Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and San Miguel de Allende Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and San Miguel de Allende

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,681 in San Miguel de Allende, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,685 in San Miguel de Allende, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,689 in San Miguel de Allende, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 19% cheaper than San Miguel de Allende, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and San Miguel de Allende sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 0%, San Miguel de Allende by 23%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
San Miguel de Allende
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44 Rp 60.9K
$15.80 MX$272
-78.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.31 Rp 643.0K
$45.91 MX$792
-20.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.71 Rp 101.0K
$10.96 MX$189
-47.90%
Cappuccino
$2.67 Rp 47.3K
$3.97 MX$68.4
-32.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 Rp 31.0K
$1.79 MX$30.80
-2.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 Rp 15.4K
$1.09 MX$18.78
-20.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 Rp 52.3K
$3.81 MX$65.8
-22.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52 Rp 80.0K
$6.50 MX$112
-30.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
San Miguel de Allende
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
$1.64 MX$28.27
-1.22%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
$3.54 MX$61.0
-34.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 19.6K
$1.99 MX$34.30
-44.22%
Eggs
$2.20 Rp 39.0K
$3.26 MX$56.2
-32.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.69 Rp 313.3K
$8.72 MX$150
102.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.10 Rp 72.5K
$13.22 MX$228
-68.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.18 Rp 215.6K
$19.32 MX$333
-36.96%
Apples (1kg)
$3.71 Rp 65.6K
$4.29 MX$73.9
-13.52%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.1K
$1.70 MX$29.25
-6.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.4K
$2.99 MX$51.5
-23.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.95 Rp 34.6K
$3.01 MX$51.9
-35.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.7K
$2.82 MX$48.55
-32.27%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
$3.27 MX$56.3
-28.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 17.8K
$1.19 MX$20.56
-15.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 9,773
$1.46 MX$25.13
-62.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 Rp 39.5K
$4.78 MX$82.4
-53.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.07 Rp 408.6K
$17.53 MX$302
31.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 Rp 42.8K
$2.53 MX$43.57
-4.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 Rp 53.1K
$4.14 MX$71.3
-27.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
San Miguel de Allende
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,814
$0.56 MX$9.62
-51.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.98 Rp 159.1K
$7.06 MX$122
27.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,566
$4.61 MX$79.6
-89.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,679
$4.76 MX$82.1
-90.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.64 Rp 99.9K
$11.82 MX$204
-52.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
$1.52 MX$26.14
-47.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K Rp 441.7M
$22.5K MX$388.8K
10.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 561.5M
$25.4K MX$438.7K
24.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
San Miguel de Allende
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
$44.50 MX$767
83.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49 Rp 115.0K
$16.77 MX$289
-61.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.77 Rp 332.4K
$42.88 MX$739
-56.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
San Miguel de Allende
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.9 Rp 1.0M
$38.42 MX$662
48.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.73 Rp 331.7K
$45.48 MX$784
-58.82%
Cinema Ticket
$4.54 Rp 80.4K
$6.92 MX$119
-34.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
San Miguel de Allende
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$481 Rp 8.5M
$386 MX$6,658
24.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,711 Rp 101.1M
$5,273 MX$90.9K
8.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
San Miguel de Allende
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.52 Rp 806.0K
$68.7 MX$1,185
-33.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.88 Rp 635.4K
$63.8 MX$1,100
-43.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
$118 MX$2,038
-32.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
$157 MX$2,706
-49.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
San Miguel de Allende
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,115 Rp 19.7M
$1,141 MX$19.7K
-2.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$698 Rp 12.4M
$679 MX$11.7K
2.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,637 Rp 64.4M
$2,518 MX$43.4K
44.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,737 Rp 30.8M
$1,417 MX$24.4K
22.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 Rp 49.3M
$2,932 MX$50.6K
-5.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,290 Rp 40.5M
$1,735 MX$29.9K
32.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
San Miguel de Allende
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$168 Rp 3.0M
$663 MX$11.4K
-74.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
12.05
14.36%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for San Miguel de Allende: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,141 in San Miguel de Allende. 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 294% higher in San Miguel de Allende, 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $46.00 in San Miguel de Allende. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $375 – 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 Miguel de Allende: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or San Miguel de Allende?
San Miguel de Allende costs about 23% more than Ubud, Bali, with the gap driven mainly by 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 Miguel de Allende?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,052 per month in Ubud, Bali and $2,522 in San Miguel de Allende. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ubud, Bali or San Miguel de Allende?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in San Miguel de Allende?
Kindergarten costs $481 per month in Ubud, Bali and $386 in San Miguel de Allende. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in San Miguel de Allende?
Groceries cost about 27% more in San Miguel de Allende, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in San Miguel de Allende?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,368, than in San Miguel de Allende at $1,681. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in San Miguel de Allende it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or San Miguel de Allende?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,368 versus $1,681 in San Miguel de Allende. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to San Miguel de Allende?
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.
Should I move to Ubud, Bali or to San Miguel de Allende?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, San Miguel de Allende makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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