Cost of Living Comparison Between Santo Domingo and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Santo Domingo and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,124 in Santo Domingo versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,760 in Santo Domingo versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,395 in Santo Domingo versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Santo Domingo costs roughly 20% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Santo Domingo is 18% below, Ubud, Bali is 2% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santo Domingo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.21 DOP 598
$3.37 Rp 59.8K
202.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.7 DOP 3,026
$38.59 Rp 683.8K
33.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.97 DOP 467
$5.52 Rp 97.8K
44.38%
Cappuccino
$2.40 DOP 140
$2.64 Rp 46.9K
-9.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 DOP 66.4
$1.67 Rp 29.6K
-32.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 DOP 37.46
$0.77 Rp 13.6K
-16.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.61 DOP 153
$2.63 Rp 46.7K
-0.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 DOP 211
$4.28 Rp 75.9K
-15.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santo Domingo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.45 DOP 84.8
$1.55 Rp 27.4K
-6.45%
White Bread (500g)
$1.53 DOP 89.5
$2.22 Rp 39.4K
-31.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.61 DOP 94.3
$1.13 Rp 19.9K
42.48%
Eggs
$2.46 DOP 144
$2.09 Rp 37.0K
17.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.57 DOP 443
$17.39 Rp 308.2K
-56.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.87 DOP 343
$3.87 Rp 68.5K
51.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.76 DOP 396
$12.55 Rp 222.4K
-46.14%
Apples (1kg)
$3.36 DOP 197
$3.62 Rp 64.1K
-7.18%
Banana (1kg)
$0.81 DOP 47.21
$1.56 Rp 27.6K
-48.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.71 DOP 159
$2.35 Rp 41.7K
15.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.91 DOP 112
$2.06 Rp 36.4K
-7.28%
Potato (1kg)
$2.10 DOP 123
$1.90 Rp 33.7K
10.53%
Onion (1kg)
$2.31 DOP 135
$2.34 Rp 41.4K
-1.28%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 DOP 59.6
$1.03 Rp 18.3K
-0.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 DOP 60.1
$0.55 Rp 9,830
87.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.47 DOP 320
$2.25 Rp 39.9K
143.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.52 DOP 616
$23.81 Rp 421.9K
-55.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.62 DOP 153
$2.31 Rp 41.0K
13.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04 DOP 178
$2.80 Rp 49.6K
8.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Santo Domingo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.61 DOP 35.92
$0.27 Rp 4,827
125.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.63 DOP 1,091
$8.66 Rp 153.5K
115.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.32 DOP 195
$0.48 Rp 8,533
591.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.24 DOP 131
$0.45 Rp 7,904
397.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.11 DOP 358
$5.72 Rp 101.4K
6.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 DOP 79.0
$0.76 Rp 13.4K
77.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3K DOP 1.4M
$24.5K Rp 433.9M
-4.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K DOP 2.0M
$32.1K Rp 569.3M
7.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santo Domingo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$95.3 DOP 5,580
$83.6 Rp 1.5M
14.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.73 DOP 1,858
$6.46 Rp 114.4K
391.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.90 DOP 2,161
$18.99 Rp 336.6K
94.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santo Domingo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.78 DOP 1,744
$56.0 Rp 992.0K
-46.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.29 DOP 1,481
$18.62 Rp 329.9K
35.82%
Cinema Ticket
$7.84 DOP 459
$4.28 Rp 75.9K
83.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santo Domingo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$262 DOP 15.4K
$487 Rp 8.6M
-46.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,076 DOP 414.4K
$5,856 Rp 103.8M
20.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santo Domingo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.44 DOP 2,719
$45.56 Rp 807.4K
1.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.90 DOP 2,746
$36.38 Rp 644.7K
28.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.4 DOP 5,296
$82.0 Rp 1.5M
10.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$125 DOP 7,301
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
55.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santo Domingo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$728 DOP 42.6K
$1,117 Rp 19.8M
-34.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$354 DOP 20.7K
$701 Rp 12.4M
-49.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,475 DOP 86.4K
$3,537 Rp 62.7M
-58.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$630 DOP 36.9K
$1,762 Rp 31.2M
-64.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,265 DOP 132.7K
$2,826 Rp 50.1M
-19.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,209 DOP 70.8K
$2,292 Rp 40.6M
-47.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santo Domingo
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$610 DOP 35.7K
$170 Rp 3.0M
259.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.56
13.78
-1.60%

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

Last update for Santo Domingo: August 30, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $728 in Santo Domingo and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Santo Domingo pays 259% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $52.0 in Santo Domingo vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $228 vs $293, with Santo Domingo cheaper for home cooking.

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
Santo Domingo vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Santo Domingo and in Ubud, Bali?
Santo Domingo and Ubud, Bali differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($1,124 vs $1,396 including rent). Santo Domingo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Santo Domingo or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 259% higher in Santo Domingo, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Santo Domingo and in Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $728 in Santo Domingo versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Santo Domingo – a meal for two runs $52.0 versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Santo Domingo or Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $1,124 per month in Santo Domingo versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,124 in Santo Domingo versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Santo Domingo but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Santo Domingo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Santo Domingo and Ubud, Bali?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Santo Domingo or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Santo Domingo and Ubud, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Santo Domingo or Ubud, Bali?
Expats usually find Santo Domingo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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