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: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $654 in Sark.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,054 in Sark.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,455 in Sark.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 115% more expensive than in Sark, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Sark is 51% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Sark
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45 Rp 62.1K
$19.25 GGP 14.32
-82.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 Rp 581.1K
$81.8 GGP 60.9
-60.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.84 Rp 87.1K
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
$2.37 GGP 1.76
16.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 24.9K
$2.78 GGP 2.07
-50.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
$1.97 GGP 1.47
-61.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 53.8K
$3.69 GGP 2.74
-18.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 69.2K
$3.74 GGP 2.78
2.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Sark
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 31.2K
$2.69 GGP 2.00
-35.32%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 44.2K
$2.71 GGP 2.02
-9.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
$3.71 GGP 2.76
-68.46%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 43.7K
$5.09 GGP 3.78
-52.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 Rp 260.6K
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.35 Rp 78.2K
$8.40 GGP 6.25
-48.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.98 Rp 215.3K
$7.93 GGP 5.90
51.07%
Apples (1kg)
$3.72 Rp 66.8K
$3.09 GGP 2.30
20.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
$4.62 GGP 3.44
-64.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.74 Rp 49.3K
$3.89 GGP 2.90
-29.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
$5.42 GGP 4.04
-58.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 Rp 34.5K
$3.08 GGP 2.29
-37.66%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.9K
$3.16 GGP 2.35
-27.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$2.25 GGP 1.67
-52.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
$1.52 GGP 1.13
-52.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29 Rp 59.0K
$10.24 GGP 7.62
-67.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.19 Rp 416.8K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$1.88 GGP 1.40
47.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$2.04 GGP 1.52
33.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Sark
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,786
$2.00 GGP 1.49
-86.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.11 Rp 145.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,675
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,545
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.22 Rp 111.8K
$13.68 GGP 10.18
-54.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 478.2M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K Rp 578.5M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Sark
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07 Rp 73.1K
$22.14 GGP 16.47
-81.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33 Rp 437.1K
$93.2 GGP 69.3
-73.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Sark
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34 Rp 113.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.99 Rp 71.6K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Sark
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 Rp 5.5M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,642 Rp 119.4M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Sark
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 Rp 972.9K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81 Rp 679.4K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Sark
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$992 Rp 17.8M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,375 Rp 60.7M
$2,066 GGP 1,537
63.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
$1,666 GGP 1,240
23.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,805 Rp 50.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,227 Rp 40.0M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Sark
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
0
-

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Sark: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $82.0 in Sark for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $297 per month, with Ubud, Bali 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 Sark: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sark cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Sark is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 115% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,112 in Ubud, Bali and $981 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?
Shoppers in Ubud, Bali pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or in Sark?
Dining out is cheaper in Sark – a meal for two runs $82.0 versus $32.00 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 Sark?
At $654 in Sark versus $1,408 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 115% 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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