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 $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $938 in Santiago de los Caballeros, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,432 in Santiago de los Caballeros, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,275 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,926 in Santiago de los Caballeros, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 47% more than Santiago de los Caballeros, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% 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

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

$8.41 DOP 496

-60.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

$42.48 DOP 2,504

-15.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

$7.26 DOP 428

-22.45%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

$1.88 DOP 111

50.00%

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

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

$0.74 DOP 43.81

136.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

$0.41 DOP 24.20

95.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

$2.55 DOP 150

19.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$3.57 DOP 211

20.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

$1.18 DOP 69.7

36.44%

White Bread (500g)

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

$1.56 DOP 91.9

45.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

$1.53 DOP 89.9

-23.53%

Eggs

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

$1.54 DOP 90.6

40.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

$6.55 DOP 386

169.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

$3.62 DOP 214

11.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

$4.86 DOP 287

150.62%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

$3.27 DOP 193

10.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

$0.80 DOP 46.89

105.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

$2.84 DOP 167

-18.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

$1.82 DOP 107

7.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

$2.00 DOP 118

-8.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

$2.23 DOP 132

6.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

$0.96 DOP 56.3

9.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 Rp 9,560

$1.01 DOP 59.7

-46.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

$4.80 DOP 283

-52.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

$10.65 DOP 628

116.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

$2.64 DOP 156

-11.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

$2.98 DOP 175

3.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,365

$0.57 DOP 33.70

-56.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

$30.50 DOP 1,798

-69.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,631

$2.57 DOP 152

-80.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 Rp 8,349

$2.25 DOP 132

-79.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

$6.02 DOP 355

-6.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

$1.35 DOP 79.8

-40.00%

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

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

$15.2K DOP 898.7K

64.09%

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

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

$25.5K DOP 1.5M

21.88%

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

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

$92.7 DOP 5,468

-10.80%

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

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

$27.31 DOP 1,610

-76.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

$37.16 DOP 2,191

-49.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

$25.11 DOP 1,481

119.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$4.97 DOP 293

-13.48%

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

$494 Rp 8.7M

$155 DOP 9,146

218.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

$5,685 DOP 335.2K

4.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

$26.80 DOP 1,580

72.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

$45.85 DOP 2,703

-20.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

$62.2 DOP 3,666

29.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

$66.3 DOP 3,906

18.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

$682 DOP 40.2K

63.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$693 Rp 12.2M

$276 DOP 16.3K

151.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

$1,533 DOP 90.4K

137.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

$467 DOP 27.5K

266.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

$985 DOP 58.1K

180.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

$898 DOP 52.9K

155.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 2.9M

$548 DOP 32.3K

-69.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

25.27%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Last update for Santiago de los Caballeros: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $682 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 228% 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $42.00 in Santiago de los Caballeros. Groceries tell a different story – $294 in Ubud, Bali vs $200 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 47%, 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 $2,067 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,408 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,378 in Ubud, Bali and $938 in Santiago de los Caballeros. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 224% less in Santiago de los Caballeros. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Santiago de los Caballeros, where all-in costs run around $938, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,378. 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.