🙂A single person spends $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,945 in San Diego, CA, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $5,834 in San Diego, CA, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $7,724 in San Diego, CA, rent included.
🙂Ubud, Bali is about 64% cheaper than San Diego, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Ubud, Bali and San Diego, CA sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 5%, San Diego, CA by 195%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
San Diego, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45Rp 62.1K
$22.60$22.60
-84.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34Rp 581.1K
$98.2$98.2
-67.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.84Rp 87.1K
$15.12$15.12
-67.99%
Cappuccino
$2.75Rp 49.4K
$6.01$6.01
-54.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38Rp 24.9K
$2.92$2.92
-52.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75Rp 13.5K
$2.58$2.58
-70.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.99Rp 53.8K
$8.14$8.14
-63.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85Rp 69.2K
$9.05$9.05
-57.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
San Diego, CA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74Rp 31.2K
$1.19$1.19
46.22%
White Bread(500g)
$2.46Rp 44.2K
$4.57$4.57
-46.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17Rp 21.0K
$4.34$4.34
-73.04%
Eggs
$2.43Rp 43.7K
$5.09$5.09
-52.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.50Rp 260.6K
$13.31$13.31
8.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.35Rp 78.2K
$12.88$12.88
-66.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.98Rp 215.3K
$18.22$18.22
-34.25%
Apples(1kg)
$3.72Rp 66.8K
$4.78$4.78
-22.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63Rp 29.2K
$1.70$1.70
-4.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.74Rp 49.3K
$3.93$3.93
-30.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24Rp 40.3K
$4.87$4.87
-54.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92Rp 34.5K
$3.09$3.09
-37.86%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28Rp 40.9K
$2.37$2.37
-3.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 19.1K
$2.27$2.27
-53.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72Rp 12.9K
$2.40$2.40
-70.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29Rp 59.0K
$12.11$12.11
-72.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.19Rp 416.8K
$15.11$15.11
53.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78Rp 49.9K
$1.77$1.77
57.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73Rp 49.1K
$2.43$2.43
12.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
San Diego, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,786
$2.54$2.54
-89.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.11Rp 145.7K
$70.6$70.6
-88.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,675
$3.07$3.07
-84.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42Rp 7,545
$2.09$2.09
-79.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.22Rp 111.8K
$27.53$27.53
-77.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.6K
$1.30$1.30
-37.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KRp 478.2M
$31.4K$31.4K
-15.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2KRp 578.5M
$26.9K$26.9K
19.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
San Diego, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.4Rp 1.4M
$273$273
-71.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07Rp 73.1K
$67.8$67.8
-94.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33Rp 437.1K
$80.0$80.0
-69.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
San Diego, CA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.6Rp 1.8M
$68.8$68.8
43.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34Rp 113.9K
$24.75$24.75
-74.38%
Cinema Ticket
$3.99Rp 71.6K
$16.29$16.29
-75.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
San Diego, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305Rp 5.5M
$1,622$1,622
-81.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,642Rp 119.4M
$29.2K$29.2K
-77.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
San Diego, CA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1Rp 972.9K
$59.9$59.9
-9.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81Rp 679.4K
$57.1$57.1
-33.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.8Rp 1.6M
$99.0$99.0
-12.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4Rp 1.4M
$116$116
-33.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
San Diego, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$992Rp 17.8M
$2,835$2,835
-65.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$673Rp 12.1M
$2,354$2,354
-71.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,375Rp 60.7M
$4,926$4,926
-31.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,050Rp 36.8M
$4,071$4,071
-49.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,805Rp 50.4M
$8,217$8,217
-65.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,227Rp 40.0M
$6,695$6,695
-66.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
San Diego, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$167Rp 3.0M
$5,320$5,320
-96.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
6.39
107.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026
Last update for San Diego, CA: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,835 in San Diego, CA. 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 3087% higher in San Diego, CA, 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $98.0 in San Diego, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $424 – 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 San Diego, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Ubud, Bali and in San Diego, CA compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, $3,945 in San Diego, CA – roughly 180% apart. San Diego, CA costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Ubud, Bali compared to San Diego, CA?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $5,917 in San Diego, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Ubud, Bali and San Diego, CA?
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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ubud, Bali and San Diego, CA?
Kindergarten costs $305 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,622 in San Diego, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 43% more in San Diego, CA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,408, than in San Diego, CA at $3,945. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Diego, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and San Diego, CA?
It depends on your priorities. San Diego, CA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,408 in Ubud, Bali to $3,945 in San Diego, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Ubud, Bali or San Diego, CA safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Ubud, Bali and San Diego, CA?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Diego, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared