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 $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,541 in Sandnes, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,940 in Sandnes, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $5,340 in Sandnes, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 45% cheaper than Sandnes, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Sandnes sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 5%, Sandnes by 90%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.0K

$28.47 NOK 275

-87.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 580.1K

$122 NOK 1,178

-73.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 86.9K

$13.21 NOK 127

-63.36%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

$5.23 NOK 50.4

-47.42%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

$3.50 NOK 33.74

-60.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

$2.95 NOK 28.42

-74.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.7K

$10.20 NOK 98.3

-70.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.1K

$10.03 NOK 96.7

-61.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

$2.11 NOK 20.32

-17.54%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$3.42 NOK 33.00

-28.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

$3.21 NOK 30.96

-63.55%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.6K

$4.26 NOK 41.12

-42.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 260.2K

$12.53 NOK 121

15.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 78.0K

$13.98 NOK 135

-68.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 214.9K

$36.26 NOK 350

-66.96%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.7K

$3.61 NOK 34.82

3.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$2.56 NOK 24.73

-36.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.2K

$3.06 NOK 29.51

-10.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

$4.72 NOK 45.53

-52.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.4K

$2.19 NOK 21.15

-12.33%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

$2.26 NOK 21.80

0.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$2.80 NOK 26.97

-62.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$1.89 NOK 18.26

-61.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 58.9K

$15.08 NOK 145

-78.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.1K

$16.15 NOK 156

43.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.8K

$3.19 NOK 30.78

-12.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.0K

$4.01 NOK 38.64

-31.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,778

$4.19 NOK 40.41

-93.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.4K

$69.8 NOK 673

-88.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,659

$14.93 NOK 144

-96.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,532

$2.05 NOK 19.80

-79.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.6K

$46.06 NOK 444

-86.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$2.11 NOK 20.36

-61.61%

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

$26.6K Rp 477.4M

$35.0K NOK 337.8K

-24.03%

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

$32.2K Rp 577.4M

$32.3K NOK 311.8K

-0.44%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$223 NOK 2,148

-64.82%

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

$4.07 Rp 73.0K

$43.73 NOK 422

-90.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 436.4K

$78.8 NOK 760

-69.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$50.2 NOK 484

96.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.7K

$50.8 NOK 489

-87.51%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.5K

$18.46 NOK 178

-78.39%

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

$305 Rp 5.5M

$322 NOK 3,104

-5.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.2M

$9,185 NOK 88.6K

-27.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 971.2K

$120 NOK 1,157

-54.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 678.2K

$59.8 NOK 577

-36.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

$104 NOK 1,002

-16.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

$158 NOK 1,521

-51.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.8M

$1,260 NOK 12.1K

-21.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.1M

$852 NOK 8,211

-20.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.5M

$1,690 NOK 16.3K

99.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

$1,465 NOK 14.1K

39.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.3M

$6,886 NOK 66.4K

-59.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 39.9M

$3,934 NOK 37.9K

-43.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$3,554 NOK 34.3K

-95.30%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Sandnes: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,260 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 2029% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $122 in Sandnes. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 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

Yes – Sandnes is pricier by about 80%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $3,811 in Sandnes. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $305 per month in Ubud, Bali and $322 in Sandnes. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 59% more in Sandnes, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,408, than in Sandnes at $2,541. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sandnes it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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 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.