Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Sari Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Sari

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $535 in Sari.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $826 in Sari.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,275 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,116 in Sari.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 157% more expensive than in Sari, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Sari is 61% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Sari
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33 Rp 58.7K
$3.54 $3.54
-5.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.82 Rp 630.7K
$10.88 $10.88
229.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.63 Rp 99.1K
$4.01 $4.01
40.40%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.64 $0.64
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.98 $0.98
-
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 49.7K
$0.79 $0.79
256.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 Rp 30.8K
$0.50 $0.50
250.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 Rp 14.0K
$0.51 $0.51
56.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 Rp 53.6K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Sari
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 Rp 28.3K
$0.48 $0.48
235.42%
White Bread (500g)
$2.27 Rp 39.9K
$0.57 $0.57
298.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 20.6K
$3.33 $3.33
-64.86%
Eggs
$2.17 Rp 38.2K
$1.22 $1.22
77.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.63 Rp 310.5K
$4.14 $4.14
325.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.05 Rp 71.4K
$3.22 $3.22
25.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.18 Rp 214.5K
$8.77 $8.77
38.88%
Apples (1kg)
$3.62 Rp 63.7K
$1.28 $1.28
182.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 Rp 28.8K
$1.85 $1.85
-11.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 40.6K
$1.10 $1.10
110.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.96 Rp 34.5K
$0.73 $0.73
168.49%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 Rp 32.5K
$0.55 $0.55
234.55%
Onion (1kg)
$2.37 Rp 41.7K
$0.51 $0.51
364.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 Rp 18.5K
$0.59 $0.59
77.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 Rp 9,560
$0.29 $0.29
86.21%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$0.59 $0.59
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.55 $0.55
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.09 $2.09
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.30 Rp 40.6K
$2.57 $2.57
-10.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.08 Rp 406.4K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 Rp 41.2K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 Rp 54.0K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Sari
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,365
$0.16 $0.16
56.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.42 Rp 165.9K
$7.50 $7.50
25.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.49 Rp 8,631
$0.52 $0.52
-5.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 Rp 8,349
$0.31 $0.31
51.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.60 Rp 98.6K
$3.05 $3.05
83.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.2K
$0.10 $0.10
710.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K Rp 440.3M
$49.1K $49.1K
-49.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1K Rp 547.0M
$43.4K $43.4K
-28.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Sari
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.7 Rp 1.5M
$13.11 $13.11
530.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49 Rp 114.2K
$1.60 $1.60
305.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.79 Rp 330.8K
$3.72 $3.72
405.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Sari
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.2 Rp 972.6K
$17.85 $17.85
209.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.21 Rp 320.6K
$13.45 $13.45
35.39%
Cinema Ticket
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
$1.02 $1.02
321.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Sari
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 Rp 8.7M
$49.53 $49.53
897.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,917 Rp 104.2M
$792 $792
646.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Sari
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.28 Rp 814.8K
$26.45 $26.45
74.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.44 Rp 641.6K
$38.51 $38.51
-5.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.7 Rp 1.4M
$109 $109
-25.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.8 Rp 1.4M
$76.9 $76.9
2.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Sari
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,114 Rp 19.6M
$289 $289
285.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$693 Rp 12.2M
$205 $205
238.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,639 Rp 64.1M
$658 $658
452.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,712 Rp 30.1M
$340 $340
403.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,761 Rp 48.6M
$1,163 $1,163
137.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,293 Rp 40.4M
$577 $577
297.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Sari
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 2.9M
$250 $250
-33.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
23.42
-41.16%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Last update for Sari: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali and $289 in Sari. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sari pays 50% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $11.00 in Sari for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $294 vs $118 per month, with Sari cheaper across the board.

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 Sari: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and in Sari?
Ubud, Bali and Sari differ by about 157% in total monthly costs ($1,378 vs $535 including rent). Sari 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 50% lower in Sari. 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 Sari?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $289 in Sari. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 150% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Sari – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $535 in Sari versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sari but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Sari the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Sari?
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 Sari safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Sari 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 Sari?
Expats usually find Sari gentler on the wallet – expenses run 157% 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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