🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $832 in Sentul versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,260 in Sentul versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,689 in Sentul versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Sentul costs roughly 41% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Sentul is 38% below, Ubud, Bali is 6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sentul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44MYR 13.63
$3.56Rp 63.7K
-3.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.62MYR 73.8
$32.73Rp 584.5K
-43.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.63MYR 18.35
$4.95Rp 88.4K
-6.46%
Cappuccino
$2.83MYR 11.21
$2.71Rp 48.4K
4.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69MYR 2.73
$1.34Rp 24.0K
-48.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49MYR 1.93
$0.70Rp 12.5K
-30.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56MYR 14.11
$2.92Rp 52.1K
21.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.17MYR 20.48
$3.96Rp 70.7K
30.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sentul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MYR 7.46
$1.81Rp 32.3K
3.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.00MYR 3.97
$2.52Rp 45.0K
-60.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.73MYR 6.87
$1.16Rp 20.7K
49.14%
Eggs
$1.87MYR 7.40
$2.46Rp 43.9K
-23.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.51MYR 41.69
$14.71Rp 262.7K
-28.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.40MYR 13.50
$4.32Rp 77.1K
-21.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.32MYR 33.01
$12.14Rp 216.7K
-31.47%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73MYR 10.84
$3.84Rp 68.6K
-28.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45MYR 5.75
$1.56Rp 27.8K
-7.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.49MYR 9.88
$2.83Rp 50.6K
-12.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.25MYR 4.94
$2.33Rp 41.5K
-46.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13MYR 4.47
$1.91Rp 34.2K
-40.84%
Onion(1kg)
$1.40MYR 5.55
$2.20Rp 39.3K
-36.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.88MYR 3.47
$1.01Rp 18.1K
-12.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60MYR 2.36
$0.78Rp 13.8K
-23.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.18MYR 16.59
$3.32Rp 59.2K
25.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.43MYR 57.2
$23.74Rp 423.9K
-39.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79MYR 11.07
$2.79Rp 49.8K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96MYR 11.74
$2.86Rp 51.1K
3.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Sentul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.72MYR 2.86
$0.27Rp 4,800
166.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.62MYR 46.06
$8.03Rp 143.4K
44.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.02MYR 4.05
$0.46Rp 8,150
121.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.99MYR 3.94
$0.45Rp 8,037
120.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.02MYR 35.75
$6.10Rp 108.9K
47.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.50MYR 1.99
$0.79Rp 14.2K
-36.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9KMYR 126.7K
$26.1KRp 467.0M
22.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3KMYR 112.2K
$32.1KRp 573.6M
-11.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sentul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.62MYR 165
$79.9Rp 1.4M
-47.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.92MYR 35.38
$4.06Rp 72.6K
119.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.34MYR 92.6
$23.52Rp 420.0K
-0.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sentul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.20MYR 144
$98.7Rp 1.8M
-63.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.98MYR 23.71
$6.63Rp 118.4K
-9.80%
Cinema Ticket
$4.98MYR 19.75
$4.15Rp 74.1K
20.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sentul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$188MYR 747
$304Rp 5.4M
-38.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,924MYR 27.5K
$6,613Rp 118.1M
4.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sentul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6MYR 252
$55.5Rp 991.8K
14.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.35MYR 112
$38.31Rp 684.1K
-26.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.1MYR 234
$88.6Rp 1.6M
-33.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.22MYR 195
$77.9Rp 1.4M
-36.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sentul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$379MYR 1,505
$1,006Rp 18.0M
-62.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$270MYR 1,070
$675Rp 12.1M
-60.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$646MYR 2,563
$3,442Rp 61.5M
-81.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$471MYR 1,867
$2,039Rp 36.4M
-76.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,108MYR 8,360
$2,841Rp 50.7M
-25.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$899MYR 3,566
$2,264Rp 40.4M
-60.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sentul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$894MYR 3,545
$165Rp 3.0M
441.10%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $379 in Sentul and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sentul pays 441% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $221 vs $302 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 71% 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 Ubud, Bali?
Sentul pays 441% more on average, 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 vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $379 in Sentul versus $1,006 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 Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $188 in Sentul versus $304 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 Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 37% 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 Ubud, Bali?
At $832 in Sentul versus $1,419 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 $832 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 71% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.