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 $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $907 in Santiago de los Caballeros, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,393 in Santiago de los Caballeros, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,879 in Santiago de los Caballeros, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 57% more than Santiago de los Caballeros, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% 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

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

$6.01 DOP 350

-40.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

$45.41 DOP 2,649

-27.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

$5.02 DOP 293

-1.39%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

$1.94 DOP 113

39.69%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

$0.79 DOP 46.19

69.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.69 DOP 40.08

1.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

$2.58 DOP 151

13.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

$5.23 DOP 305

-24.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

$1.06 DOP 62.1

70.75%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

$1.46 DOP 85.2

72.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

$1.46 DOP 84.9

-20.55%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

$1.29 DOP 75.5

90.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

$7.33 DOP 427

100.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

$6.48 DOP 378

-33.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

$10.90 DOP 636

11.38%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

$2.21 DOP 129

73.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

$0.91 DOP 52.8

71.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

$1.99 DOP 116

42.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

$1.91 DOP 112

21.99%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

$2.18 DOP 127

-12.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

$2.38 DOP 139

-7.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

$0.89 DOP 51.8

13.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$0.96 DOP 56.2

-18.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

$3.98 DOP 232

-16.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

$10.90 DOP 636

117.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

$2.59 DOP 151

7.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

$3.22 DOP 188

-11.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,800

$0.57 DOP 33.37

-52.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,150

$3.35 DOP 196

-86.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,037

$2.20 DOP 128

-79.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

$5.79 DOP 338

5.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$1.27 DOP 74.2

-37.80%

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

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

$17.2K DOP 1.0M

51.85%

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

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

$18.9K DOP 1.1M

70.30%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$76.4 DOP 4,457

4.62%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

$19.10 DOP 1,114

-78.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

$35.57 DOP 2,075

-33.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$25.48 DOP 1,486

287.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

$16.90 DOP 986

-60.77%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

$6.40 DOP 373

-35.16%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$253 DOP 14.8K

20.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

$1,954 DOP 114.0K

238.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

$59.4 DOP 3,465

-6.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

$37.39 DOP 2,181

2.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$78.3 DOP 4,570

13.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$66.7 DOP 3,888

16.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$423 DOP 24.7K

138.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$271 DOP 15.8K

148.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

$666 DOP 38.8K

416.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

$374 DOP 21.8K

444.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

$986 DOP 57.5K

188.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

$928 DOP 54.1K

144.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$533 DOP 31.1K

-68.99%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Santiago de los Caballeros: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $423 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 223% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $45.00 in Santiago de los Caballeros. Groceries tell a different story – $302 in Ubud, Bali vs $225 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 57%, 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 $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,360 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 $33.00 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 34% 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 $907, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. 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.