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: $1,378 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
$3.33 Rp 58.7K
$3.70 MYR 15.04
-10.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.82 Rp 630.7K
$22.16 MYR 90.1
61.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.63 Rp 99.1K
$4.97 MYR 20.22
13.28%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 49.7K
$2.99 MYR 12.16
-5.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 Rp 30.8K
$0.85 MYR 3.44
105.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 Rp 14.0K
$0.48 MYR 1.94
66.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.04 Rp 53.6K
$3.36 MYR 13.67
-9.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
$5.77 MYR 23.46
-25.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 Rp 28.3K
$1.75 MYR 7.14
-8.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.27 Rp 39.9K
$1.09 MYR 4.42
108.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 20.6K
$1.46 MYR 5.93
-19.86%
Eggs
$2.17 Rp 38.2K
$1.77 MYR 7.19
22.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.63 Rp 310.5K
$9.79 MYR 39.81
80.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.05 Rp 71.4K
$3.28 MYR 13.35
23.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.18 Rp 214.5K
$9.90 MYR 40.27
23.03%
Apples (1kg)
$3.62 Rp 63.7K
$3.37 MYR 13.70
7.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 Rp 28.8K
$1.76 MYR 7.17
-6.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 40.6K
$2.79 MYR 11.35
-17.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.96 Rp 34.5K
$1.65 MYR 6.69
18.79%
Potato (1kg)
$1.84 Rp 32.5K
$1.44 MYR 5.85
27.78%
Onion (1kg)
$2.37 Rp 41.7K
$1.66 MYR 6.76
42.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 Rp 18.5K
$1.38 MYR 5.63
-23.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 Rp 9,560
$0.55 MYR 2.23
-1.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.30 Rp 40.6K
$4.41 MYR 17.96
-47.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.08 Rp 406.4K
$14.37 MYR 58.5
60.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 Rp 41.2K
$2.81 MYR 11.42
-16.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07 Rp 54.0K
$3.14 MYR 12.76
-2.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,365
$0.71 MYR 2.90
-64.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.42 Rp 165.9K
$12.16 MYR 49.48
-22.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.49 Rp 8,631
$1.23 MYR 4.99
-60.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 Rp 8,349
$0.36 MYR 1.46
30.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.60 Rp 98.6K
$9.03 MYR 36.73
-37.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.2K
$0.78 MYR 3.18
3.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K Rp 440.3M
$43.0K MYR 175.1K
-41.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1K Rp 547.0M
$33.7K MYR 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)
$82.7 Rp 1.5M
$49.11 MYR 200
68.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49 Rp 114.2K
$8.28 MYR 33.70
-21.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.79 Rp 330.8K
$26.87 MYR 109
-30.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.2 Rp 972.6K
$41.18 MYR 168
34.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.21 Rp 320.6K
$6.80 MYR 27.68
167.79%
Cinema Ticket
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
$5.04 MYR 20.51
-14.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$494 Rp 8.7M
$163 MYR 662
203.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,917 Rp 104.2M
$4,578 MYR 18.6K
29.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.28 Rp 814.8K
$52.1 MYR 212
-11.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.44 Rp 641.6K
$16.80 MYR 68.3
116.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.7 Rp 1.4M
$79.8 MYR 324
1.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.8 Rp 1.4M
$40.83 MYR 166
93.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,114 Rp 19.6M
$426 MYR 1,733
161.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$693 Rp 12.2M
$330 MYR 1,343
109.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,639 Rp 64.1M
$696 MYR 2,830
423.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,712 Rp 30.1M
$495 MYR 2,013
245.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,761 Rp 48.6M
$2,052 MYR 8,350
34.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,293 Rp 40.4M
$1,126 MYR 4,581
103.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Sentul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 2.9M
$897 MYR 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.

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