😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,096 in Santo Domingo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,824 in Santo Domingo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,552 in Santo Domingo.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 29% more expensive than in Santo Domingo, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Santo Domingo is 18% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Santo Domingo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45Rp 61.8K
$8.66DOP 504
-60.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34Rp 578.5K
$50.9DOP 2,961
-36.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.84Rp 86.7K
$7.23DOP 421
-33.06%
Cappuccino
$2.75Rp 49.1K
$2.63DOP 153
4.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38Rp 24.8K
$0.99DOP 57.4
39.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75Rp 13.4K
$0.82DOP 48.02
-8.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.99Rp 53.5K
$2.57DOP 150
16.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85Rp 68.9K
$4.99DOP 291
-22.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Santo Domingo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74Rp 31.1K
$1.34DOP 78.0
29.85%
White Bread(500g)
$2.46Rp 44.0K
$1.71DOP 99.6
43.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17Rp 20.9K
$1.50DOP 87.4
-22.00%
Eggs
$2.43Rp 43.5K
$2.27DOP 132
7.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.50Rp 259.5K
$7.18DOP 418
101.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.35Rp 77.8K
$6.29DOP 366
-30.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.98Rp 214.3K
$11.19DOP 652
7.06%
Apples(1kg)
$3.72Rp 66.5K
$3.21DOP 187
15.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63Rp 29.1K
$0.86DOP 49.84
89.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.74Rp 49.1K
$2.88DOP 168
-4.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.24Rp 40.1K
$1.93DOP 112
16.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.92Rp 34.3K
$2.52DOP 147
-23.81%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28Rp 40.7K
$2.36DOP 138
-3.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 19.0K
$1.09DOP 63.5
-2.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72Rp 12.9K
$0.90DOP 52.3
-20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29Rp 58.8K
$5.78DOP 337
-43.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.19Rp 414.9K
$10.70DOP 623
116.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78Rp 49.7K
$2.63DOP 153
5.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73Rp 48.9K
$3.20DOP 186
-14.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Santo Domingo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,765
$0.57DOP 33.26
-52.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.11Rp 145.0K
$68.7DOP 4,000
-88.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,636
$3.36DOP 196
-85.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42Rp 7,511
$2.19DOP 128
-80.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.22Rp 111.3K
$5.98DOP 348
4.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.6K
$1.33DOP 77.2
-39.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KRp 476.1M
$26.1KDOP 1.5M
1.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2KRp 575.9M
$32.3KDOP 1.9M
-0.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Santo Domingo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.4Rp 1.4M
$75.6DOP 4,403
3.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07Rp 72.8K
$25.29DOP 1,473
-83.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33Rp 435.2K
$35.48DOP 2,066
-31.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Santo Domingo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.6Rp 1.8M
$36.45DOP 2,123
170.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34Rp 113.3K
$14.32DOP 834
-55.73%
Cinema Ticket
$3.99Rp 71.3K
$6.76DOP 394
-40.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Santo Domingo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305Rp 5.5M
$263DOP 15.3K
15.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,642Rp 118.8M
$8,020DOP 467.1K
-17.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Santo Domingo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1Rp 968.6K
$60.3DOP 3,513
-10.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81Rp 676.3K
$52.0DOP 3,027
-27.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.8Rp 1.6M
$96.9DOP 5,641
-10.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4Rp 1.4M
$114DOP 6,656
-33.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Santo Domingo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$992Rp 17.7M
$564DOP 32.9K
75.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$673Rp 12.0M
$285DOP 16.6K
135.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,375Rp 60.4M
$1,175DOP 68.4K
187.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,050Rp 36.7M
$685DOP 39.9K
199.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,805Rp 50.2M
$2,168DOP 126.2K
29.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,227Rp 39.8M
$1,179DOP 68.7K
88.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Santo Domingo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$167Rp 3.0M
$621DOP 36.2K
-73.12%
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 Santo Domingo: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Ubud, Bali and $564 in Santo Domingo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Santo Domingo pays 272% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $51.0 in Santo Domingo. Groceries flip the comparison at $297 vs $243, with Santo Domingo 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: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and in Santo Domingo?
Ubud, Bali and Santo Domingo differ by about 29% in total monthly costs ($1,408 vs $1,096 including rent). Santo Domingo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 272% lower in Santo Domingo. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Santo Domingo?
Rent for a central apartment: $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $564 in Santo Domingo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Santo Domingo – a meal for two runs $51.0 versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Santo Domingo?
All in, you'll spend $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,096 in Santo Domingo – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,096 in Santo Domingo versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Santo Domingo but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Santo Domingo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Santo Domingo?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ubud, Bali or Santo Domingo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Santo Domingo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ubud, Bali or Santo Domingo?
Expats usually find Santo Domingo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% 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