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 $1,379 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,067 in Sandanski, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,363 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,665 in Sandanski, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,347 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,262 in Sandanski, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 29% more than Sandanski, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Ubud, Bali sits 1% above the global median, while Sandanski is 22% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.31 Rp 58.9K

$9.49 BGN 15.79

-65.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.08 Rp 694.5K

$46.71 BGN 77.7

-16.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.62 Rp 99.8K

$8.84 BGN 14.71

-36.43%

Cappuccino

$2.64 Rp 46.9K

$2.83 BGN 4.71

-6.71%

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

$1.58 Rp 28.2K

$1.67 BGN 2.77

-5.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 Rp 12.6K

$1.60 BGN 2.67

-55.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.73 Rp 48.5K

$2.60 BGN 4.33

5.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 Rp 76.8K

$4.25 BGN 7.07

1.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 Rp 27.4K

$1.82 BGN 3.02

-15.38%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 Rp 40.8K

$1.15 BGN 1.92

100.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 Rp 18.3K

$2.27 BGN 3.78

-54.63%

Eggs

$2.12 Rp 37.7K

$3.19 BGN 5.31

-33.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.30 Rp 307.5K

$12.13 BGN 20.18

42.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.03 Rp 71.6K

$8.42 BGN 14.00

-52.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.42 Rp 220.8K

$15.29 BGN 25.44

-18.77%

Apples (1kg)

$3.70 Rp 65.7K

$1.70 BGN 2.82

117.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$1.94 BGN 3.23

-16.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 Rp 40.3K

$1.97 BGN 3.28

15.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.99 Rp 35.4K

$1.74 BGN 2.90

14.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.83 Rp 32.5K

$1.08 BGN 1.80

69.44%

Onion (1kg)

$2.25 Rp 40.1K

$1.07 BGN 1.78

110.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.04 Rp 18.6K

$1.25 BGN 2.07

-16.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 Rp 10.0K

$0.79 BGN 1.32

-29.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.22 Rp 39.5K

$4.04 BGN 6.72

-45.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.22 Rp 412.7K

$6.41 BGN 10.66

262.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.39 Rp 42.5K

$0.97 BGN 1.61

146.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 Rp 51.1K

$1.44 BGN 2.39

99.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,416

$0.94 BGN 1.57

-73.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.17 Rp 127.4K

$24.68 BGN 41.06

-70.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,163

$1.38 BGN 2.29

-66.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,235

$0.65 BGN 1.08

-29.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.70 Rp 101.2K

$10.86 BGN 18.06

-47.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.6K

$1.56 BGN 2.60

-51.28%

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

$24.6K Rp 436.7M

$30.6K BGN 50.9K

-19.69%

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

$31.0K Rp 551.5M

$25.3K BGN 42.2K

22.43%

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

$82.2 Rp 1.5M

$117 BGN 194

-29.68%

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

$6.33 Rp 112.5K

$19.74 BGN 32.84

-67.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.54 Rp 329.6K

$15.80 BGN 26.29

17.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.1 Rp 996.2K

$32.74 BGN 54.5

71.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.41 Rp 327.2K

$18.69 BGN 31.10

-1.50%

Cinema Ticket

$4.26 Rp 75.8K

$9.36 BGN 15.57

-54.49%

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

$489 Rp 8.7M

$539 BGN 896

-9.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,793 Rp 103.0M

$5,750 BGN 9,565

0.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.98 Rp 817.3K

$70.3 BGN 117

-34.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.86 Rp 637.4K

$43.80 BGN 72.9

-18.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.5 Rp 1.4M

$98.6 BGN 164

-19.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.9 Rp 1.4M

$109 BGN 181

-25.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,144 Rp 20.3M

$345 BGN 574

231.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$692 Rp 12.3M

$265 BGN 441

160.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,532 Rp 62.8M

$562 BGN 935

528.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,709 Rp 30.4M

$408 BGN 679

318.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,785 Rp 49.5M

$1,345 BGN 2,237

107.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,261 Rp 40.2M

$1,131 BGN 1,882

99.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$169 Rp 3.0M

$588 BGN 978

-71.19%

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: August 15, 2026

Last update for Sandanski: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,144 in Ubud, Bali versus $345 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 247% 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 $39.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $47.00 in Sandanski. Groceries tell a different story – $293 in Ubud, Bali vs $253 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: $1,379 in Ubud, Bali, $1,067 in Sandanski – roughly 29% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,069 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,601 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 $1,379 in Ubud, Bali and $1,067 in Sandanski. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 244% 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 $1,067, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,379. 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 $1,067 in Sandanski to $1,379 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.