Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and San Juan del Sur Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and San Juan del Sur

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,045 in San Juan del Sur, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,739 in San Juan del Sur, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,432 in San Juan del Sur, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 34% more than San Juan del Sur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% above the global median, while San Juan del Sur is 22% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

$4.22 NIO 155

-15.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

$33.33 NIO 1,221

-2.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

$5.54 NIO 203

-12.27%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

$2.47 NIO 90.3

11.34%

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

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

$0.84 NIO 30.95

57.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.69 NIO 25.09

1.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

$1.30 NIO 47.56

123.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

$2.04 NIO 74.7

85.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

$1.25 NIO 45.87

36.80%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

$1.49 NIO 54.6

65.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$1.23 NIO 45.01

-2.44%

Eggs

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

$1.97 NIO 72.0

23.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

$8.07 NIO 296

78.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

$6.29 NIO 230

-31.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

$8.02 NIO 294

52.24%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

$3.85 NIO 141

-4.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

$0.89 NIO 32.41

74.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

$1.84 NIO 67.4

51.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

$2.28 NIO 83.6

2.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

$3.18 NIO 116

-38.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

$2.16 NIO 79.0

6.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$1.01 NIO 37.09

4.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$1.01 NIO 36.86

-27.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

$2.64 NIO 96.5

24.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

$9.68 NIO 355

135.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

$1.46 NIO 53.3

92.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$2.26 NIO 82.6

23.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,047

$1.49 NIO 54.5

-69.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

$6.77 NIO 248

-7.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

$1.29 NIO 47.32

-34.11%

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

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

$22.9K NIO 840.3K

13.23%

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

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

$26.6K NIO 973.5K

19.10%

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

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

$42.02 NIO 1,539

92.17%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

$10.46 NIO 383

-61.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

$36.59 NIO 1,340

-33.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

$30.48 NIO 1,116

220.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

$8.12 NIO 297

-50.25%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$124 NIO 4,535

145.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

$6,023 NIO 220.6K

9.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

$76.8 NIO 2,812

-29.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

$72.0 NIO 2,637

-46.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$132 NIO 4,823

-34.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

$107 NIO 3,915

-28.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

$473 NIO 17.3K

108.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.8M

$416 NIO 15.3K

58.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

$948 NIO 34.7K

255.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

$956 NIO 35.0K

116.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

$281 NIO 10.3K

-41.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

10.25

29.56%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Last update for San Juan del Sur: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $473 in San Juan del Sur. 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 72% higher in San Juan del Sur, 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 $33.00 in San Juan del Sur. Groceries tell a different story – $297 in Ubud, Bali vs $224 in San Juan del Sur – so San Juan del Sur 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 Juan del Sur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, $1,045 in San Juan del Sur – roughly 34% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,568 in San Juan del Sur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Juan del Sur, 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 $33.00 in San Juan del Sur. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 32% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in San Juan del Sur, where all-in costs run around $1,045, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. In San Juan del Sur it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. San Juan del Sur has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,045 in San Juan del Sur to $1,404 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 San Juan del Sur. 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.