😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $657 in Sark.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,540 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,073 in Sark.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,488 in Sark.
😐Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 116% more expensive than Sark, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 6% above, Sark is 51% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Sark
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56Rp 63.7K
$19.17GGP 14.25
-81.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73Rp 584.5K
$80.2GGP 59.6
-59.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.95Rp 88.4K
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.71Rp 48.4K
$2.43GGP 1.81
11.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34Rp 24.0K
$2.66GGP 1.97
-49.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70Rp 12.5K
$1.96GGP 1.46
-64.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92Rp 52.1K
$3.89GGP 2.89
-24.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96Rp 70.7K
$3.90GGP 2.90
1.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Sark
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81Rp 32.3K
$2.74GGP 2.04
-33.94%
White Bread(500g)
$2.52Rp 45.0K
$2.73GGP 2.03
-7.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.16Rp 20.7K
$3.51GGP 2.61
-66.95%
Eggs
$2.46Rp 43.9K
$4.95GGP 3.67
-50.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.71Rp 262.7K
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.32Rp 77.1K
$8.71GGP 6.47
-50.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.14Rp 216.7K
$8.27GGP 6.14
46.80%
Apples(1kg)
$3.84Rp 68.6K
$3.12GGP 2.32
23.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56Rp 27.8K
$4.56GGP 3.39
-65.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.83Rp 50.6K
$3.89GGP 2.89
-27.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 41.5K
$5.47GGP 4.06
-57.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 34.2K
$3.09GGP 2.30
-38.19%
Onion(1kg)
$2.20Rp 39.3K
$3.15GGP 2.34
-30.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01Rp 18.1K
$2.14GGP 1.59
-52.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78Rp 13.8K
$1.56GGP 1.16
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32Rp 59.2K
$10.04GGP 7.46
-66.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.74Rp 423.9K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79Rp 49.8K
$1.98GGP 1.47
40.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86Rp 51.1K
$2.12GGP 1.58
34.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Sark
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,800
$2.03GGP 1.51
-86.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.03Rp 143.4K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.46Rp 8,150
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45Rp 8,037
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.10Rp 108.9K
$13.85GGP 10.29
-55.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79Rp 14.2K
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1KRp 467.0M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1KRp 573.6M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Sark
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.9Rp 1.4M
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06Rp 72.6K
$21.53GGP 15.99
-81.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52Rp 420.0K
$92.3GGP 68.6
-74.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Sark
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.7Rp 1.8M
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63Rp 118.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.15Rp 74.1K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Sark
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304Rp 5.4M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,613Rp 118.1M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Sark
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5Rp 991.8K
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31Rp 684.1K
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.6Rp 1.6M
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9Rp 1.4M
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Sark
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,006Rp 18.0M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$675Rp 12.1M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,442Rp 61.5M
$2,075GGP 1,541
65.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039Rp 36.4M
$1,685GGP 1,252
21.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,841Rp 50.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,264Rp 40.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Sark
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$165Rp 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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Sark: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $80.0 in Sark. Groceries flip the comparison at $302 vs $300, with Sark 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 Sark: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sark cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Sark is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 116% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,129 in Ubud, Bali and $986 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 Sark?
Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or Sark?
Dining out is cheaper in Sark – a meal for two runs $80.0 versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Sark?
At $657 in Sark versus $1,419 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 116% 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