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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,396 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $888 in Sal, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,374 in Sal, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,273 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,860 in Sal, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 57% more than Sal, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Ubud, Bali sits 2% above the global median, while Sal is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.37 Rp 59.7K

$5.95 CVE 564

-43.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.59 Rp 682.4K

$46.67 CVE 4,428

-17.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.52 Rp 97.6K

$11.41 CVE 1,083

-51.62%

Cappuccino

$2.64 Rp 46.8K

$2.43 CVE 231

8.64%

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

$1.67 Rp 29.6K

$2.72 CVE 258

-38.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

$1.18 CVE 112

-34.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.63 Rp 46.6K

$4.79 CVE 454

-45.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.28 Rp 75.7K

$3.08 CVE 293

38.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 Rp 27.3K

$1.58 CVE 150

-1.90%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 Rp 39.3K

$2.33 CVE 221

-4.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 Rp 19.9K

$1.23 CVE 117

-8.13%

Eggs

$2.09 Rp 36.9K

$2.91 CVE 276

-28.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 Rp 307.6K

$9.60 CVE 911

81.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.87 Rp 68.4K

$7.82 CVE 742

-50.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.55 Rp 221.9K

$16.71 CVE 1,586

-24.90%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.9K

$3.34 CVE 317

8.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.6K

$2.48 CVE 235

-37.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 Rp 41.6K

$3.45 CVE 327

-31.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 Rp 36.4K

$4.03 CVE 383

-48.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 33.6K

$1.72 CVE 163

10.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 Rp 41.3K

$1.92 CVE 182

21.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 Rp 18.2K

$1.62 CVE 153

-36.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,809

$1.13 CVE 107

-51.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 Rp 39.8K

$4.78 CVE 453

-52.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.81 Rp 421.0K

$6.87 CVE 652

246.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 Rp 40.9K

$4.14 CVE 393

-44.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 Rp 49.5K

$1.96 CVE 186

42.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,816

$1.03 CVE 98.1

-73.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.66 Rp 153.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,515

$2.08 CVE 198

-76.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 7,887

$3.19 CVE 303

-85.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.72 Rp 101.1K

$13.22 CVE 1,254

-56.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

$1.37 CVE 130

-44.53%

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

$24.5K Rp 433.0M

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

$32.1K Rp 568.0M

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

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

$63.5 CVE 6,024

31.60%

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

$6.46 Rp 114.2K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.99 Rp 335.9K

$50.6 CVE 4,804

-62.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 Rp 989.8K

$29.27 CVE 2,777

91.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.62 Rp 329.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 Rp 75.7K

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

$487 Rp 8.6M

$120 CVE 11.4K

304.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,856 Rp 103.6M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.56 Rp 805.6K

$30.98 CVE 2,939

47.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.38 Rp 643.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 Rp 1.4M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$145 CVE 13.8K

-44.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,117 Rp 19.7M

$267 CVE 25.4K

317.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 Rp 12.4M

$172 CVE 16.4K

306.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,537 Rp 62.5M

$317 CVE 30.1K

1015.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,762 Rp 31.2M

$207 CVE 19.6K

753.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,826 Rp 50.0M

$682 CVE 64.7K

314.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,292 Rp 40.5M

$349 CVE 33.1K

557.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 Rp 3.0M

$267 CVE 25.3K

-36.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

5.25

162.48%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Last update for Sal: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,117 in Ubud, Bali versus $267 in Sal. 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 57% higher in Sal, 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 $39.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $47.00 in Sal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $307 – 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, $888 in Sal – roughly 57% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,095 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,331 in Sal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sal, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali and $47.00 in Sal. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Ubud, Bali – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sal, where all-in costs run around $888, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. In Sal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $888 in Sal to $1,396 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Sal. 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.