😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $924 in Sentul.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,348 in Sentul.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,275 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,771 in Sentul.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 49% more expensive than in Sentul, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, Sentul is 33% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33Rp 58.7K
$3.70MYR 15.04
-10.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.82Rp 630.7K
$22.16MYR 90.1
61.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.63Rp 99.1K
$4.97MYR 20.22
13.28%
Cappuccino
$2.82Rp 49.7K
$2.99MYR 12.16
-5.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75Rp 30.8K
$0.85MYR 3.44
105.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80Rp 14.0K
$0.48MYR 1.94
66.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.04Rp 53.6K
$3.36MYR 13.67
-9.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30Rp 75.7K
$5.77MYR 23.46
-25.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.61Rp 28.3K
$1.75MYR 7.14
-8.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.27Rp 39.9K
$1.09MYR 4.42
108.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17Rp 20.6K
$1.46MYR 5.93
-19.86%
Eggs
$2.17Rp 38.2K
$1.77MYR 7.19
22.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.63Rp 310.5K
$9.79MYR 39.81
80.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.05Rp 71.4K
$3.28MYR 13.35
23.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.18Rp 214.5K
$9.90MYR 40.27
23.03%
Apples(1kg)
$3.62Rp 63.7K
$3.37MYR 13.70
7.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64Rp 28.8K
$1.76MYR 7.17
-6.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31Rp 40.6K
$2.79MYR 11.35
-17.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.96Rp 34.5K
$1.65MYR 6.69
18.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84Rp 32.5K
$1.44MYR 5.85
27.78%
Onion(1kg)
$2.37Rp 41.7K
$1.66MYR 6.76
42.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05Rp 18.5K
$1.38MYR 5.63
-23.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54Rp 9,560
$0.55MYR 2.23
-1.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.30Rp 40.6K
$4.41MYR 17.96
-47.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.08Rp 406.4K
$14.37MYR 58.5
60.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34Rp 41.2K
$2.81MYR 11.42
-16.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07Rp 54.0K
$3.14MYR 12.76
-2.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25Rp 4,365
$0.71MYR 2.90
-64.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.42Rp 165.9K
$12.16MYR 49.48
-22.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.49Rp 8,631
$1.23MYR 4.99
-60.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.47Rp 8,349
$0.36MYR 1.46
30.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.60Rp 98.6K
$9.03MYR 36.73
-37.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.2K
$0.78MYR 3.18
3.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0KRp 440.3M
$43.0KMYR 175.1K
-41.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1KRp 547.0M
$33.7KMYR 137.0K
-7.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.7Rp 1.5M
$49.11MYR 200
68.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49Rp 114.2K
$8.28MYR 33.70
-21.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.79Rp 330.8K
$26.87MYR 109
-30.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.2Rp 972.6K
$41.18MYR 168
34.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.21Rp 320.6K
$6.80MYR 27.68
167.79%
Cinema Ticket
$4.30Rp 75.7K
$5.04MYR 20.51
-14.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$494Rp 8.7M
$163MYR 662
203.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,917Rp 104.2M
$4,578MYR 18.6K
29.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.28Rp 814.8K
$52.1MYR 212
-11.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.44Rp 641.6K
$16.80MYR 68.3
116.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.7Rp 1.4M
$79.8MYR 324
1.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.8Rp 1.4M
$40.83MYR 166
93.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,114Rp 19.6M
$426MYR 1,733
161.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$693Rp 12.2M
$330MYR 1,343
109.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,639Rp 64.1M
$696MYR 2,830
423.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,712Rp 30.1M
$495MYR 2,013
245.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,761Rp 48.6M
$2,052MYR 8,350
34.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,293Rp 40.4M
$1,126MYR 4,581
103.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$167Rp 2.9M
$897MYR 3,650
-81.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
4.06
239.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026
Last update for Sentul: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali and $426 in Sentul. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sentul pays 437% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $22.00 in Sentul for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $294 vs $232 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 49% 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 437% 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: $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $426 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 $494 in Ubud, Bali versus $163 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 26% 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 $924 in Sentul versus $1,378 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 $924 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 49% 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