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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $914 in Santiago de los Caballeros, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,395 in Santiago de los Caballeros, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,875 in Santiago de los Caballeros, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 54% more than Santiago de los Caballeros, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Santiago de los Caballeros is 32% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.0K

$6.11 DOP 356

-43.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 580.1K

$45.49 DOP 2,652

-28.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 86.9K

$5.20 DOP 303

-6.92%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

$1.95 DOP 114

41.03%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

$0.79 DOP 46.26

74.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

$0.70 DOP 40.56

7.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.7K

$2.62 DOP 153

14.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.1K

$5.01 DOP 292

-23.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

$1.11 DOP 64.6

56.76%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$1.46 DOP 84.9

68.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

$1.50 DOP 87.5

-22.00%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.6K

$1.35 DOP 79.0

80.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 260.2K

$7.10 DOP 414

104.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 78.0K

$6.37 DOP 371

-31.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 214.9K

$10.83 DOP 631

10.62%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.7K

$2.19 DOP 128

69.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$0.92 DOP 53.8

77.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.2K

$2.07 DOP 121

32.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

$1.82 DOP 106

23.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.4K

$2.15 DOP 125

-10.70%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

$2.30 DOP 134

-0.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.87 DOP 50.5

21.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$0.96 DOP 56.1

-25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 58.9K

$4.01 DOP 234

-17.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.1K

$10.74 DOP 627

115.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.8K

$2.59 DOP 151

7.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.0K

$3.13 DOP 183

-12.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,778

$0.57 DOP 33.31

-52.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,659

$3.30 DOP 193

-85.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,532

$2.21 DOP 129

-81.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.6K

$6.03 DOP 352

3.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$1.26 DOP 73.7

-35.71%

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

$26.6K Rp 477.4M

$17.2K DOP 1.0M

54.54%

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

$32.2K Rp 577.4M

$18.8K DOP 1.1M

71.62%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$77.8 DOP 4,533

0.77%

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

$4.07 Rp 73.0K

$18.66 DOP 1,088

-78.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 436.4K

$36.71 DOP 2,141

-33.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$26.05 DOP 1,519

278.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.7K

$16.47 DOP 960

-61.51%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.5K

$6.22 DOP 363

-35.85%

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

$305 Rp 5.5M

$258 DOP 15.1K

18.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.2M

$1,898 DOP 110.7K

249.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 971.2K

$59.8 DOP 3,486

-9.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 678.2K

$37.04 DOP 2,160

2.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

$80.7 DOP 4,706

7.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

$68.2 DOP 3,976

11.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.8M

$431 DOP 25.2K

129.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.1M

$269 DOP 15.7K

150.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.5M

$670 DOP 39.1K

403.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

$364 DOP 21.2K

463.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.3M

$986 DOP 57.5K

184.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 39.9M

$917 DOP 53.5K

142.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$554 DOP 32.3K

-69.89%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

12.9

2.95%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Santiago de los Caballeros: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $431 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 run about 232% higher in Santiago de los Caballeros, 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $45.00 in Santiago de los Caballeros. Groceries tell a different story – $297 in Ubud, Bali vs $223 in Santiago de los Caballeros – so Santiago de los Caballeros 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 Santiago de los Caballeros: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 54%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,371 in Santiago de los Caballeros. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Santiago de los Caballeros, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali and $45.00 in Santiago de los Caballeros. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 33% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Santiago de los Caballeros, where all-in costs run around $914, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In Santiago de los Caballeros it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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 Santiago de los Caballeros. 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.