😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $773 in Santo Domingo Este.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,540 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,361 in Santo Domingo Este.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,949 in Santo Domingo Este.
😐Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 84% more expensive than Santo Domingo Este, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 6% above, Santo Domingo Este is 42% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Santo Domingo Este
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56Rp 63.9K
$8.44DOP 490
-57.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73Rp 586.8K
$42.63DOP 2,472
-23.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.95Rp 88.7K
$7.29DOP 423
-32.10%
Cappuccino
$2.71Rp 48.6K
$1.27DOP 73.6
113.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34Rp 24.1K
$1.02DOP 59.2
31.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70Rp 12.5K
$0.50DOP 28.99
40.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92Rp 52.3K
$2.60DOP 151
12.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96Rp 70.9K
$3.37DOP 195
17.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Santo Domingo Este
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81Rp 32.4K
$1.24DOP 72.2
45.97%
White Bread(500g)
$2.52Rp 45.1K
$1.74DOP 101
44.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.16Rp 20.8K
$1.57DOP 90.9
-26.11%
Eggs
$2.46Rp 44.1K
$1.72DOP 99.7
43.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.71Rp 263.7K
$7.10DOP 412
107.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.32Rp 77.4K
$3.67DOP 213
17.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.14Rp 217.5K
$6.93DOP 402
75.18%
Apples(1kg)
$3.84Rp 68.8K
$3.18DOP 185
20.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56Rp 27.9K
$0.74DOP 42.90
110.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.83Rp 50.8K
$1.94DOP 112
45.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 41.7K
$1.33DOP 77.3
75.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 34.3K
$0.95DOP 54.8
101.05%
Onion(1kg)
$2.20Rp 39.5K
$1.82DOP 106
20.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01Rp 18.2K
$1.08DOP 62.7
-6.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78Rp 13.9K
$0.90DOP 52.2
-13.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32Rp 59.4K
$5.61DOP 326
-40.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.74Rp 425.5K
$10.77DOP 625
120.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79Rp 50.0K
$1.68DOP 97.5
66.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86Rp 51.3K
$2.22DOP 129
28.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Santo Domingo Este
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,819
$0.88DOP 51.0
-69.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.03Rp 143.9K
$33.86DOP 1,964
-76.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.46Rp 8,181
$3.35DOP 194
-86.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45Rp 8,068
$2.18DOP 127
-79.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.10Rp 109.3K
$5.99DOP 347
1.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79Rp 14.2K
$1.21DOP 70.4
-34.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1KRp 468.8M
$26.4KDOP 1.5M
-0.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1KRp 575.8M
$31.8KDOP 1.8M
1.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Santo Domingo Este
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.9Rp 1.4M
$40.82DOP 2,367
95.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06Rp 72.9K
$17.70DOP 1,026
-77.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52Rp 421.6K
$36.13DOP 2,096
-34.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Santo Domingo Este
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.7Rp 1.8M
$28.68DOP 1,664
244.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63Rp 118.8K
$8.65DOP 501
-23.35%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15Rp 74.3K
$5.80DOP 337
-28.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Santo Domingo Este
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304Rp 5.4M
$264DOP 15.3K
14.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,613Rp 118.5M
$5,885DOP 341.3K
12.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Santo Domingo Este
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5Rp 995.6K
$42.91DOP 2,489
29.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31Rp 686.7K
$50.8DOP 2,946
-24.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.6Rp 1.6M
$65.5DOP 3,799
35.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9Rp 1.4M
$58.9DOP 3,413
32.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Santo Domingo Este
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,006Rp 18.0M
$456DOP 26.4K
120.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$675Rp 12.1M
$170DOP 9,874
296.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,442Rp 61.7M
$1,059DOP 61.4K
224.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039Rp 36.6M
$481DOP 27.9K
324.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,841Rp 50.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,264Rp 40.6M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Santo Domingo Este
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$165Rp 3.0M
$609DOP 35.3K
-72.88%
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 Santo Domingo Este: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali and $456 in Santo Domingo Este. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Santo Domingo Este pays 269% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $43.00 in Santo Domingo Este. Groceries flip the comparison at $302 vs $194, with Santo Domingo Este cheaper for home cooking.
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 Santo Domingo Este: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Santo Domingo Este?
Santo Domingo Este wins on cost – living expenses run 84% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Santo Domingo Este the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or Santo Domingo Este?
On paper, Santo Domingo Este earns 269% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali vs Santo Domingo Este?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $456 in Santo Domingo Este. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Ubud, Bali vs Santo Domingo Este?
A monthly transit pass in Santo Domingo Este runs roughly 322% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and Santo Domingo Este?
Childcare runs $304 in Ubud, Bali versus $264 in Santo Domingo Este. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or Santo Domingo Este?
At $773 in Santo Domingo Este versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Santo Domingo Este but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Santo Domingo Este the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Santo Domingo Este?
Both work as nomad bases, but Santo Domingo Este delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $773 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Santo Domingo Este hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Santo Domingo Este?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Santo Domingo Este are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Santo Domingo Este gentler on the wallet – expenses run 84% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared