🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,204 in Sosua versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,051 in Sosua versus $2,549 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,898 in Sosua versus $3,694 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Sosua costs roughly 14% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Sosua is 10% below, Ubud, Bali is 4% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sosua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.32DOP 487
$3.57Rp 64.0K
133.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.7DOP 3,029
$32.50Rp 582.3K
59.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23DOP 424
$4.86Rp 87.1K
48.77%
Cappuccino
$2.71DOP 158
$2.75Rp 49.2K
-1.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03DOP 60.5
$1.32Rp 23.7K
-21.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84DOP 49.30
$0.70Rp 12.6K
20.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51DOP 147
$2.91Rp 52.2K
-13.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.13DOP 301
$3.79Rp 68.0K
35.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sosua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.39DOP 81.4
$1.71Rp 30.6K
-18.71%
White Bread(500g)
$1.80DOP 106
$2.47Rp 44.3K
-27.13%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17DOP 68.3
$1.20Rp 21.5K
-2.50%
Eggs
$1.81DOP 106
$2.44Rp 43.8K
-25.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.02DOP 411
$14.38Rp 257.7K
-51.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.21DOP 364
$4.31Rp 77.1K
44.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.87DOP 461
$12.21Rp 218.7K
-35.54%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64DOP 155
$3.68Rp 66.0K
-28.26%
Banana(1kg)
$0.77DOP 45.09
$1.55Rp 27.8K
-50.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.98DOP 174
$2.79Rp 49.9K
6.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.89DOP 111
$2.33Rp 41.8K
-18.88%
Potato(1kg)
$2.37DOP 139
$1.97Rp 35.3K
20.30%
Onion(1kg)
$2.32DOP 136
$2.31Rp 41.4K
0.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.00DOP 58.6
$1.06Rp 19.1K
-5.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75DOP 43.86
$0.73Rp 13.1K
2.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.61DOP 328
$3.28Rp 58.8K
71.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.78DOP 632
$22.79Rp 408.4K
-52.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.60DOP 152
$2.81Rp 50.3K
-7.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52DOP 148
$2.78Rp 49.9K
-9.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Sosua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.70DOP 41.26
$0.29Rp 5,217
141.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.06Rp 144.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.50DOP 205
$0.45Rp 8,047
677.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.18DOP 128
$0.45Rp 8,094
384.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.80DOP 340
$6.24Rp 111.7K
-7.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32DOP 77.2
$0.85Rp 15.2K
55.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5KDOP 1.6M
$26.0KRp 465.4M
1.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9KDOP 1.9M
$31.7KRp 567.2M
0.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sosua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$77.8DOP 4,557
$80.8Rp 1.4M
-3.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.16DOP 1,181
$4.06Rp 72.7K
396.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.88DOP 2,102
$24.42Rp 437.6K
46.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sosua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.96DOP 1,521
$97.7Rp 1.7M
-73.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.45Rp 115.5K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.60DOP 386
$4.04Rp 72.4K
63.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sosua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$267DOP 15.6K
$304Rp 5.4M
-12.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,318DOP 370.1K
$6,621Rp 118.6M
-4.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sosua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.2DOP 3,465
$54.2Rp 971.7K
9.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.1DOP 3,050
$38.78Rp 694.7K
34.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.1DOP 5,631
$86.1Rp 1.5M
11.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114DOP 6,698
$76.7Rp 1.4M
49.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sosua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$460DOP 26.9K
$986Rp 17.7M
-53.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474DOP 27.7K
$658Rp 11.8M
-28.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,440DOP 84.3K
$3,369Rp 60.4M
-57.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,299DOP 76.1K
$2,066Rp 37.0M
-37.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,924DOP 112.7K
$2,741Rp 49.1M
-29.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,834DOP 107.4K
$2,228Rp 39.9M
-17.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sosua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$163Rp 2.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12.9
13.28
-2.86%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sosua: June 7, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $460 in Sosua and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Sosua vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $223 vs $297, with Sosua cheaper for home cooking.
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
Sosua vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sosua or Ubud, Bali?
Sosua wins on cost – living expenses run 17% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sosua the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Sosua vs Ubud, Bali?
You'd need roughly $1,806 in Sosua and $2,106 in Ubud, Bali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Sosua vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $460 in Sosua versus $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Sosua and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $267 in Sosua versus $304 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Sosua vs Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Sosua – a meal for two runs $52.0 versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Sosua or Ubud, Bali?
At $1,204 in Sosua versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sosua but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Sosua the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Sosua or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Sosua delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,204 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Sosua hard to pass up.
How safe is Sosua compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Sosua 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 Sosua gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.