Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Sandnes and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,353 a month against $2,684 in Sandnes, rent and utilities included – about $16,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Sandnes
🇳🇴 Norway
$2,684
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,353
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Sandnes and in Ubud, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Sandnes and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,684 per month in Sandnes vs $1,353 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Sandnes $2,684
  • Ubud, Bali $1,353

A couple spends around $4,176 per month in Sandnes vs $2,297 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Sandnes $4,176
  • Ubud, Bali $2,297

A family of three spends $5,667 per month in Sandnes vs $3,241 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Sandnes $5,667
  • Ubud, Bali $3,241

Sandnes costs about 98% more than Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Sandnes and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Sandnes by 98%, Ubud, Bali by 0%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.80 NOK 233
$3.23 Rp 58.1K
667.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$97.5 NOK 918
$34.88 Rp 627.8K
179.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$15.49 NOK 146
$5.70 Rp 102.5K
171.75%
Cappuccino
$5.71 NOK 53.7
$2.62 Rp 47.1K
117.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41 NOK 32.10
$1.72 Rp 31.0K
98.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 NOK 28.85
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
279.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$13.93 NOK 131
$2.65 Rp 47.7K
425.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.58 NOK 99.6
$4.37 Rp 78.6K
142.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.44 NOK 22.94
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
55.41%
White Bread (500g)
$3.37 NOK 31.76
$2.19 Rp 39.5K
53.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.53 NOK 23.82
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
114.41%
Eggs
$4.80 NOK 45.17
$2.16 Rp 38.8K
122.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.22 NOK 124
$17.65 Rp 317.7K
-25.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$15.83 NOK 149
$3.78 Rp 68.0K
318.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$31.80 NOK 299
$11.95 Rp 215.1K
166.11%
Apples (1kg)
$3.52 NOK 33.10
$3.60 Rp 64.8K
-2.22%
Banana (1kg)
$2.84 NOK 26.77
$1.59 Rp 28.6K
78.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.17 NOK 29.86
$2.31 Rp 41.6K
37.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.92 NOK 46.32
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
157.59%
Potato (1kg)
$2.61 NOK 24.57
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
46.63%
Onion (1kg)
$2.32 NOK 21.80
$2.33 Rp 41.9K
-0.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.88 NOK 27.14
$1.00 Rp 18.0K
188.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.37 NOK 22.29
$0.53 Rp 9,509
347.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$16.64 NOK 157
$2.29 Rp 41.1K
626.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.08 NOK 161
$22.07 Rp 397.3K
-22.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.20 NOK 30.12
$2.35 Rp 42.2K
36.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.23 NOK 39.83
$2.98 Rp 53.6K
41.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$4.70 NOK 44.29
$0.23 Rp 4,112
1943.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$85.4 NOK 803
$8.90 Rp 160.2K
858.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.43 NOK 60.6
$0.47 Rp 8,466
1268.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.80 NOK 16.92
$0.43 Rp 7,737
318.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$48.81 NOK 460
$5.47 Rp 98.4K
792.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.23 NOK 21.00
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
168.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.2K NOK 406.7K
$23.9K Rp 429.8M
80.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.0K NOK 366.7K
$32.8K Rp 590.1M
18.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$266 NOK 2,499
$80.0 Rp 1.4M
231.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.10 NOK 321
$6.56 Rp 118.1K
419.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$79.3 NOK 746
$18.60 Rp 334.8K
326.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.56 NOK 429
$54.1 Rp 974.1K
-15.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$53.4 NOK 503
$18.28 Rp 329.0K
192.07%
Cinema Ticket
$19.40 NOK 183
$4.25 Rp 76.5K
356.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$292 NOK 2,748
$493 Rp 8.9M
-40.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,662 NOK 91.0K
$5,597 Rp 100.7M
72.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$127 NOK 1,200
$45.58 Rp 820.4K
179.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.8 NOK 572
$34.96 Rp 629.4K
73.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$122 NOK 1,147
$77.7 Rp 1.4M
56.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$189 NOK 1,782
$78.5 Rp 1.4M
141.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,333 NOK 12.6K
$1,131 Rp 20.4M
17.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$962 NOK 9,056
$673 Rp 12.1M
42.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,000 NOK 18.8K
$3,613 Rp 65.0M
-44.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,820 NOK 17.1K
$1,702 Rp 30.6M
6.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,005 NOK 65.9K
$2,717 Rp 48.9M
157.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,050 NOK 38.1K
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
80.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sandnes
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,781 NOK 35.6K
$166 Rp 3.0M
2172.78%
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: October 18, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Sandnes
$962
Ubud, Bali
$673 30.1% $289
Groceries & Markets
Sandnes
$485
Ubud, Bali
$287 40.7% $197
Eating Out
Sandnes
$430
Ubud, Bali
$106 75.2% $324
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sandnes
$379
Ubud, Bali
$105 72.2% $274
Clothing & Footwear
Sandnes
$225
Ubud, Bali
$107 52.6% $118
Getting Around
Sandnes
$120
Ubud, Bali
$12 89.6% $107
Sport & Entertainment
Sandnes
$84
Ubud, Bali
$63 25.8% $22

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,333 in Sandnes versus $1,131 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 2173% 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 $35.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $485 vs $287 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇳🇴 Sandnes
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
12:50 12:50 PM
18:50 6:50 PM
6 h ahead of Sandnes
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
83,958
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to NOK – Norwegian Krone Converter

Norwegian Krone exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 9.41 NOK (1 NOK = 0.106 USD). 1 EUR = 10.58 NOK (100 NOK = 9.45 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Sandnes Ubud, Bali 11,890 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Sandnes
  • Ubud, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 98%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,026 per month in Sandnes and $2,030 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 $292 per month in Sandnes and $493 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 $1,353, than in Sandnes at $2,684. 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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