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