Cost of Living Comparison Between Sun City and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Sun City and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,008 per month in Sun City vs $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,591 per month in Sun City vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,174 per month in Sun City vs $3,732 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Sun City is about 30% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Sun City sits 25% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sun City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.99 R 182
$3.57 Rp 61.6K
207.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.62 R 755
$32.58 Rp 562.6K
40.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.96 R 82.0
$5.07 Rp 87.5K
-2.17%
Cappuccino
$2.22 R 36.79
$2.83 Rp 48.8K
-21.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02 R 16.95
$1.34 Rp 23.1K
-23.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 R 12.59
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
10.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.74 R 45.29
$2.99 Rp 51.6K
-8.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 R 41.19
$3.85 Rp 66.4K
-35.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sun City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 R 18.03
$1.74 Rp 30.1K
-37.36%
White Bread (500g)
$0.75 R 12.37
$2.54 Rp 43.8K
-70.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.66 R 27.44
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
39.50%
Eggs
$2.45 R 40.62
$2.43 Rp 41.9K
0.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.05 R 133
$14.66 Rp 253.2K
-45.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.83 R 79.9
$4.18 Rp 72.1K
15.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.79 R 112
$11.94 Rp 206.1K
-43.13%
Apples (1kg)
$1.67 R 27.64
$3.69 Rp 63.6K
-54.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 R 25.12
$1.61 Rp 27.7K
-5.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 R 25.16
$2.69 Rp 46.4K
-43.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 R 26.37
$2.33 Rp 40.2K
-31.76%
Potato (1kg)
$1.49 R 24.66
$1.91 Rp 32.9K
-21.99%
Onion (1kg)
$1.45 R 24.06
$2.19 Rp 37.7K
-33.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 R 17.53
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.96 R 15.85
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.05 R 50.5
$3.13 Rp 54.1K
-2.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.94 R 98.4
$23.49 Rp 405.6K
-74.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 R 22.37
$2.74 Rp 47.3K
-50.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 R 27.28
$2.88 Rp 49.7K
-42.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Sun City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.61 R 26.57
$0.29 Rp 5,010
455.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.17 Rp 141.0K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.09 R 18.10
$0.45 Rp 7,834
142.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.91 R 15.02
$0.42 Rp 7,278
116.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.99 R 66.0
$6.16 Rp 106.3K
-35.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 R 21.30
$0.84 Rp 14.5K
53.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3K R 368.9K
$26.2K Rp 453.1M
-15.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0K R 396.7K
$32.5K Rp 560.8M
-26.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sun City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.7 R 1,601
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
23.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.11 R 664
$3.95 Rp 68.2K
915.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.32 R 717
$24.40 Rp 421.4K
77.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sun City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.75 R 509
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
-68.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.35 Rp 109.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.04 R 50.4
$4.04 Rp 69.7K
-24.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sun City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$210 R 3,476
$303 Rp 5.2M
-30.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,957 R 82.0K
$6,523 Rp 112.6M
-24.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sun City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.3 R 833
$53.8 Rp 929.5K
-6.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.58 R 556
$37.98 Rp 655.8K
-11.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.3 R 1,113
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
-22.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.2 R 1,277
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
-2.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sun City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$364 R 6,019
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
-64.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$337 R 5,583
$674 Rp 11.6M
-49.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$698 R 11.5K
$3,390 Rp 58.5M
-79.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$684 R 11.3K
$2,098 Rp 36.2M
-67.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$701 R 11.6K
$2,985 Rp 51.5M
-76.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$714 R 11.8K
$2,339 Rp 40.4M
-69.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sun City
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,512 R 25.0K
$173 Rp 3.0M
773.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.51
13.28
-13.33%

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

Last update for Sun City: April 26, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $364 in Sun City 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 774% higher in Sun City, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Sun City versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $180 in Sun City vs $298 in Ubud, Bali – so Sun City wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Sun City vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sun City or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali costs about 43% more than Sun City, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Sun City vs Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,511 per month in Sun City and $2,158 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Sun City or Ubud, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sun City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Sun City compared to Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,008 in Sun City and $1,438 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Sun City and Ubud, Bali?
Kindergarten costs $210 per month in Sun City and $303 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Sun City or Ubud, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sun City, where all-in costs run around $1,008, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. In Sun City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Sun City or Ubud, Bali?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sun City costs $1,008 versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Sun City compared to Ubud, Bali?
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.
Should I move to Sun City or Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Sun City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Sun City vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities