 44.58
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
106.01%
Potato (1kg)
$2.23 NOK 20.71
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
16.75%
Onion (1kg)
$2.29 NOK 21.31
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
4.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 NOK 25.87
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
175.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.90 NOK 17.61
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
143.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.93 NOK 139
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
349.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.10 NOK 159
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
-27.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.26 NOK 30.29
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
16.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.16 NOK 38.62
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
45.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.20 NOK 39.00
$0.27 Rp 4,800
1455.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$71.6 NOK 665
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
792.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$15.17 NOK 141
$0.46 Rp 8,150
3197.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.08 NOK 19.29
$0.45 Rp 8,037
362.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$47.21 NOK 439
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
673.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.12 NOK 19.74
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
168.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K NOK 316.8K
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
30.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K NOK 310.5K
$32.1K Rp 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)
$216 NOK 2,004
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
169.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.16 NOK 410
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
987.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$78.4 NOK 728
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
233.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.79 NOK 463
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-49.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$50.1 NOK 465
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
655.66%
Cinema Ticket
$18.17 NOK 169
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
337.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$319 NOK 2,966
$304 Rp 5.4M
5.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,931 NOK 83.0K
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
35.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$118 NOK 1,093
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
111.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 NOK 538
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
51.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 NOK 964
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
17.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158 NOK 1,468
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
102.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,273 NOK 11.8K
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
26.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$880 NOK 8,171
$675 Rp 12.1M
30.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,683 NOK 15.6K
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
-51.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,469 NOK 13.6K
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
-27.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,183 NOK 66.7K
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
152.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,139 NOK 38.4K
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
82.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,827 NOK 35.5K
$165 Rp 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.

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