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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $844 in Sentul.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,261 in Sentul.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,763 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,677 in Sentul.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 67% more expensive than in Sentul, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Sentul is 37% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45 Rp 62.1K
$3.55 MYR 14.53
-2.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 Rp 581.1K
$19.00 MYR 77.7
70.21%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.84 Rp 87.1K
$4.62 MYR 18.89
4.76%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
$2.71 MYR 11.10
1.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 24.9K
$0.67 MYR 2.76
105.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
$0.45 MYR 1.85
66.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 53.8K
$3.44 MYR 14.08
-13.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 69.2K
$5.15 MYR 21.07
-25.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 31.2K
$1.88 MYR 7.68
-7.45%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 44.2K
$1.00 MYR 4.10
146.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
$1.80 MYR 7.36
-35.00%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 43.7K
$1.90 MYR 7.76
27.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 Rp 260.6K
$10.68 MYR 43.66
35.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.35 Rp 78.2K
$3.41 MYR 13.95
27.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.98 Rp 215.3K
$7.97 MYR 32.61
50.31%
Apples (1kg)
$3.72 Rp 66.8K
$2.77 MYR 11.33
34.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
$1.51 MYR 6.19
7.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.74 Rp 49.3K
$2.47 MYR 10.09
10.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
$1.25 MYR 5.11
79.20%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 Rp 34.5K
$1.13 MYR 4.64
69.91%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.9K
$1.38 MYR 5.64
65.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$0.94 MYR 3.84
12.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
$0.60 MYR 2.44
20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29 Rp 59.0K
$4.35 MYR 17.77
-24.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.19 Rp 416.8K
$14.13 MYR 57.8
64.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$2.67 MYR 10.92
4.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$3.01 MYR 12.31
-9.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,786
$0.68 MYR 2.79
-60.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.11 Rp 145.7K
$11.91 MYR 48.72
-31.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,675
$0.98 MYR 3.99
-51.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,545
$1.02 MYR 4.18
-58.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.22 Rp 111.8K
$9.09 MYR 37.16
-31.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$0.50 MYR 2.04
62.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 478.2M
$31.9K MYR 130.3K
-16.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K Rp 578.5M
$27.9K MYR 113.9K
15.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$40.41 MYR 165
93.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07 Rp 73.1K
$8.94 MYR 36.57
-54.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33 Rp 437.1K
$23.35 MYR 95.5
4.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
$37.18 MYR 152
165.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34 Rp 113.9K
$5.78 MYR 23.64
9.69%
Cinema Ticket
$3.99 Rp 71.6K
$5.07 MYR 20.72
-21.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 Rp 5.5M
$187 MYR 763
63.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,642 Rp 119.4M
$7,016 MYR 28.7K
-5.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 Rp 972.9K
$64.1 MYR 262
-15.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81 Rp 679.4K
$27.93 MYR 114
35.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
$59.9 MYR 245
44.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
$49.06 MYR 201
55.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$992 Rp 17.8M
$390 MYR 1,595
154.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$270 MYR 1,106
148.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,375 Rp 60.7M
$653 MYR 2,671
416.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
$467 MYR 1,910
339.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,805 Rp 50.4M
$2,138 MYR 8,746
31.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,227 Rp 40.0M
$1,186 MYR 4,849
87.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 3.0M
$900 MYR 3,679
-81.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
4.07
226.29%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Sentul: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $992 in Ubud, Bali and $390 in Sentul. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sentul pays 439% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $19.00 in Sentul for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $220 per month, with Sentul 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 Sentul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Sentul?
Sentul wins on cost – living expenses run 67% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sentul the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or in Sentul?
On paper, salaries run 439% lower in Sentul. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali compared to Sentul?
Rent for a central apartment: $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $390 in Sentul. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Sentul?
Childcare runs $305 in Ubud, Bali versus $187 in Sentul. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Sentul?
Supermarket bills run roughly 35% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Sentul?
At $844 in Sentul versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sentul but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Sentul the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Sentul?
Both work as nomad bases, but Sentul delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $844 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Sentul hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Sentul?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Sentul 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Sentul gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% 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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