Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Sandnes

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,353 a month against $2,684 in Sandnes, rent and utilities included – about $16,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,353
/mo nomad
Sandnes
🇳🇴 Norway
$2,684
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Sandnes

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Sandnes actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,353 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,684 in Sandnes, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,353
  • Sandnes $2,684

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,176 in Sandnes, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,297
  • Sandnes $4,176

A family of three spends $3,241 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $5,667 in Sandnes, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,241
  • Sandnes $5,667

Ubud, Bali is about 50% cheaper than Sandnes, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Sandnes sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 0%, Sandnes by 98%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Sandnes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.23 Rp 58.1K
$24.80 NOK 233
-86.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.88 Rp 627.8K
$97.5 NOK 918
-64.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.70 Rp 102.5K
$15.49 NOK 146
-63.20%
Cappuccino
$2.62 Rp 47.1K
$5.71 NOK 53.7
-54.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 Rp 31.0K
$3.41 NOK 32.10
-49.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$3.07 NOK 28.85
-73.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 47.7K
$13.93 NOK 131
-80.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37 Rp 78.6K
$10.58 NOK 99.6
-58.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Sandnes
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$2.44 NOK 22.94
-35.66%
White Bread (500g)
$2.19 Rp 39.5K
$3.37 NOK 31.76
-35.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
$2.53 NOK 23.82
-53.36%
Eggs
$2.16 Rp 38.8K
$4.80 NOK 45.17
-55.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.65 Rp 317.7K
$13.22 NOK 124
33.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.78 Rp 68.0K
$15.83 NOK 149
-76.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.95 Rp 215.1K
$31.80 NOK 299
-62.42%
Apples (1kg)
$3.60 Rp 64.8K
$3.52 NOK 33.10
2.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.6K
$2.84 NOK 26.77
-44.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.6K
$3.17 NOK 29.86
-27.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
$4.92 NOK 46.32
-61.18%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
$2.61 NOK 24.57
-31.80%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.9K
$2.32 NOK 21.80
0.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 Rp 18.0K
$2.88 NOK 27.14
-65.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 Rp 9,509
$2.37 NOK 22.29
-77.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.29 Rp 41.1K
$16.64 NOK 157
-86.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.07 Rp 397.3K
$17.08 NOK 161
29.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 Rp 42.2K
$3.20 NOK 30.12
-26.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 Rp 53.6K
$4.23 NOK 39.83
-29.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Sandnes
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 Rp 4,112
$4.70 NOK 44.29
-95.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.90 Rp 160.2K
$85.4 NOK 803
-89.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.47 Rp 8,466
$6.43 NOK 60.6
-92.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,737
$1.80 NOK 16.92
-76.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.47 Rp 98.4K
$48.81 NOK 460
-88.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
$2.23 NOK 21.00
-62.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9K Rp 429.8M
$43.2K NOK 406.7K
-44.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8K Rp 590.1M
$39.0K NOK 366.7K
-15.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Sandnes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.0 Rp 1.4M
$266 NOK 2,499
-69.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.56 Rp 118.1K
$34.10 NOK 321
-80.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.60 Rp 334.8K
$79.3 NOK 746
-76.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Sandnes
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.1 Rp 974.1K
$45.56 NOK 429
18.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.28 Rp 329.0K
$53.4 NOK 503
-65.76%
Cinema Ticket
$4.25 Rp 76.5K
$19.40 NOK 183
-78.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Sandnes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$493 Rp 8.9M
$292 NOK 2,748
68.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,597 Rp 100.7M
$9,662 NOK 91.0K
-42.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Sandnes
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.58 Rp 820.4K
$127 NOK 1,200
-64.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.96 Rp 629.4K
$60.8 NOK 572
-42.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 Rp 1.4M
$122 NOK 1,147
-36.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.5 Rp 1.4M
$189 NOK 1,782
-58.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Sandnes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,131 Rp 20.4M
$1,333 NOK 12.6K
-15.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$962 NOK 9,056
-30.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,613 Rp 65.0M
$2,000 NOK 18.8K
80.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,702 Rp 30.6M
$1,820 NOK 17.1K
-6.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,717 Rp 48.9M
$7,005 NOK 65.9K
-61.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
$4,050 NOK 38.1K
-44.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Sandnes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
$3,781 NOK 35.6K
-95.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
5.22
163.98%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 19, 2026

Last update for Sandnes: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$673
Sandnes
$962 43% $289
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$287
Sandnes
$485 68.8% $197
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$107
Sandnes
$225 111% $118
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$106
Sandnes
$430 304% $324
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$105
Sandnes
$379 260% $274
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$63
Sandnes
$84 34.7% $22
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$12
Sandnes
$120 862% $107

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,131 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,333 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 2173% 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 $35.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $98.0 in Sandnes. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $287 vs $485 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇳🇴 Sandnes
🕒 Local time
19:37 7:37 PM
13:37 1:37 PM
6 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
83,958
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

NOK, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Norwegian Krone exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 9.41 NOK (1 NOK = 0.106 USD). 1 EUR = 10.58 NOK (100 NOK = 9.45 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Sandnes 11,890 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Sandnes

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 98%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,030 per month in Ubud, Bali and $4,026 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 $493 per month in Ubud, Bali and $292 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 in Sandnes?
Groceries cost about 69% 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 living in Ubud, Bali or in Sandnes?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,353, than in Sandnes at $2,684. 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.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

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