🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,206 in Sosua versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,065 in Sosua versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,925 in Sosua versus $3,732 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Sosua costs roughly 16% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Sosua is 10% below, Ubud, Bali is 7% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sosua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.60DOP 508
$3.57Rp 61.9K
140.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.2DOP 2,967
$32.58Rp 564.7K
54.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.94DOP 410
$5.07Rp 87.8K
36.88%
Cappuccino
$2.65DOP 157
$2.83Rp 49.0K
-6.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03DOP 60.9
$1.34Rp 23.2K
-23.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82DOP 48.56
$0.69Rp 12.0K
18.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51DOP 148
$2.99Rp 51.8K
-16.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.03DOP 297
$3.85Rp 66.7K
30.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sosua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38DOP 81.7
$1.74Rp 30.2K
-20.69%
White Bread(500g)
$1.78DOP 105
$2.54Rp 44.0K
-29.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.12DOP 66.0
$1.19Rp 20.6K
-5.88%
Eggs
$1.88DOP 111
$2.43Rp 42.0K
-22.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.05DOP 417
$14.66Rp 254.1K
-51.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.36DOP 376
$4.18Rp 72.4K
52.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.71DOP 456
$11.94Rp 206.9K
-35.43%
Apples(1kg)
$2.59DOP 153
$3.69Rp 63.9K
-29.81%
Banana(1kg)
$0.83DOP 49.20
$1.61Rp 27.8K
-48.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.93DOP 173
$2.69Rp 46.5K
8.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.98DOP 117
$2.33Rp 40.4K
-15.02%
Potato(1kg)
$2.27DOP 134
$1.91Rp 33.0K
18.85%
Onion(1kg)
$2.31DOP 136
$2.19Rp 37.9K
5.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04DOP 61.4
$1.06Rp 18.3K
-1.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74DOP 43.93
$0.72Rp 12.5K
2.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.64DOP 333
$3.13Rp 54.3K
80.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.76DOP 695
$23.49Rp 407.1K
-49.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.55DOP 151
$2.74Rp 47.5K
-6.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45DOP 145
$2.88Rp 49.9K
-14.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Sosua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.71DOP 42.17
$0.29Rp 5,029
144.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.17Rp 141.6K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.49DOP 206
$0.45Rp 7,863
675.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.22DOP 131
$0.42Rp 7,305
428.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.01DOP 355
$6.16Rp 106.7K
-2.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.32DOP 77.9
$0.84Rp 14.6K
57.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.7KDOP 1.6M
$26.2KRp 454.9M
1.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6KDOP 1.9M
$32.5KRp 562.9M
-2.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sosua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$77.0DOP 4,548
$78.4Rp 1.4M
-1.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.62DOP 1,218
$3.95Rp 68.5K
422.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.91DOP 2,122
$24.40Rp 423.0K
47.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sosua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.69DOP 1,518
$96.5Rp 1.7M
-73.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.35Rp 110.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.78DOP 401
$4.04Rp 70.0K
67.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sosua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263DOP 15.5K
$303Rp 5.2M
-13.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,391DOP 377.6K
$6,523Rp 113.1M
-2.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sosua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.1DOP 3,609
$53.8Rp 933.1K
13.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.5DOP 3,044
$37.98Rp 658.3K
35.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.5DOP 5,583
$86.8Rp 1.5M
8.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115DOP 6,799
$78.9Rp 1.4M
45.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sosua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$466DOP 27.5K
$1,012Rp 17.5M
-53.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$481DOP 28.4K
$674Rp 11.7M
-28.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,455DOP 86.0K
$3,390Rp 58.8M
-57.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,269DOP 75.0K
$2,098Rp 36.4M
-39.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,844DOP 108.9K
$2,985Rp 51.7M
-38.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,761DOP 104.1K
$2,339Rp 40.5M
-24.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sosua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$173Rp 3.0M
-
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: April 26, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $466 in Sosua and $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $50.0 in Sosua vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $225 vs $298, 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 19% 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 $1,809 in Sosua and $2,158 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: $466 in Sosua versus $1,012 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 $263 in Sosua versus $303 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 $50.0 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 $1,206 in Sosua versus $1,438 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 $1,206 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 19% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.