Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and San Fernando Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and San Fernando

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,088 in San Fernando, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,738 in San Fernando, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,387 in San Fernando, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 30% more than San Fernando, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while San Fernando is 19% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
San Fernando
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56 Rp 64.3K
$10.62 MX$185
-66.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73 Rp 590.3K
$39.11 MX$683
-16.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 Rp 89.3K
$7.97 MX$139
-37.89%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 48.9K
$3.25 MX$56.7
-16.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 24.2K
$1.24 MX$21.65
8.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
$0.89 MX$15.62
-21.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 Rp 52.7K
$2.31 MX$40.42
26.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 Rp 71.4K
$3.86 MX$67.5
2.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
San Fernando
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 Rp 32.6K
$1.48 MX$25.88
22.30%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 45.4K
$2.54 MX$44.35
-0.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 Rp 20.9K
$1.61 MX$28.06
-27.95%
Eggs
$2.46 Rp 44.4K
$2.37 MX$41.47
3.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.71 Rp 265.3K
$7.87 MX$137
86.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 Rp 77.9K
$8.02 MX$140
-46.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.14 Rp 218.9K
$10.71 MX$187
13.35%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 Rp 69.3K
$2.65 MX$46.28
44.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 28.1K
$1.44 MX$25.19
8.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 51.1K
$1.70 MX$29.69
66.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.9K
$1.65 MX$28.81
41.21%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.5K
$1.91 MX$33.39
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 Rp 39.7K
$2.02 MX$35.20
8.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 18.3K
$1.25 MX$21.82
-19.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 14.0K
$0.98 MX$17.12
-20.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 Rp 59.8K
$4.08 MX$71.2
-18.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.74 Rp 428.1K
$12.27 MX$214
93.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 50.3K
$1.56 MX$27.17
78.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 51.6K
$2.86 MX$49.87
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
San Fernando
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,848
$0.61 MX$10.58
-55.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.03 Rp 144.8K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,231
$2.64 MX$46.07
-82.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,117
$1.58 MX$27.64
-71.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 Rp 109.9K
$8.20 MX$143
-25.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 14.3K
$1.31 MX$22.90
-39.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 471.6M
$21.2K MX$369.8K
23.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 579.3M
$22.4K MX$391.8K
43.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
San Fernando
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$56.6 MX$988
41.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 73.3K
$21.95 MX$383
-81.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 Rp 424.2K
$28.20 MX$493
-16.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
San Fernando
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
$36.10 MX$631
173.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 Rp 119.6K
$15.62 MX$273
-57.55%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15 Rp 74.8K
$4.74 MX$82.7
-12.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
San Fernando
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.5M
$202 MX$3,536
50.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,613 Rp 119.3M
$3,590 MX$62.7K
84.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
San Fernando
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 Rp 1.0M
$53.0 MX$925
4.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31 Rp 690.9K
$39.95 MX$698
-4.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
$90.4 MX$1,578
-1.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$79.2 MX$1,382
-1.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
San Fernando
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 Rp 18.2M
$516 MX$9,004
95.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$675 Rp 12.2M
$395 MX$6,898
70.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,442 Rp 62.1M
$944 MX$16.5K
264.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 Rp 36.8M
$755 MX$13.2K
170.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,841 Rp 51.2M
$1,967 MX$34.4K
44.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,264 Rp 40.8M
$1,274 MX$22.3K
77.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
San Fernando
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
11.48
15.68%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for San Fernando: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $516 in San Fernando. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $39.00 in San Fernando. Groceries tell a different story – $302 in Ubud, Bali vs $254 in San Fernando – so San Fernando 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
Ubud, Bali vs San Fernando: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Fernando cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 30%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,632 in San Fernando. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in San Fernando, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali vs San Fernando?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali and $1,088 in San Fernando. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $202 in San Fernando. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or San Fernando?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in San Fernando, where all-in costs run around $1,088, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In San Fernando it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ubud, Bali or San Fernando more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward San Fernando – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or San Fernando?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with San Fernando. 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.

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