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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,317 in San Miguel, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,956 in San Miguel, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,275 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,595 in San Miguel, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 5% more than San Miguel, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while San Miguel is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

$3.88 $3.88

-14.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

$24.99 $24.99

43.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

$6.88 $6.88

-18.17%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

$2.91 $2.91

-3.09%

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

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

$0.77 $0.77

127.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

$0.63 $0.63

26.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

$2.02 $2.02

50.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$3.45 $3.45

24.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

$1.78 $1.78

-9.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

$2.89 $2.89

-21.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

$1.39 $1.39

-15.83%

Eggs

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

$3.12 $3.12

-30.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

$7.80 $7.80

126.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

$6.94 $6.94

-41.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

$10.14 $10.14

20.12%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

$4.92 $4.92

-26.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

$1.47 $1.47

11.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

$3.00 $3.00

-23.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

$3.41 $3.41

-42.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

$3.00 $3.00

-38.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

$3.37 $3.37

-29.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

$1.02 $1.02

2.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 Rp 9,560

$1.00 $1.00

-46.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

$3.95 $3.95

-41.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

$11.77 $11.77

96.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

$2.23 $2.23

4.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

$2.86 $2.86

7.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,365

$0.34 $0.34

-26.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

$27.08 $27.08

-65.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,631

$5.88 $5.88

-91.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 Rp 8,349

$3.02 $3.02

-84.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

$9.91 $9.91

-43.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

$1.20 $1.20

-32.50%

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

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

$25.2K $25.2K

-0.72%

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

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

$27.6K $27.6K

12.38%

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

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

$129 $129

-35.69%

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

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

$20.88 $20.88

-68.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

$42.07 $42.07

-55.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

$28.58 $28.58

93.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

$21.95 $21.95

-17.04%

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$4.98 $4.98

-13.65%

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

$494 Rp 8.7M

$160 $160

209.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

$4,354 $4,354

35.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

$65.0 $65.0

-28.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

$46.20 $46.20

-21.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

$116 $116

-30.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

$116 $116

-32.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

$704 $704

58.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$693 Rp 12.2M

$500 $500

38.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

$977 $977

272.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

$815 $815

110.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

$1,383 $1,383

99.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

$968 $968

136.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 2.9M

$384 $384

-56.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

8.5

62.12%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Last update for San Miguel: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $704 in San Miguel. 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 130% higher in San Miguel, 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $25.00 in San Miguel. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $294 vs $288 – making San Miguel 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: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, $1,317 in San Miguel – roughly 5% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,067 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,975 in San Miguel. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Miguel, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 187% less in San Miguel. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Ubud, Bali and $160 in San Miguel. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in San Miguel, where all-in costs run around $1,317, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,378. In San Miguel it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,317 in San Miguel to $1,378 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 Miguel. 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.