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 $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $967 in Sandanski, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,515 in Sandanski, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,063 in Sandanski, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 49% more than Sandanski, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 7% above the global median, while Sandanski is 28% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 61.9K

$9.00 BGN 15.02

-60.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

$48.03 BGN 80.2

-32.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

$8.37 BGN 13.98

-39.43%

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

$2.48 BGN 4.13

14.11%

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

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

$1.45 BGN 2.42

-7.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

$0.91 BGN 1.53

-24.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

$2.89 BGN 4.82

3.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

$2.90 BGN 4.84

32.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

$1.80 BGN 3.01

-3.33%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

$1.02 BGN 1.71

149.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$2.18 BGN 3.63

-45.41%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

$3.07 BGN 5.13

-20.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

$11.60 BGN 19.37

26.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

$7.66 BGN 12.80

-45.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

$11.94 BGN 19.94

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

$1.58 BGN 2.64

133.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

$1.70 BGN 2.83

-5.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

$1.64 BGN 2.74

64.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

$1.76 BGN 2.94

32.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

$1.04 BGN 1.73

83.65%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

$1.15 BGN 1.92

90.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

$1.08 BGN 1.81

-1.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

$0.81 BGN 1.36

-11.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

$3.46 BGN 5.78

-9.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

$7.33 BGN 12.24

220.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

$0.96 BGN 1.61

185.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

$1.38 BGN 2.31

108.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,029

$0.84 BGN 1.41

-65.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

$26.42 BGN 44.12

-69.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,863

$1.20 BGN 2.00

-62.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,305

$0.60 BGN 1.00

-30.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

$10.43 BGN 17.41

-40.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

$1.50 BGN 2.50

-44.00%

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

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

$32.7K BGN 54.7K

-19.82%

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

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

$28.6K BGN 47.8K

13.49%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$96.2 BGN 161

-18.47%

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

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

$17.62 BGN 29.42

-77.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

$14.90 BGN 24.89

63.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

$29.57 BGN 49.38

226.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

$14.53 BGN 24.26

-56.30%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

$8.93 BGN 14.92

-54.76%

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

$420 BGN 701

-27.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

$5,446 BGN 9,094

19.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

$59.8 BGN 99.9

-9.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

$35.82 BGN 59.8

6.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

$102 BGN 170

-14.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$107 BGN 179

-26.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

$287 BGN 479

252.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.7M

$228 BGN 381

195.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

$465 BGN 776

629.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

$352 BGN 587

496.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

$1,407 BGN 2,349

112.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

$1,114 BGN 1,860

109.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

$600 BGN 1,002

-71.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

4.49

195.77%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Last update for Sandanski: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $287 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 246% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $48.00 in Sandanski. Groceries tell a different story – $298 in Ubud, Bali vs $233 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: $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, $967 in Sandanski – roughly 49% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,451 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 $1,438 in Ubud, Bali and $967 in Sandanski. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 223% 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 $967, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. 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 $967 in Sandanski to $1,438 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.