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 $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,036 in San Juan del Sur, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,557 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,716 in San Juan del Sur, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,723 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,396 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 5% 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 64.5K

$4.09 NIO 150

-12.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.32 Rp 583.4K

$34.15 NIO 1,251

-5.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.01 Rp 90.4K

$5.74 NIO 210

-12.72%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 51.0K

$2.33 NIO 85.3

21.03%

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

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

$0.78 NIO 28.73

73.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

$0.71 NIO 26.08

2.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 Rp 53.0K

$1.32 NIO 48.50

121.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.94 Rp 71.1K

$2.03 NIO 74.4

94.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 Rp 32.1K

$1.27 NIO 46.61

40.16%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 Rp 44.2K

$1.51 NIO 55.4

62.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

$1.18 NIO 43.16

-2.54%

Eggs

$2.41 Rp 43.6K

$1.91 NIO 69.9

26.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 Rp 258.7K

$8.07 NIO 295

77.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.19 Rp 75.6K

$6.34 NIO 232

-33.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.06 Rp 217.7K

$8.22 NIO 301

46.72%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 Rp 65.7K

$3.78 NIO 139

-3.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.3K

$0.91 NIO 33.41

72.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 50.3K

$1.75 NIO 64.2

59.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.5K

$2.28 NIO 83.6

-1.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.98 Rp 35.7K

$3.11 NIO 114

-36.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 41.1K

$2.27 NIO 83.1

0.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 19.0K

$1.02 NIO 37.35

2.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$1.06 NIO 38.65

-25.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 Rp 57.6K

$2.60 NIO 95.0

22.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 424.1K

$9.84 NIO 361

138.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 52.3K

$1.40 NIO 51.2

107.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 Rp 49.7K

$2.28 NIO 83.4

21.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,813

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.37 Rp 151.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,167

$1.54 NIO 56.3

-70.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,298

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 Rp 109.6K

$6.61 NIO 242

-8.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

$1.24 NIO 45.37

-30.65%

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

$26.6K Rp 480.0M

$23.4K NIO 856.1K

13.74%

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

$32.5K Rp 587.6M

$26.0K NIO 953.0K

25.09%

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

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

$43.22 NIO 1,583

82.83%

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

$4.09 Rp 73.9K

$10.70 NIO 392

-61.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.85 Rp 430.5K

$36.53 NIO 1,338

-34.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

$30.26 NIO 1,108

226.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 114.7K

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 Rp 72.3K

$8.24 NIO 302

-51.33%

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

$297 Rp 5.4M

$126 NIO 4,606

136.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,602 Rp 119.2M

$6,030 NIO 220.8K

9.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 Rp 964.5K

$77.8 NIO 2,849

-31.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.11 Rp 688.1K

$72.9 NIO 2,670

-47.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

$133 NIO 4,857

-33.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

$108 NIO 3,972

-29.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 Rp 18.4M

$472 NIO 17.3K

116.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$680 Rp 12.3M

$410 NIO 15.0K

66.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,469 Rp 62.6M

$967 NIO 35.4K

258.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 Rp 37.7M

$962 NIO 35.2K

117.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,729 Rp 49.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,295 Rp 41.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 Rp 3.0M

$353 NIO 12.9K

-53.59%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for San Juan del Sur: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $472 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 115% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $34.00 in San Juan del Sur. Groceries tell a different story – $298 in Ubud, Bali vs $225 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: $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, $1,036 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 $2,088 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,555 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali and $34.00 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 $1,036, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. 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 $1,036 in San Juan del Sur to $1,392 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.