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 $2,699 per month in Sandnes vs $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,203 per month in Sandnes vs $2,334 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,708 per month in Sandnes vs $3,273 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Sandnes costs about 93% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sandnes and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Sandnes by 96%, Ubud, Bali by 2%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.98 NOK 241
$3.37 Rp 59.7K
670.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$97.6 NOK 906
$38.59 Rp 682.4K
152.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.53 NOK 144
$5.52 Rp 97.6K
181.34%
Cappuccino
$5.86 NOK 54.4
$2.64 Rp 46.8K
121.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 NOK 32.73
$1.67 Rp 29.6K
111.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 NOK 27.29
$0.77 Rp 13.6K
281.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$13.88 NOK 129
$2.63 Rp 46.6K
427.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.47 NOK 116
$4.28 Rp 75.7K
191.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.43 NOK 22.52
$1.55 Rp 27.3K
56.77%
White Bread (500g)
$3.58 NOK 33.27
$2.22 Rp 39.3K
61.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.55 NOK 23.66
$1.13 Rp 19.9K
125.66%
Eggs
$4.80 NOK 44.59
$2.09 Rp 36.9K
129.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.82 NOK 128
$17.39 Rp 307.6K
-20.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.35 NOK 152
$3.87 Rp 68.4K
322.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$32.90 NOK 305
$12.55 Rp 221.9K
162.15%
Apples (1kg)
$3.64 NOK 33.84
$3.62 Rp 63.9K
0.55%
Banana (1kg)
$2.81 NOK 26.08
$1.56 Rp 27.6K
80.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.18 NOK 29.56
$2.35 Rp 41.6K
35.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.97 NOK 46.12
$2.06 Rp 36.4K
141.26%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 NOK 23.52
$1.90 Rp 33.6K
33.16%
Onion (1kg)
$2.34 NOK 21.74
$2.34 Rp 41.3K
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.78 NOK 25.80
$1.03 Rp 18.2K
169.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.41 NOK 22.34
$0.55 Rp 9,809
338.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$16.68 NOK 155
$2.25 Rp 39.8K
641.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.14 NOK 159
$23.81 Rp 421.0K
-28.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.28 NOK 30.49
$2.31 Rp 40.9K
41.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.39 NOK 40.74
$2.80 Rp 49.5K
56.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.85 NOK 45.00
$0.27 Rp 4,816
1696.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$86.3 NOK 801
$8.66 Rp 153.2K
896.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.41 NOK 59.5
$0.48 Rp 8,515
1235.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.80 NOK 16.75
$0.45 Rp 7,887
300.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$48.95 NOK 454
$5.72 Rp 101.1K
755.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.25 NOK 20.85
$0.76 Rp 13.4K
196.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.1K NOK 418.3K
$24.5K Rp 433.0M
84.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.0K NOK 361.9K
$32.1K Rp 568.0M
21.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$256 NOK 2,378
$83.6 Rp 1.5M
206.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.65 NOK 331
$6.46 Rp 114.2K
451.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$83.4 NOK 775
$18.99 Rp 335.9K
339.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.60 NOK 433
$56.0 Rp 989.8K
-16.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$54.0 NOK 501
$18.62 Rp 329.2K
189.85%
Cinema Ticket
$19.63 NOK 182
$4.28 Rp 75.7K
358.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$291 NOK 2,705
$487 Rp 8.6M
-40.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,807 NOK 91.1K
$5,856 Rp 103.6M
67.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$130 NOK 1,205
$45.56 Rp 805.6K
184.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.3 NOK 560
$36.38 Rp 643.3K
65.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 NOK 1,120
$82.0 Rp 1.4M
47.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$193 NOK 1,795
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
140.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,339 NOK 12.4K
$1,117 Rp 19.7M
19.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$966 NOK 8,967
$701 Rp 12.4M
37.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,029 NOK 18.8K
$3,537 Rp 62.5M
-42.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,824 NOK 16.9K
$1,762 Rp 31.2M
3.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,133 NOK 66.2K
$2,826 Rp 50.0M
152.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,060 NOK 37.7K
$2,292 Rp 40.5M
77.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,736 NOK 34.7K
$170 Rp 3.0M
2100.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.22
13.78
-62.12%

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

Last update for Sandnes: August 30, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,339 in Sandnes versus $1,117 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 2100% 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 $98.0 in Sandnes versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $496 vs $293 – 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 93%, 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 $4,049 per month in Sandnes and $2,095 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 $291 per month in Sandnes and $487 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 69% 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 $1,396, than in Sandnes at $2,699. 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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