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 $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $972 in Sandanski, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,506 in Sandanski, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,039 in Sandanski, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 44% more than Sandanski, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% 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 64.0K

$8.64 BGN 14.37

-58.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

$46.81 BGN 77.9

-30.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

$8.72 BGN 14.51

-44.27%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

$2.51 BGN 4.17

9.56%

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

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

$1.45 BGN 2.40

-8.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.86 BGN 1.43

-18.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

$2.96 BGN 4.93

-1.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

$2.99 BGN 4.97

26.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

$1.82 BGN 3.03

-6.04%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

$1.01 BGN 1.68

144.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$2.12 BGN 3.53

-43.40%

Eggs

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

$3.20 BGN 5.32

-23.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

$11.91 BGN 19.82

20.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

$7.56 BGN 12.57

-42.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

$12.39 BGN 20.61

-1.45%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

$1.51 BGN 2.51

143.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

$1.74 BGN 2.89

-10.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

$1.61 BGN 2.69

73.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

$1.72 BGN 2.86

35.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

$1.03 BGN 1.71

91.26%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

$1.16 BGN 1.93

99.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$1.05 BGN 1.75

0.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$0.84 BGN 1.40

-13.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

$3.55 BGN 5.91

-7.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

$6.06 BGN 10.08

276.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

$0.98 BGN 1.63

186.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$1.45 BGN 2.41

91.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

$0.90 BGN 1.50

-67.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

$26.48 BGN 44.05

-69.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,047

$1.19 BGN 1.98

-62.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

$0.66 BGN 1.09

-31.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

$10.64 BGN 17.71

-41.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

$1.51 BGN 2.52

-43.71%

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

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

$32.4K BGN 54.0K

-19.93%

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

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

$28.2K BGN 46.9K

12.41%

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

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

$94.5 BGN 157

-14.51%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

$18.13 BGN 30.16

-77.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

$14.90 BGN 24.79

63.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

$30.07 BGN 50.0

224.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

$14.77 BGN 24.57

-56.33%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

$9.34 BGN 15.54

-56.75%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$427 BGN 710

-28.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

$5,428 BGN 9,030

21.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

$62.0 BGN 103

-12.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

$35.26 BGN 58.7

9.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$101 BGN 169

-15.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

$106 BGN 177

-27.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

$287 BGN 477

243.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.8M

$228 BGN 379

188.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

$476 BGN 792

607.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

$359 BGN 598

475.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

$1,340 BGN 2,229

104.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

$1,134 BGN 1,887

96.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

$583 BGN 971

-71.99%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Sandanski: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 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 257% 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 $47.00 in Sandanski. Groceries tell a different story – $297 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: $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, $972 in Sandanski – roughly 44% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,458 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 $1,404 in Ubud, Bali and $972 in Sandanski. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 229% 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 $972, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. 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 $972 in Sandanski to $1,404 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.