๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,933 in Sรจte versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,958 in Sรจte versus $2,549 in Ubud, Bali.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,982 in Sรจte versus $3,694 in Ubud, Bali.
๐Living in Sรจte is roughly 38% more expensive than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sรจte44% above, Ubud, Bali4% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Sรจte
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.27โฌ14.97
$3.57Rpย 64.7K
383.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.1โฌ49.44
$32.50Rpย 589.5K
75.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.20โฌ11.44
$4.86Rpย 88.2K
171.60%
Cappuccino
$3.46โฌ3.00
$2.75Rpย 49.8K
25.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77โฌ2.40
$1.32Rpย 24.0K
109.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86โฌ1.61
$0.70Rpย 12.7K
165.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.13โฌ6.18
$2.91Rpย 52.8K
145.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.06โฌ6.12
$3.79Rpย 68.8K
86.28%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Sรจte
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42โฌ1.23
$1.71Rpย 31.0K
-16.96%
White Bread(500g)
$1.63โฌ1.41
$2.47Rpย 44.9K
-34.01%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.87โฌ2.48
$1.20Rpย 21.8K
139.17%
Eggs
$4.03โฌ3.50
$2.44Rpย 44.3K
65.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$24.20โฌ20.97
$14.38Rpย 260.9K
68.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.18โฌ10.56
$4.31Rpย 78.1K
182.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$25.84โฌ22.40
$12.21Rpย 221.4K
111.63%
Apples(1kg)
$3.20โฌ2.77
$3.68Rpย 66.8K
-13.04%
Banana(1kg)
$2.17โฌ1.88
$1.55Rpย 28.1K
40.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.45โฌ2.99
$2.79Rpย 50.5K
23.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.54โฌ3.07
$2.33Rpย 42.3K
51.93%
Potato(1kg)
$2.33โฌ2.02
$1.97Rpย 35.7K
18.27%
Onion(1kg)
$2.24โฌ1.94
$2.31Rpย 41.9K
-3.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.65โฌ1.43
$1.06Rpย 19.3K
55.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82โฌ0.71
$0.73Rpย 13.2K
12.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.01โฌ12.14
$3.28Rpย 59.5K
327.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.94โฌ8.61
$22.79Rpย 413.4K
-56.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.50โฌ3.03
$2.81Rpย 50.9K
24.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52โฌ3.05
$2.78Rpย 50.5K
26.62%
๐ Getting Around
Sรจte
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.87โฌ1.62
$0.29Rpย 5,281
544.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.19โฌ42.63
$8.06Rpย 146.2K
510.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.27โฌ4.56
$0.45Rpย 8,146
1071.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96โฌ1.70
$0.45Rpย 8,193
335.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.95โฌ29.42
$6.24Rpย 113.1K
444.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.11โฌ1.83
$0.85Rpย 15.4K
148.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9Kโฌ32.8K
$26.0KRpย 471.2M
45.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.4Kโฌ33.2K
$31.7KRpย 574.1M
21.17%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sรจte
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$282โฌ245
$80.8Rpย 1.5M
249.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.07โฌ23.46
$4.06Rpย 73.6K
566.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.95โฌ30.29
$24.42Rpย 442.9K
43.12%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Sรจte
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.01โฌ32.08
$97.7Rpย 1.8M
-62.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.24โฌ15.81
$6.45Rpย 116.9K
182.79%
Cinema Ticket
$13.66โฌ11.84
$4.04Rpย 73.3K
238.12%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Sรจte
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$405โฌ351
$304Rpย 5.5M
33.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,199โฌ7,106
$6,621Rpย 120.1M
23.83%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Sรจte
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.1โฌ74.6
$54.2Rpย 983.6K
58.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.30โฌ39.26
$38.78Rpย 703.2K
16.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.4โฌ76.6
$86.1Rpย 1.6M
2.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$159โฌ138
$76.7Rpย 1.4M
107.42%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Sรจte
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$773โฌ670
$986Rpย 17.9M
-21.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$606โฌ526
$658Rpย 11.9M
-7.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,377โฌ1,193
$3,369Rpย 61.1M
-59.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,070โฌ927
$2,066Rpย 37.5M
-48.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,084โฌ3,539
$2,741Rpย 49.7M
48.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,124โฌ2,707
$2,228Rpย 40.4M
40.23%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Sรจte
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,311โฌ2,003
$163Rpย 3.0M
1314.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.64
13.28
-72.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sรจte: June 8, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $773 in Sรจte and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐSรจte pays 1314% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $57.0 in Sรจte vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $402 vs $297 per month, with Ubud, Bali 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
Sรจte vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Sรจte?
Ubud, Bali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 38% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Sรจte or Ubud, Bali?
Sรจte pays 1314% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Sรจte and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $773 in Sรจte versus $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Sรจte or Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali โ a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $57.0 in Sรจte. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Sรจte vs Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $1,933 per month in Sรจte versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali โ a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Sรจte or Ubud, Bali?
At $1,404 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,933 in Sรจte, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Sรจte. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Sรจte or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Ubud, Bali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Sรจte, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Sรจte or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Sรจte 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 38% less than in Sรจte. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.