Cost of Living Comparison Between Sterling and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Sterling and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,702 per month in Sterling vs $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,957 per month in Sterling vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,211 per month in Sterling vs $3,732 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Sterling costs about 88% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sterling and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Sterling by 102%, Ubud, Bali by 7%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.26 $20.26

$3.57 Rp 61.9K

467.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.0 $84.0

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

157.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.22 $13.22

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

160.75%

Cappuccino

$5.44 $5.44

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

92.23%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 $2.73

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

103.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 $2.32

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

236.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.93 $5.93

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

98.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.72 $7.72

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

100.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 $0.90

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

-48.28%

White Bread (500g)

$3.58 $3.58

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

40.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 $2.11

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

77.31%

Eggs

$5.06 $5.06

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

108.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.02 $19.02

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

29.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.14 $12.14

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

190.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.57 $18.57

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

55.53%

Apples (1kg)

$4.69 $4.69

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

27.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

-17.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.15 $7.15

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

165.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.42 $6.42

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

175.54%

Potato (1kg)

$3.56 $3.56

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

86.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

25.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

111.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.39 $2.39

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

231.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.87 $8.87

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

183.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.73 $13.73

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

-41.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 $1.75

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

-36.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.89 $4.89

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

69.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.01 $2.01

$0.29 Rp 5,029

593.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.39 $4.39

$0.45 Rp 7,863

875.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.39 $1.39

$0.42 Rp 7,305

230.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.14 $29.14

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

373.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 $0.87

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

3.57%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.7K $26.7K

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

1.89%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.3K $24.3K

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

-25.24%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$212 $212

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

170.11%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$53.6 $53.6

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

1255.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.9 $72.9

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

198.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.61 $28.61

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

-70.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

Cinema Ticket

$14.85 $14.85

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

267.57%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,740 $1,740

$303 Rp 5.2M

475.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$23.8K $23.8K

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

264.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.46 $47.46

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

-11.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.60 $44.60

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

17.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.9 $97.9

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

12.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$118 $118

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

49.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,242 $1,242

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

22.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,362 $1,362

$674 Rp 11.7M

101.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,975 $1,975

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

-41.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,205 $2,205

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

5.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,221 $3,221

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

7.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,375 $2,375

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

1.54%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,819 $3,819

$173 Rp 3.0M

2106.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.57

13.28

-50.53%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Sterling: April 27, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,242 in Sterling versus $1,012 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 2106% higher in Sterling, 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 $84.0 in Sterling versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $439 vs $298 – 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

Sterling vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sterling costs about 88% more than Ubud, Bali, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,053 per month in Sterling and $2,158 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,702 in Sterling and $1,438 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,740 per month in Sterling and $303 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,438, than in Sterling at $2,702. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sterling it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,438 versus $2,702 in Sterling. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sterling makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.