😐A single person spends $1,650 per month in Sofia vs $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,556 per month in Sofia vs $2,334 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,462 per month in Sofia vs $3,273 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.
😐Sofia costs about 18% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Sofia and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Sofia by 20%, Ubud, Bali by 2%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sofia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.41BGN 28.96
$3.37Rp 59.7K
416.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.4BGN 109
$38.59Rp 682.4K
69.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.17BGN 20.25
$5.52Rp 97.6K
120.47%
Cappuccino
$3.63BGN 6.05
$2.64Rp 46.8K
37.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36BGN 3.92
$1.67Rp 29.6K
41.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95BGN 3.24
$0.77Rp 13.6K
153.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.54BGN 5.89
$2.63Rp 46.6K
34.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56BGN 7.59
$4.28Rp 75.7K
6.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sofia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.01BGN 3.35
$1.55Rp 27.3K
29.68%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62BGN 2.69
$2.22Rp 39.3K
-27.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.42BGN 4.02
$1.13Rp 19.9K
114.16%
Eggs
$4.41BGN 7.33
$2.09Rp 36.9K
111.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.80BGN 19.64
$17.39Rp 307.6K
-32.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.25BGN 15.39
$3.87Rp 68.4K
139.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.23BGN 28.66
$12.55Rp 221.9K
37.29%
Apples(1kg)
$2.17BGN 3.61
$3.62Rp 63.9K
-40.06%
Banana(1kg)
$2.05BGN 3.41
$1.56Rp 27.6K
31.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.93BGN 3.21
$2.35Rp 41.6K
-17.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.22BGN 7.03
$2.06Rp 36.4K
104.85%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15BGN 1.91
$1.90Rp 33.6K
-39.47%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00BGN 1.66
$2.34Rp 41.3K
-57.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18BGN 1.97
$1.03Rp 18.2K
14.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90BGN 1.50
$0.55Rp 9,809
63.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.33BGN 7.21
$2.25Rp 39.8K
92.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.69BGN 12.80
$23.81Rp 421.0K
-67.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21BGN 2.00
$2.31Rp 40.9K
-47.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85BGN 3.08
$2.80Rp 49.5K
-33.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Sofia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.92BGN 1.52
$0.27Rp 4,816
240.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.12BGN 50.1
$8.66Rp 153.2K
247.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.88BGN 3.12
$0.48Rp 8,515
291.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.91BGN 1.52
$0.45Rp 7,887
102.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.21BGN 26.96
$5.72Rp 101.1K
183.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.76BGN 2.94
$0.76Rp 13.4K
131.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4KBGN 52.2K
$24.5KRp 433.0M
28.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4KBGN 45.6K
$32.1KRp 568.0M
-14.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sofia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$170BGN 283
$83.6Rp 1.5M
103.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.02BGN 36.64
$6.46Rp 114.2K
240.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.43BGN 25.67
$18.99Rp 335.9K
-18.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sofia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.50BGN 79.0
$56.0Rp 989.8K
-15.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.53BGN 49.13
$18.62Rp 329.2K
58.59%
Cinema Ticket
$10.33BGN 17.18
$4.28Rp 75.7K
141.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sofia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$799BGN 1,330
$487Rp 8.6M
64.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.4KBGN 22.2K
$5,856Rp 103.6M
128.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sofia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.5BGN 147
$45.56Rp 805.6K
94.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.54BGN 70.8
$36.38Rp 643.3K
16.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108BGN 179
$82.0Rp 1.4M
31.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112BGN 187
$80.4Rp 1.4M
39.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sofia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$784BGN 1,305
$1,117Rp 19.7M
-29.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$622BGN 1,034
$701Rp 12.4M
-11.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,576BGN 2,622
$3,537Rp 62.5M
-55.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,073BGN 1,785
$1,762Rp 31.2M
-39.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,637BGN 7,714
$2,826Rp 50.0M
64.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,355BGN 5,581
$2,292Rp 40.5M
46.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sofia
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,742BGN 2,898
$170Rp 3.0M
926.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.9
13.78
-78.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sofia: August 30, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $784 in Sofia versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 926% higher in Sofia, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Sofia versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $293 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Sofia vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Sofia and in Ubud, Bali compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,650 in Sofia, $1,396 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 18% apart. Sofia costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Sofia compared to Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,475 per month in Sofia and $2,095 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Sofia and Ubud, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Sofia or Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,650 in Sofia and $1,396 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Sofia and in Ubud, Bali?
Public transport costs about 248% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,396, than in Sofia at $1,650. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sofia it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Sofia and Ubud, Bali?
It depends on your priorities. Sofia has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,396 in Ubud, Bali to $1,650 in Sofia. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Sofia or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Sofia and Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sofia makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.