Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Sandanski Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Sandanski

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,374 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,029 in Sandanski, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,313 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,639 in Sandanski, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,252 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,249 in Sandanski, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 34% more than Sandanski, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Ubud, Bali sits 2% above the global median, while Sandanski is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.32 Rp 59.5K

$9.47 BGN 16.47

-64.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.33 Rp 632.1K

$46.88 BGN 81.6

-24.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.33 Rp 95.4K

$9.58 BGN 16.68

-44.36%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

$2.83 BGN 4.93

-2.83%

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

$1.73 Rp 30.9K

$1.63 BGN 2.83

6.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 Rp 14.3K

$1.58 BGN 2.75

-49.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.7K

$2.60 BGN 4.52

13.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.44 Rp 79.4K

$3.99 BGN 6.93

11.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 Rp 26.8K

$1.70 BGN 2.95

-11.76%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 Rp 41.1K

$1.14 BGN 1.98

101.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 Rp 19.7K

$2.28 BGN 3.97

-51.75%

Eggs

$2.16 Rp 38.6K

$3.04 BGN 5.28

-28.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.09 Rp 305.7K

$11.85 BGN 20.61

44.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.88 Rp 69.4K

$8.61 BGN 14.98

-54.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.92 Rp 213.2K

$14.39 BGN 25.03

-17.16%

Apples (1kg)

$3.57 Rp 63.8K

$1.72 BGN 3.00

107.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 Rp 28.3K

$1.91 BGN 3.32

-17.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.36 Rp 42.2K

$2.03 BGN 3.53

16.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.2K

$1.73 BGN 3.01

13.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

$1.08 BGN 1.89

67.59%

Onion (1kg)

$2.39 Rp 42.8K

$1.10 BGN 1.92

117.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 Rp 18.2K

$1.24 BGN 2.16

-17.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 Rp 8,792

$0.80 BGN 1.38

-38.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 Rp 40.2K

$3.98 BGN 6.92

-43.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.30 Rp 399.0K

$6.43 BGN 11.19

246.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 Rp 42.4K

$0.95 BGN 1.65

149.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 51.8K

$1.42 BGN 2.48

104.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,457

$0.99 BGN 1.72

-74.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.55 Rp 153.0K

$27.00 BGN 46.99

-68.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 Rp 7,906

$1.31 BGN 2.28

-66.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,556

$0.66 BGN 1.14

-36.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.66 Rp 101.3K

$10.64 BGN 18.51

-46.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$1.48 BGN 2.57

-45.27%

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

$23.7K Rp 424.7M

$30.2K BGN 52.5K

-21.35%

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

$31.0K Rp 554.3M

$25.6K BGN 44.6K

20.90%

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

$82.3 Rp 1.5M

$115 BGN 200

-28.49%

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

$6.30 Rp 112.7K

$18.79 BGN 32.70

-66.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.63 Rp 333.4K

$15.79 BGN 27.47

17.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 Rp 979.2K

$31.61 BGN 55.0

73.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.45 Rp 330.1K

$18.96 BGN 32.99

-2.69%

Cinema Ticket

$4.24 Rp 75.8K

$9.04 BGN 15.73

-53.10%

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

$484 Rp 8.7M

$525 BGN 913

-7.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,590 Rp 100.0M

$5,637 BGN 9,808

-0.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.77 Rp 818.9K

$68.7 BGN 120

-33.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.69 Rp 638.6K

$43.18 BGN 75.1

-17.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.3 Rp 1.4M

$96.4 BGN 168

-18.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.1 Rp 1.4M

$104 BGN 181

-22.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,147 Rp 20.5M

$334 BGN 581

243.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$678 Rp 12.1M

$255 BGN 444

165.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,504 Rp 62.7M

$547 BGN 952

540.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,688 Rp 30.2M

$407 BGN 707

315.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,788 Rp 49.9M

$1,368 BGN 2,380

103.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,257 Rp 40.4M

$1,098 BGN 1,911

105.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$590 BGN 1,027

-72.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

3.1

344.52%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 28, 2026

Last update for Sandanski: September 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,147 in Ubud, Bali versus $334 in Sandanski. 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 258% higher in Sandanski, 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 $35.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $47.00 in Sandanski. Groceries tell a different story – $286 in Ubud, Bali vs $249 in Sandanski – so Sandanski 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 Sandanski: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,374 in Ubud, Bali, $1,029 in Sandanski – roughly 34% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,062 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,544 in Sandanski. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,374 in Ubud, Bali and $1,029 in Sandanski. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 216% less in Sandanski. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sandanski, where all-in costs run around $1,029, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,374. In Sandanski 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 $1,029 in Sandanski to $1,374 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 Sandanski. 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.