🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $924 in Sentul versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,348 in Sentul versus $2,327 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,771 in Sentul versus $3,275 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Sentul costs roughly 33% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Sentul is 33% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sentul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.70MYR 15.04
$3.33Rp 58.7K
11.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.16MYR 90.1
$35.82Rp 630.7K
-38.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.97MYR 20.22
$5.63Rp 99.1K
-11.72%
Cappuccino
$2.99MYR 12.16
$2.82Rp 49.7K
6.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85MYR 3.44
$1.75Rp 30.8K
-51.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48MYR 1.94
$0.80Rp 14.0K
-40.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.36MYR 13.67
$3.04Rp 53.6K
10.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.77MYR 23.46
$4.30Rp 75.7K
34.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sentul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75MYR 7.14
$1.61Rp 28.3K
8.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.09MYR 4.42
$2.27Rp 39.9K
-51.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.46MYR 5.93
$1.17Rp 20.6K
24.79%
Eggs
$1.77MYR 7.19
$2.17Rp 38.2K
-18.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.79MYR 39.81
$17.63Rp 310.5K
-44.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.28MYR 13.35
$4.05Rp 71.4K
-19.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.90MYR 40.27
$12.18Rp 214.5K
-18.72%
Apples(1kg)
$3.37MYR 13.70
$3.62Rp 63.7K
-6.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.76MYR 7.17
$1.64Rp 28.8K
7.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.79MYR 11.35
$2.31Rp 40.6K
20.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.65MYR 6.69
$1.96Rp 34.5K
-15.82%
Potato(1kg)
$1.44MYR 5.85
$1.84Rp 32.5K
-21.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.66MYR 6.76
$2.37Rp 41.7K
-29.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.38MYR 5.63
$1.05Rp 18.5K
31.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55MYR 2.23
$0.54Rp 9,560
1.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41MYR 17.96
$2.30Rp 40.6K
91.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.37MYR 58.5
$23.08Rp 406.4K
-37.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.81MYR 11.42
$2.34Rp 41.2K
20.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14MYR 12.76
$3.07Rp 54.0K
2.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Sentul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.71MYR 2.90
$0.25Rp 4,365
184.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.16MYR 49.48
$9.42Rp 165.9K
29.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.23MYR 4.99
$0.49Rp 8,631
151.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.36MYR 1.46
$0.47Rp 8,349
-23.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.03MYR 36.73
$5.60Rp 98.6K
61.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78MYR 3.18
$0.81Rp 14.2K
-3.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.0KMYR 175.1K
$25.0KRp 440.3M
72.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.7KMYR 137.0K
$31.1KRp 547.0M
8.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sentul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$49.11MYR 200
$82.7Rp 1.5M
-40.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.28MYR 33.70
$6.49Rp 114.2K
27.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.87MYR 109
$18.79Rp 330.8K
43.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sentul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.18MYR 168
$55.2Rp 972.6K
-25.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.80MYR 27.68
$18.21Rp 320.6K
-62.66%
Cinema Ticket
$5.04MYR 20.51
$4.30Rp 75.7K
17.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sentul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$163MYR 662
$494Rp 8.7M
-67.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,578MYR 18.6K
$5,917Rp 104.2M
-22.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sentul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.1MYR 212
$46.28Rp 814.8K
12.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.80MYR 68.3
$36.44Rp 641.6K
-53.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.8MYR 324
$80.7Rp 1.4M
-1.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.83MYR 166
$78.8Rp 1.4M
-48.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sentul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$426MYR 1,733
$1,114Rp 19.6M
-61.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$330MYR 1,343
$693Rp 12.2M
-52.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$696MYR 2,830
$3,639Rp 64.1M
-80.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$495MYR 2,013
$1,712Rp 30.1M
-71.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,052MYR 8,350
$2,761Rp 48.6M
-25.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,126MYR 4,581
$2,293Rp 40.4M
-50.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sentul
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$897MYR 3,650
$167Rp 2.9M
436.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.06
13.78
-70.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sentul: September 6, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $426 in Sentul and $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sentul pays 437% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $22.00 in Sentul vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $294 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 49% 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 437% 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: $426 in Sentul versus $1,114 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 $163 in Sentul versus $494 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 26% 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 $924 in Sentul versus $1,378 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 $924 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 49% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.