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 $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,014 in Sal, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,540 in Sal, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,066 in Sal, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 40% more than Sal, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Sal is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

$5.80 CVE 549

-38.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

$46.87 CVE 4,437

-30.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

$7.28 CVE 690

-32.01%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

$2.28 CVE 216

18.86%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

$2.43 CVE 230

-44.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$1.12 CVE 106

-37.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

$3.85 CVE 364

-24.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

$3.11 CVE 295

27.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

$1.50 CVE 142

20.67%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

$2.22 CVE 210

13.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

$1.55 CVE 147

-25.16%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

$2.87 CVE 272

-14.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

$11.06 CVE 1,048

33.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

$8.21 CVE 777

-47.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

$16.60 CVE 1,572

-26.87%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

$2.93 CVE 278

31.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

$2.54 CVE 240

-38.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

$2.94 CVE 279

-3.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

$4.16 CVE 394

-43.99%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

$1.63 CVE 154

17.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

$1.97 CVE 186

11.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

$1.84 CVE 174

-45.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$1.14 CVE 108

-31.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

$4.84 CVE 459

-31.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

$6.99 CVE 662

239.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

$2.98 CVE 283

-6.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

$1.97 CVE 187

45.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,800

$1.03 CVE 97.7

-73.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,150

$2.13 CVE 201

-78.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,037

$2.83 CVE 268

-84.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

$12.83 CVE 1,214

-52.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$1.43 CVE 135

-44.76%

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

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

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

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$89.8 CVE 8,500

-10.96%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

$55.2 CVE 5,225

-57.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$35.47 CVE 3,358

178.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$150 CVE 14.2K

103.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

$2,546 CVE 241.1K

159.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

$31.74 CVE 3,006

74.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$146 CVE 13.8K

-46.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$335 CVE 31.7K

200.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$295 CVE 27.9K

129.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

$446 CVE 42.2K

671.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

$400 CVE 37.9K

410.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

$674 CVE 63.8K

321.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

$348 CVE 33.0K

549.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$263 CVE 24.9K

-37.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

6.17

115.24%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Sal: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $335 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 59% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $47.00 in Sal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $304 – 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: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, $1,014 in Sal – roughly 40% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,521 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 $33.00 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 1% 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 $1,014, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. 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 $1,014 in Sal to $1,419 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.