🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,198 in Sosua versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,075 in Sosua versus $2,557 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,953 in Sosua versus $3,723 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 5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sosua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.35DOP 485
$3.57Rp 64.5K
133.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.9DOP 2,959
$32.32Rp 583.4K
57.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.10DOP 413
$5.01Rp 90.4K
41.72%
Cappuccino
$2.72DOP 158
$2.82Rp 51.0K
-3.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02DOP 59.3
$1.35Rp 24.4K
-24.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77DOP 44.83
$0.73Rp 13.2K
5.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.48DOP 144
$2.93Rp 53.0K
-15.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.97DOP 289
$3.94Rp 71.1K
26.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sosua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38DOP 80.4
$1.78Rp 32.1K
-22.47%
White Bread(500g)
$1.79DOP 104
$2.45Rp 44.2K
-26.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.12DOP 64.9
$1.15Rp 20.7K
-2.61%
Eggs
$1.82DOP 106
$2.41Rp 43.6K
-24.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.23DOP 420
$14.33Rp 258.7K
-49.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.39DOP 371
$4.19Rp 75.6K
52.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.81DOP 454
$12.06Rp 217.7K
-35.24%
Apples(1kg)
$2.55DOP 148
$3.64Rp 65.7K
-29.95%
Banana(1kg)
$0.82DOP 47.79
$1.57Rp 28.3K
-47.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.93DOP 170
$2.79Rp 50.3K
5.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.96DOP 114
$2.24Rp 40.5K
-12.50%
Potato(1kg)
$2.35DOP 136
$1.98Rp 35.7K
18.69%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27DOP 132
$2.28Rp 41.1K
-0.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04DOP 60.2
$1.05Rp 19.0K
-0.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78DOP 45.21
$0.79Rp 14.2K
-1.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.91DOP 344
$3.19Rp 57.6K
85.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.91DOP 634
$23.49Rp 424.1K
-53.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.57DOP 150
$2.90Rp 52.3K
-11.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53DOP 147
$2.76Rp 49.7K
-8.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Sosua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.66DOP 38.20
$0.27Rp 4,813
144.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.37Rp 151.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.48DOP 202
$0.45Rp 8,167
673.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.20DOP 128
$0.46Rp 8,298
378.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.82DOP 338
$6.07Rp 109.6K
-4.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27DOP 73.7
$0.86Rp 15.6K
47.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3KDOP 1.5M
$26.6KRp 480.0M
-1.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.0KDOP 1.9M
$32.5KRp 587.6M
-1.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sosua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$77.4DOP 4,496
$79.0Rp 1.4M
-2.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.00DOP 1,162
$4.09Rp 73.9K
389.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71DOP 2,133
$23.85Rp 430.5K
53.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sosua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.00DOP 1,453
$98.8Rp 1.8M
-74.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.35Rp 114.7K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.62DOP 385
$4.01Rp 72.3K
65.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sosua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266DOP 15.5K
$297Rp 5.4M
-10.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,285DOP 365.2K
$6,602Rp 119.2M
-4.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sosua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0DOP 3,484
$53.4Rp 964.5K
12.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.3DOP 2,979
$38.11Rp 688.1K
34.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.7DOP 5,679
$88.7Rp 1.6M
10.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114DOP 6,600
$76.6Rp 1.4M
48.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sosua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$468DOP 27.2K
$1,020Rp 18.4M
-54.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465DOP 27.0K
$680Rp 12.3M
-31.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,425DOP 82.8K
$3,469Rp 62.6M
-58.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,300DOP 75.6K
$2,090Rp 37.7M
-37.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,946DOP 113.1K
$2,729Rp 49.3M
-28.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,802DOP 104.7K
$2,295Rp 41.4M
-21.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sosua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$164Rp 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: July 28, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $468 in Sosua and $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $51.0 in Sosua vs $32.00 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 16% 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 and in Ubud, Bali?
You'd need roughly $1,797 in Sosua and $2,088 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 compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $468 in Sosua versus $1,020 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $266 in Sosua versus $297 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 and in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Sosua – a meal for two runs $51.0 versus $32.00 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 in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,198 in Sosua versus $1,392 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 $1,198 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 16% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.