🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $844 in Sentul versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,261 in Sentul versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,677 in Sentul versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Sentul costs roughly 40% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Sentul is 37% below, Ubud, Bali is 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sentul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.55MYR 14.53
$3.45Rp 62.0K
2.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00MYR 77.7
$32.34Rp 580.1K
-41.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.62MYR 18.89
$4.84Rp 86.9K
-4.55%
Cappuccino
$2.71MYR 11.10
$2.75Rp 49.3K
-1.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67MYR 2.76
$1.38Rp 24.8K
-51.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45MYR 1.85
$0.75Rp 13.5K
-40.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.44MYR 14.08
$2.99Rp 53.7K
15.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.15MYR 21.07
$3.85Rp 69.1K
33.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sentul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MYR 7.68
$1.74Rp 31.1K
8.05%
White Bread(500g)
$1.00MYR 4.10
$2.46Rp 44.1K
-59.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.80MYR 7.36
$1.17Rp 21.0K
53.85%
Eggs
$1.90MYR 7.76
$2.43Rp 43.6K
-21.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.68MYR 43.66
$14.50Rp 260.2K
-26.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.41MYR 13.95
$4.35Rp 78.0K
-21.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.97MYR 32.61
$11.98Rp 214.9K
-33.47%
Apples(1kg)
$2.77MYR 11.33
$3.72Rp 66.7K
-25.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MYR 6.19
$1.63Rp 29.2K
-7.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.47MYR 10.09
$2.74Rp 49.2K
-9.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.25MYR 5.11
$2.24Rp 40.2K
-44.20%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13MYR 4.64
$1.92Rp 34.4K
-41.15%
Onion(1kg)
$1.38MYR 5.64
$2.28Rp 40.8K
-39.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.94MYR 3.84
$1.06Rp 19.1K
-11.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60MYR 2.44
$0.72Rp 12.9K
-16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MYR 17.77
$3.29Rp 58.9K
32.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.13MYR 57.8
$23.19Rp 416.1K
-39.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.67MYR 10.92
$2.78Rp 49.8K
-3.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01MYR 12.31
$2.73Rp 49.0K
10.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Sentul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.68MYR 2.79
$0.27Rp 4,778
151.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.91MYR 48.72
$8.11Rp 145.4K
46.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.98MYR 3.99
$0.48Rp 8,659
104.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02MYR 4.18
$0.42Rp 7,532
142.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.09MYR 37.16
$6.22Rp 111.6K
46.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.50MYR 2.04
$0.81Rp 14.6K
-38.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9KMYR 130.3K
$26.6KRp 477.4M
19.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.9KMYR 113.9K
$32.2KRp 577.4M
-13.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sentul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.41MYR 165
$78.4Rp 1.4M
-48.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.94MYR 36.57
$4.07Rp 73.0K
119.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.35MYR 95.5
$24.33Rp 436.4K
-4.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sentul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.18MYR 152
$98.6Rp 1.8M
-62.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.78MYR 23.64
$6.34Rp 113.7K
-8.83%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MYR 20.72
$3.99Rp 71.5K
27.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sentul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$187MYR 763
$305Rp 5.5M
-38.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,016MYR 28.7K
$6,642Rp 119.2M
5.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sentul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1MYR 262
$54.1Rp 971.2K
18.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.93MYR 114
$37.81Rp 678.2K
-26.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.9MYR 245
$86.8Rp 1.6M
-30.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.06MYR 201
$76.4Rp 1.4M
-35.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sentul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$390MYR 1,595
$992Rp 17.8M
-60.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$270MYR 1,106
$673Rp 12.1M
-59.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$653MYR 2,671
$3,375Rp 60.5M
-80.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$467MYR 1,910
$2,050Rp 36.8M
-77.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,138MYR 8,746
$2,805Rp 50.3M
-23.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,186MYR 4,849
$2,227Rp 39.9M
-46.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sentul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$900MYR 3,679
$167Rp 3.0M
438.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.07
13.28
-69.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sentul: July 14, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $390 in Sentul and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sentul pays 439% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $19.00 in Sentul vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $220 vs $297 per month, with Sentul cheaper across the board.
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
Sentul vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sentul or Ubud, Bali?
Sentul wins on cost – living expenses run 67% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sentul the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Sentul or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 439% higher in Sentul, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Sentul compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $390 in Sentul versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Sentul and in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $187 in Sentul versus $305 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Sentul or in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Sentul or in Ubud, Bali?
At $844 in Sentul versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sentul but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Sentul the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Sentul or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Sentul delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $844 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Sentul hard to pass up.
How safe is Sentul compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Sentul 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Sentul gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.