Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Santiago de los Caballeros

For one person, living is cheaper in Santiago de los Caballeros: $916 a month against $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $5,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Santiago de los Caballeros
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
$916
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Santiago de los Caballeros

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 Santiago de los Caballeros actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,349 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $916 in Santiago de los Caballeros, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,349
  • Santiago de los Caballeros $916

A couple spends around $2,305 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,412 in Santiago de los Caballeros, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,305
  • Santiago de los Caballeros $1,412

A family of three spends $3,261 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,909 in Santiago de los Caballeros, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,261
  • Santiago de los Caballeros $1,909

Ubud, Bali costs about 47% more than Santiago de los Caballeros, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Santiago de los Caballeros
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32 Rp 60.4K
$8.32 DOP 509
-60.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.64 Rp 647.8K
$40.50 DOP 2,480
-12.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.53 Rp 100.6K
$6.82 DOP 418
-18.91%
Cappuccino
$2.72 Rp 49.4K
$1.81 DOP 111
50.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 Rp 30.9K
$0.66 DOP 40.21
157.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
$0.37 DOP 22.91
105.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 48.2K
$2.49 DOP 152
6.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 Rp 79.6K
$3.20 DOP 196
36.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Santiago de los Caballeros
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 Rp 27.1K
$1.15 DOP 70.3
29.57%
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 Rp 41.4K
$1.57 DOP 96.2
45.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
$1.50 DOP 91.6
-20.67%
Eggs
$2.04 Rp 37.0K
$1.50 DOP 91.7
36.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.70 Rp 321.7K
$6.07 DOP 372
191.60%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.96 Rp 72.0K
$3.64 DOP 223
8.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.19 Rp 221.6K
$4.73 DOP 290
157.72%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 Rp 66.4K
$3.20 DOP 196
14.37%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 27.6K
$0.81 DOP 49.85
87.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
$2.63 DOP 161
-15.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.9K
$1.79 DOP 109
10.06%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 33.6K
$1.93 DOP 118
-4.15%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 44.1K
$2.12 DOP 130
14.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 18.0K
$0.86 DOP 52.7
15.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,332
$0.94 DOP 57.3
-45.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 Rp 40.4K
$4.69 DOP 287
-52.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.24 Rp 404.2K
$10.14 DOP 621
119.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 Rp 41.1K
$2.52 DOP 155
-10.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 54.0K
$2.97 DOP 182
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Santiago de los Caballeros
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,562
$0.55 DOP 33.82
-54.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.82 Rp 142.2K
$29.45 DOP 1,804
-73.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,989
$2.46 DOP 151
-82.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,817
$2.25 DOP 138
-80.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 Rp 98.3K
$5.86 DOP 359
-7.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 15.0K
$1.43 DOP 87.5
-42.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K Rp 433.3M
$14.6K DOP 894.1K
63.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 577.0M
$25.7K DOP 1.6M
23.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Santiago de los Caballeros
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$91.8 DOP 5,620
-13.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 117.2K
$26.28 DOP 1,609
-75.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.58 Rp 337.7K
$35.26 DOP 2,159
-47.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Santiago de los Caballeros
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.48 Rp 899.4K
$24.76 DOP 1,516
99.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.65 Rp 320.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.27 Rp 77.7K
$4.93 DOP 302
-13.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Santiago de los Caballeros
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$491 Rp 8.9M
$145 DOP 8,890
237.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,674 Rp 103.1M
$5,296 DOP 324.3K
7.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Santiago de los Caballeros
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.64 Rp 811.4K
$26.50 DOP 1,623
68.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.95 Rp 635.3K
$45.81 DOP 2,805
-23.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 Rp 1.5M
$61.7 DOP 3,775
29.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
$66.7 DOP 4,084
19.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Santiago de los Caballeros
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 Rp 20.4M
$674 DOP 41.3K
66.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$671 Rp 12.2M
$267 DOP 16.3K
151.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,565 Rp 64.8M
$1,513 DOP 92.7K
135.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,723 Rp 31.3M
$469 DOP 28.7K
267.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,732 Rp 49.6M
$926 DOP 56.7K
194.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,284 Rp 41.5M
$908 DOP 55.6K
151.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Santiago de los Caballeros
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
$536 DOP 32.9K
-69.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
11
25.27%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Last update for Santiago de los Caballeros: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$672
Santiago de los Caballeros
$267 60.3% $405
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$288
Santiago de los Caballeros
$194 32.9% $95
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$108
Santiago de los Caballeros
$132 22.3% $24
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Santiago de los Caballeros
$90 16% $17
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$104
Santiago de los Caballeros
$153 47.3% $49
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$58
Santiago de los Caballeros
$35 40.3% $23
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$11
Santiago de los Caballeros
$45 297% $34

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,125 in Ubud, Bali versus $674 in Santiago de los Caballeros. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Santiago de los Caballeros are about 3.3 times higher, 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 $36 in Ubud, Bali versus $40 in Santiago de los Caballeros. Groceries tell a different story – $288 in Ubud, Bali vs $194 in Santiago de los Caballeros – so Santiago de los Caballeros wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇩🇴 Santiago de los Caballeros
🕒 Local time
07:16 7:16 AM
19:16 7:16 PM
12 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
1,836,778
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

DOP, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18,175 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.5 USD). 1 EUR = 20,233 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Dominican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 61.24 DOP (100 DOP = 1.63 USD). 1 EUR = 68.17 DOP (100 DOP = 1.47 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Santiago de los Caballeros 18,640 km ≈ 24 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Santiago de los Caballeros

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 Santiago de los Caballeros: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santiago de los Caballeros cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 47%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,023 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,373 in Santiago de los Caballeros. 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 Santiago de los Caballeros, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $674 there versus $1,125 in Ubud, Bali.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali and in Santiago de los Caballeros?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,349 in Ubud, Bali and $916 in Santiago de los Caballeros. That makes Santiago de los Caballeros about 32% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 73% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is Ubud, Bali or Santiago de los Caballeros more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Santiago de los Caballeros – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

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