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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $245 in Sark.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,348 in Ubud, Bali versus $419 in Sark.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $593 in Sark.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 458% more expensive than in Sark, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Sark is 82% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Sark
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44 Rp 60.9K
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.31 Rp 643.0K
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.71 Rp 101.0K
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.67 Rp 47.3K
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 Rp 31.0K
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 Rp 15.4K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 Rp 52.3K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52 Rp 80.0K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Sark
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
$2.92 GGP 2.17
-44.52%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 19.6K
-
-
Eggs
$2.20 Rp 39.0K
$7.13 GGP 5.29
-69.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.69 Rp 313.3K
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.10 Rp 72.5K
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.18 Rp 215.6K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.71 Rp 65.6K
$5.13 GGP 3.81
-27.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.1K
$4.58 GGP 3.40
-65.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.4K
$3.88 GGP 2.88
-41.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.95 Rp 34.6K
$6.25 GGP 4.64
-68.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.7K
$3.16 GGP 2.34
-39.56%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
$3.29 GGP 2.44
-29.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 17.8K
$3.57 GGP 2.65
-71.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 9,773
$2.08 GGP 1.54
-73.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 Rp 39.5K
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$23.07 Rp 408.6K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 Rp 42.8K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 Rp 53.1K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Sark
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,814
$2.45 GGP 1.82
-88.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.98 Rp 159.1K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,566
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,679
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.64 Rp 99.9K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K Rp 441.7M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 561.5M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Sark
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49 Rp 115.0K
$21.66 GGP 16.07
-70.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.77 Rp 332.4K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Sark
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.9 Rp 1.0M
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.73 Rp 331.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.54 Rp 80.4K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Sark
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$481 Rp 8.5M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,711 Rp 101.1M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Sark
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.52 Rp 806.0K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.88 Rp 635.4K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Sark
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,115 Rp 19.7M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$698 Rp 12.4M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,637 Rp 64.4M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,737 Rp 30.8M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 Rp 49.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,290 Rp 40.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Sark
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$168 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
0
-

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Sark: September 15, 2026

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 Sark: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sark cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Sark is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 458% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,052 in Ubud, Bali and $368 in Sark to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Sark?
Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali and in Sark?
All in, you'll spend $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $245 in Sark – a 458% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Sark?
At $245 in Sark versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sark but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Sark the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Sark more family-friendly?
For families, Sark 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 Sark?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Sark 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 Sark gentler on the wallet – expenses run 458% 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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