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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,496 in Sandnes, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,891 in Sandnes, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $5,286 in Sandnes, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 43% cheaper than Sandnes, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Sandnes sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 6%, Sandnes by 86%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Sandnes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56 Rp 63.9K
$28.26 NOK 263
-87.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73 Rp 586.8K
$120 NOK 1,117
-72.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.95 Rp 88.7K
$13.28 NOK 124
-62.73%
Cappuccino
$2.71 Rp 48.6K
$5.23 NOK 48.66
-48.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 24.1K
$3.60 NOK 33.48
-62.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
$2.85 NOK 26.53
-75.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.92 Rp 52.3K
$10.07 NOK 93.7
-71.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96 Rp 70.9K
$9.93 NOK 92.5
-60.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Sandnes
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 Rp 32.4K
$2.16 NOK 20.15
-16.20%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 45.1K
$3.29 NOK 30.62
-23.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 Rp 20.8K
$3.22 NOK 30.01
-63.98%
Eggs
$2.46 Rp 44.1K
$4.26 NOK 39.67
-42.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.71 Rp 263.7K
$12.43 NOK 116
18.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 Rp 77.4K
$14.26 NOK 133
-69.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.14 Rp 217.5K
$35.26 NOK 328
-65.57%
Apples (1kg)
$3.84 Rp 68.8K
$3.50 NOK 32.55
9.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.9K
$2.60 NOK 24.24
-40.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 50.8K
$2.95 NOK 27.50
-4.07%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.7K
$4.80 NOK 44.67
-51.46%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
$2.23 NOK 20.75
-14.35%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 Rp 39.5K
$2.29 NOK 21.36
-3.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 18.2K
$2.78 NOK 25.92
-63.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 Rp 13.9K
$1.90 NOK 17.64
-58.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 Rp 59.4K
$14.93 NOK 139
-77.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.74 Rp 425.5K
$17.10 NOK 159
38.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79 Rp 50.0K
$3.26 NOK 30.36
-14.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 51.3K
$4.16 NOK 38.70
-31.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Sandnes
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,819
$4.20 NOK 39.08
-93.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.03 Rp 143.9K
$71.6 NOK 667
-88.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,181
$15.17 NOK 141
-96.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 8,068
$2.08 NOK 19.33
-78.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.10 Rp 109.3K
$47.21 NOK 439
-87.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$2.12 NOK 19.78
-62.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 468.8M
$34.1K NOK 317.5K
-23.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 575.8M
$33.4K NOK 311.2K
-3.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Sandnes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$216 NOK 2,009
-62.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06 Rp 72.9K
$44.16 NOK 411
-90.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 Rp 421.6K
$78.4 NOK 730
-70.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Sandnes
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
$49.79 NOK 464
98.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63 Rp 118.8K
$50.1 NOK 466
-86.77%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15 Rp 74.3K
$18.17 NOK 169
-77.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Sandnes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$304 Rp 5.4M
$319 NOK 2,972
-4.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,613 Rp 118.5M
$8,931 NOK 83.1K
-25.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Sandnes
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 Rp 995.6K
$118 NOK 1,095
-52.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31 Rp 686.7K
$58.0 NOK 540
-33.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
$104 NOK 966
-14.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$158 NOK 1,471
-50.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Sandnes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
$1,273 NOK 11.9K
-20.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$675 Rp 12.1M
$880 NOK 8,188
-23.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,442 Rp 61.7M
$1,683 NOK 15.7K
104.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,039 Rp 36.6M
$1,469 NOK 13.7K
38.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,841 Rp 50.9M
$7,183 NOK 66.9K
-60.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,264 Rp 40.6M
$4,139 NOK 38.5K
-45.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Sandnes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
$3,827 NOK 35.6K
-95.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
4.4
201.82%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Sandnes: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,273 in Sandnes. 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 2216% higher in Sandnes, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $120 in Sandnes. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $472 – making Ubud, Bali 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 Sandnes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sandnes cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Sandnes is pricier by about 76%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $3,745 in Sandnes. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $319 in Sandnes. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and Sandnes?
Groceries cost about 56% more in Sandnes, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Sandnes?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,419, than in Sandnes at $2,496. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sandnes it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ubud, Bali or Sandnes more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ubud, Bali – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Sandnes?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sandnes makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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