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 $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,271 in San Miguel, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,864 in San Miguel, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,457 in San Miguel, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 12% more than San Miguel, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while San Miguel is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.9K

$3.90 $3.90

-8.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 586.8K

$24.91 $24.91

31.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.7K

$6.90 $6.90

-28.26%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.6K

$2.96 $2.96

-8.45%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.1K

$0.77 $0.77

74.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.62 $0.62

12.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.3K

$2.05 $2.05

42.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.9K

$3.07 $3.07

28.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

$1.86 $1.86

-2.69%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.1K

$1.99 $1.99

26.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.8K

$1.55 $1.55

-25.16%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$2.84 $2.84

-13.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 263.7K

$6.89 $6.89

113.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.4K

$6.75 $6.75

-36.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 217.5K

$10.63 $10.63

14.21%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.8K

$3.16 $3.16

21.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.9K

$1.64 $1.64

-4.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.8K

$2.53 $2.53

11.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.7K

$2.69 $2.69

-13.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.3K

$2.24 $2.24

-14.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.5K

$2.21 $2.21

-0.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.2K

$1.02 $1.02

-0.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

$1.03 $1.03

-24.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.4K

$2.48 $2.48

33.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 425.5K

$10.99 $10.99

116.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 50.0K

$1.75 $1.75

59.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.3K

$2.44 $2.44

17.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,819

$0.33 $0.33

-18.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.9K

$27.55 $27.55

-70.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,181

$5.55 $5.55

-91.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,068

$2.98 $2.98

-84.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 109.3K

$10.09 $10.09

-39.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$1.03 $1.03

-23.30%

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

$26.1K Rp 468.8M

$25.8K $25.8K

1.35%

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

$32.1K Rp 575.8M

$27.7K $27.7K

16.06%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$105 $105

-23.58%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.9K

$19.28 $19.28

-78.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 421.6K

$41.15 $41.15

-42.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$28.76 $28.76

243.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.8K

$21.50 $21.50

-69.16%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.3K

$5.10 $5.10

-18.63%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$144 $144

111.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.5M

$4,338 $4,338

52.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 995.6K

$65.6 $65.6

-15.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 686.7K

$42.50 $42.50

-9.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$118 $118

-24.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$103 $103

-24.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$685 $685

47.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$496 $496

36.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.7M

$967 $967

256.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.6M

$841 $841

142.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.9M

$1,351 $1,351

110.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.6M

$945 $945

139.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$397 $397

-58.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

8.58

54.78%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for San Miguel: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $685 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 141% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $25.00 in San Miguel. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $255 – 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: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, $1,271 in San Miguel – roughly 12% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,907 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 243% less in San Miguel. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $144 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 $1,271, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. 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 $1,271 in San Miguel to $1,419 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.