Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Saraburi

For one person, living is cheaper in Saraburi: $782 a month against $1,353 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $6,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,353
/mo nomad
Saraburi
🇹🇭 Thailand
$782
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Saraburi

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Saraburi actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,353 in Ubud, Bali versus $782 in Saraburi.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,353
  • Saraburi $782

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,419 in Saraburi.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,297
  • Saraburi $1,419

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,241 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,056 in Saraburi.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,241
  • Saraburi $2,056

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 73% more expensive than in Saraburi, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Saraburi is 42% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Saraburi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.23 Rp 58.1K
$6.17 ฿206
-47.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.88 Rp 627.8K
$26.93 ฿900
29.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.70 Rp 102.5K
$6.43 ฿215
-11.35%
Cappuccino
$2.62 Rp 47.1K
$2.28 ฿76.2
14.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 Rp 31.0K
$0.66 ฿22.15
160.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$0.24 ฿7.99
237.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 47.7K
$1.99 ฿66.6
33.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37 Rp 78.6K
$3.17 ฿106
37.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Saraburi
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$1.51 ฿50.3
3.97%
White Bread (500g)
$2.19 Rp 39.5K
$1.12 ฿37.35
95.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
$1.33 ฿44.47
-11.28%
Eggs
$2.16 Rp 38.8K
$1.96 ฿65.5
10.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.65 Rp 317.7K
$16.86 ฿563
4.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.78 Rp 68.0K
$2.57 ฿86.0
47.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.95 Rp 215.1K
$9.89 ฿331
20.83%
Apples (1kg)
$3.60 Rp 64.8K
$5.15 ฿172
-30.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.6K
$1.70 ฿56.7
-6.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.6K
$2.08 ฿69.4
11.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
$1.90 ฿63.5
0.53%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
$1.50 ฿50.1
18.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.9K
$1.07 ฿35.81
117.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 Rp 18.0K
$1.12 ฿37.51
-10.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 Rp 9,509
$0.49 ฿16.38
8.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.29 Rp 41.1K
$4.43 ฿148
-48.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.07 Rp 397.3K
$21.05 ฿703
4.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 Rp 42.2K
$1.66 ฿55.4
41.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 Rp 53.6K
$2.80 ฿93.5
6.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Saraburi
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 Rp 4,112
$0.90 ฿30.05
-74.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.90 Rp 160.2K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.47 Rp 8,466
$1.05 ฿34.98
-55.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,737
$1.16 ฿38.75
-62.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.47 Rp 98.4K
$6.03 ฿202
-9.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
$1.39 ฿46.57
-40.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9K Rp 429.8M
$22.9K ฿765.9K
4.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8K Rp 590.1M
$28.8K ฿962.3K
13.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Saraburi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.0 Rp 1.4M
$81.9 ฿2,737
-2.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.56 Rp 118.1K
$11.58 ฿387
-43.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.60 Rp 334.8K
$16.63 ฿556
11.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Saraburi
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.1 Rp 974.1K
$42.66 ฿1,426
26.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.28 Rp 329.0K
$14.23 ฿476
28.46%
Cinema Ticket
$4.25 Rp 76.5K
$6.73 ฿225
-36.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Saraburi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$493 Rp 8.9M
$581 ฿19.4K
-15.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,597 Rp 100.7M
$6,594 ฿220.4K
-15.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Saraburi
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.58 Rp 820.4K
$51.2 ฿1,712
-11.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.96 Rp 629.4K
$29.84 ฿997
17.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 Rp 1.4M
$77.0 ฿2,572
1.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.5 Rp 1.4M
$77.5 ฿2,589
1.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Saraburi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,131 Rp 20.4M
$428 ฿14.3K
164.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$124 ฿4,154
441.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,613 Rp 65.0M
$1,169 ฿39.1K
209.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,702 Rp 30.6M
$602 ฿20.1K
182.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,717 Rp 48.9M
$1,682 ฿56.2K
61.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
$1,662 ฿55.6K
34.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Saraburi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
$453 ฿15.1K
-63.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
5.57
147.40%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 19, 2026

Last update for Saraburi: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$673
Saraburi
$124 81.5% $549
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$287
Saraburi
$259 9.7% $28
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$107
Saraburi
$106 0.5% $0.6
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$106
Saraburi
$116 8.9% $9.5
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$105
Saraburi
$110 4.7% $5
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$63
Saraburi
$56 10.4% $6.5
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$12
Saraburi
$10 * 16% $2

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,131 in Ubud, Bali and $428 in Saraburi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saraburi pays 172% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $35.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $27.00 in Saraburi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $287 vs $259 per month, with Saraburi cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇹🇭 Saraburi
🕒 Local time
01:13 1:13 AM
00:13 12:13 AM
1 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
61,900
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Saraburi 3,010 km ≈ 4 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Saraburi

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Saraburi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Saraburi cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Saraburi is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and leisure. The 73% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ubud, Bali or Saraburi?
On paper, salaries run 172% lower in Saraburi. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Saraburi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,131 in Ubud, Bali versus $428 in Saraburi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $493 in Ubud, Bali versus $581 in Saraburi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or in Saraburi?
Dining out is cheaper in Saraburi – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $35.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Saraburi?
At $782 in Saraburi versus $1,353 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Saraburi but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Saraburi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Saraburi more family-friendly?
For families, Saraburi is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Saraburi?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Saraburi 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Saraburi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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