😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali versus $832 in Sentul.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,540 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,260 in Sentul.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,660 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,689 in Sentul.
😐Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 71% more expensive than Sentul, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 6% above, Sentul is 38% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.56Rp 63.7K
$3.44MYR 13.63
3.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.73Rp 584.5K
$18.62MYR 73.8
75.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.95Rp 88.4K
$4.63MYR 18.35
6.91%
Cappuccino
$2.71Rp 48.4K
$2.83MYR 11.21
-4.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34Rp 24.0K
$0.69MYR 2.73
94.20%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70Rp 12.5K
$0.49MYR 1.93
42.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92Rp 52.1K
$3.56MYR 14.11
-17.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.96Rp 70.7K
$5.17MYR 20.48
-23.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81Rp 32.3K
$1.88MYR 7.46
-3.72%
White Bread(500g)
$2.52Rp 45.0K
$1.00MYR 3.97
152.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.16Rp 20.7K
$1.73MYR 6.87
-32.95%
Eggs
$2.46Rp 43.9K
$1.87MYR 7.40
31.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.71Rp 262.7K
$10.51MYR 41.69
39.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.32Rp 77.1K
$3.40MYR 13.50
27.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.14Rp 216.7K
$8.32MYR 33.01
45.91%
Apples(1kg)
$3.84Rp 68.6K
$2.73MYR 10.84
40.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56Rp 27.8K
$1.45MYR 5.75
7.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.83Rp 50.6K
$2.49MYR 9.88
13.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 41.5K
$1.25MYR 4.94
86.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 34.2K
$1.13MYR 4.47
69.03%
Onion(1kg)
$2.20Rp 39.3K
$1.40MYR 5.55
57.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.01Rp 18.1K
$0.88MYR 3.47
14.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78Rp 13.8K
$0.60MYR 2.36
30.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32Rp 59.2K
$4.18MYR 16.59
-20.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.74Rp 423.9K
$14.43MYR 57.2
64.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.79Rp 49.8K
$2.79MYR 11.07
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86Rp 51.1K
$2.96MYR 11.74
-3.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,800
$0.72MYR 2.86
-62.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.03Rp 143.4K
$11.62MYR 46.06
-30.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.46Rp 8,150
$1.02MYR 4.05
-54.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.45Rp 8,037
$0.99MYR 3.94
-54.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.10Rp 108.9K
$9.02MYR 35.75
-32.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79Rp 14.2K
$0.50MYR 1.99
58.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1KRp 467.0M
$31.9KMYR 126.7K
-18.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1KRp 573.6M
$28.3KMYR 112.2K
13.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.9Rp 1.4M
$41.62MYR 165
92.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.06Rp 72.6K
$8.92MYR 35.38
-54.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52Rp 420.0K
$23.34MYR 92.6
0.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$98.7Rp 1.8M
$36.20MYR 144
172.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.63Rp 118.4K
$5.98MYR 23.71
10.87%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15Rp 74.1K
$4.98MYR 19.75
-16.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304Rp 5.4M
$188MYR 747
61.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,613Rp 118.1M
$6,924MYR 27.5K
-4.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5Rp 991.8K
$63.6MYR 252
-12.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.31Rp 684.1K
$28.35MYR 112
35.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.6Rp 1.6M
$59.1MYR 234
50.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9Rp 1.4M
$49.22MYR 195
58.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,006Rp 18.0M
$379MYR 1,505
165.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$675Rp 12.1M
$270MYR 1,070
150.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,442Rp 61.5M
$646MYR 2,563
432.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,039Rp 36.4M
$471MYR 1,867
333.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,841Rp 50.7M
$2,108MYR 8,360
34.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,264Rp 40.4M
$899MYR 3,566
151.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$165Rp 3.0M
$894MYR 3,545
-81.52%
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Sentul: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali and $379 in Sentul. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sentul pays 441% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $19.00 in Sentul for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $302 vs $221 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 71% 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 Sentul?
On paper, Sentul earns 441% less. 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 vs Sentul?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $379 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 Sentul?
Childcare runs $304 in Ubud, Bali versus $188 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 Sentul?
Supermarket bills run roughly 37% 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 Sentul?
At $832 in Sentul versus $1,419 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 $832 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 71% 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