Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and San Luis Obispo, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,349 a month against $3,315 in San Luis Obispo, CA, rent and utilities included – about $23,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
San Luis Obispo, CA, United States
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
San Luis Obispo, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,315
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in San Luis Obispo, CA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in San Luis Obispo, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,349 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,315 in San Luis Obispo, CA, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,349
  • San Luis Obispo, CA $3,315

A couple spends around $2,305 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,816 in San Luis Obispo, CA, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,305
  • San Luis Obispo, CA $4,816

A family of three spends $3,261 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $6,317 in San Luis Obispo, CA, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,261
  • San Luis Obispo, CA $6,317

Ubud, Bali is about 59% cheaper than San Luis Obispo, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
San Luis Obispo, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32 Rp 60.3K
$23.68 $23.68
-85.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.64 Rp 646.5K
$60.1 $60.1
-40.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.53 Rp 100.4K
$12.82 $12.82
-56.86%
Cappuccino
$2.72 Rp 49.3K
$6.37 $6.37
-57.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 Rp 30.9K
$2.85 $2.85
-40.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
$2.50 $2.50
-69.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 48.1K
$8.09 $8.09
-67.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 Rp 79.5K
$7.91 $7.91
-44.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
San Luis Obispo, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 Rp 27.0K
$1.16 $1.16
28.45%
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 Rp 41.3K
$4.46 $4.46
-48.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
$5.40 $5.40
-77.96%
Eggs
$2.04 Rp 36.9K
$4.65 $4.65
-56.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.70 Rp 321.1K
$15.61 $15.61
13.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.96 Rp 71.9K
$8.89 $8.89
-55.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.19 Rp 221.1K
$15.50 $15.50
-21.35%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 Rp 66.3K
$3.81 $3.81
-3.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 27.5K
$1.99 $1.99
-23.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.4K
$3.27 $3.27
-31.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.8K
$3.25 $3.25
-39.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 33.5K
$2.90 $2.90
-36.21%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 44.0K
$2.81 $2.81
-13.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 18.0K
$2.16 $2.16
-54.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,313
$2.04 $2.04
-75.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 Rp 40.3K
$11.65 $11.65
-80.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.24 Rp 403.4K
$17.25 $17.25
28.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 Rp 41.0K
$1.84 $1.84
22.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.9K
$3.15 $3.15
-5.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
San Luis Obispo, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,553
$1.73 $1.73
-85.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.82 Rp 141.9K
$59.2 $59.2
-86.80%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,972
$6.52 $6.52
-93.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,801
$2.75 $2.75
-84.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 Rp 98.1K
$37.93 $37.93
-85.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 15.0K
$1.44 $1.44
-43.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K Rp 432.4M
$30.9K $30.9K
-22.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 575.9M
$26.2K $26.2K
21.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
San Luis Obispo, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$251 $251
-68.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 116.9K
$54.0 $54.0
-88.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.58 Rp 337.0K
$67.9 $67.9
-72.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
San Luis Obispo, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.48 Rp 897.5K
$32.67 $32.67
51.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.65 Rp 320.1K
$49.73 $49.73
-64.51%
Cinema Ticket
$4.27 Rp 77.5K
$12.28 $12.28
-65.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
San Luis Obispo, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$491 Rp 8.9M
$2,312 $2,312
-78.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,674 Rp 102.9M
$33.6K $33.6K
-83.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
San Luis Obispo, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.64 Rp 809.7K
$65.9 $65.9
-32.30%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.95 Rp 634.0K
$49.81 $49.81
-29.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$108 $108
-26.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
$99.7 $99.7
-20.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
San Luis Obispo, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 Rp 20.4M
$2,431 $2,431
-53.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$671 Rp 12.2M
$1,879 $1,879
-64.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,565 Rp 64.7M
$4,313 $4,313
-17.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,723 Rp 31.3M
$3,264 $3,264
-47.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,732 Rp 49.5M
$7,432 $7,432
-63.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,284 Rp 41.4M
$5,995 $5,995
-61.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
San Luis Obispo, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
$5,519 $5,519
-97.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
6.26
120.13%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Last update for San Luis Obispo, CA: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$672
San Luis Obispo, CA
$1.9K 180% $1.2K
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$288
San Luis Obispo, CA
$392 35.9% $104
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$108
San Luis Obispo, CA
$382 255% $274
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
San Luis Obispo, CA
$146 35.5% $38
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$104
San Luis Obispo, CA
$373 258% $269
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$58
San Luis Obispo, CA
$57 1.4% $0.8
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$11
San Luis Obispo, CA
$86 657% $75

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,125 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,431 in San Luis Obispo, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in San Luis Obispo, CA are about 34 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36 in Ubud, Bali versus $60 in San Luis Obispo, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $392 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇺🇸 San Luis Obispo, CA
🕒 Local time
20:34 8:34 PM
04:34 4:34 AM
16 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
47,339
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18,138 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,241 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.896 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali San Luis Obispo, CA 13,630 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • San Luis Obispo, CA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Luis Obispo, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or San Luis Obispo, CA?
San Luis Obispo, CA costs about 146% more than Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali and in San Luis Obispo, CA?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,023 per month in Ubud, Bali and $4,972 in San Luis Obispo, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ubud, Bali or San Luis Obispo, CA?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,125 there versus $2,431 in San Luis Obispo, CA.
How expensive is transport in Ubud, Bali compared to San Luis Obispo, CA?
Public transport costs about 87% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in San Luis Obispo, CA?
Kindergarten costs $491 per month in Ubud, Bali and $2,312 in San Luis Obispo, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in San Luis Obispo, CA?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $1,349 in Ubud, Bali and $3,315 in San Luis Obispo, CA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or San Luis Obispo, CA?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,349 versus $3,315 in San Luis Obispo, CA. Both appeal to remote workers, and the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to San Luis Obispo, CA?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Should I move to Ubud, Bali or to San Luis Obispo, CA?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Luis Obispo, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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