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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,374 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,658 in Sterling, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,313 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,091 in Sterling, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,252 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $5,524 in Sterling, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 48% cheaper than Sterling, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ubud, Bali and Sterling sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 2%, Sterling by 97%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.32 Rp 59.6K

$13.62 $13.62

-75.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.33 Rp 633.8K

$76.5 $76.5

-53.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.33 Rp 95.7K

$10.51 $10.51

-49.29%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.4K

$5.89 $5.89

-53.31%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 Rp 31.0K

$2.77 $2.77

-37.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 Rp 14.3K

$2.45 $2.45

-67.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.9K

$5.66 $5.66

-47.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.44 Rp 79.6K

$8.06 $8.06

-44.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 Rp 26.9K

$1.09 $1.09

37.61%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 Rp 41.2K

$4.16 $4.16

-44.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 Rp 19.7K

$5.09 $5.09

-78.39%

Eggs

$2.16 Rp 38.7K

$5.30 $5.30

-59.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.09 Rp 306.5K

$16.23 $16.23

5.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.88 Rp 69.6K

$14.75 $14.75

-73.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.92 Rp 213.8K

$19.08 $19.08

-37.53%

Apples (1kg)

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

$4.85 $4.85

-26.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 Rp 28.4K

$1.66 $1.66

-4.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.36 Rp 42.4K

$6.36 $6.36

-62.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

$5.45 $5.45

-63.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

$3.06 $3.06

-40.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.39 Rp 42.9K

$2.34 $2.34

2.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 Rp 18.3K

$2.16 $2.16

-52.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 Rp 8,815

$2.81 $2.81

-82.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 Rp 40.3K

$10.17 $10.17

-77.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.30 Rp 400.0K

$13.87 $13.87

60.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 Rp 42.5K

$1.78 $1.78

33.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 51.9K

$5.20 $5.20

-44.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,469

$4.94 $4.94

-94.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.55 Rp 153.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 Rp 7,927

$2.92 $2.92

-84.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,575

$1.48 $1.48

-71.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.66 Rp 101.6K

$22.78 $22.78

-75.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$0.93 $0.93

-12.90%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.7K Rp 425.9M

$22.8K $22.8K

4.32%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.0K Rp 555.7M

$22.8K $22.8K

35.67%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.3 Rp 1.5M

$96.6 $96.6

-14.76%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.30 Rp 113.0K

$49.91 $49.91

-87.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.63 Rp 334.3K

$71.9 $71.9

-74.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 Rp 981.8K

$29.36 $29.36

86.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.45 Rp 330.9K

Cinema Ticket

$4.24 Rp 76.0K

$17.29 $17.29

-75.48%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$484 Rp 8.7M

$1,925 $1,925

-74.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,590 Rp 100.3M

$32.4K $32.4K

-82.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.77 Rp 821.1K

$46.57 $46.57

-1.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.69 Rp 640.3K

$45.31 $45.31

-21.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.3 Rp 1.4M

$86.2 $86.2

-9.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.1 Rp 1.4M

$90.2 $90.2

-11.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,147 Rp 20.6M

$1,269 $1,269

-9.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$678 Rp 12.2M

$1,497 $1,497

-54.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,504 Rp 62.9M

$1,963 $1,963

78.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,688 Rp 30.3M

$2,891 $2,891

-41.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,788 Rp 50.0M

$3,269 $3,269

-14.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,257 Rp 40.5M

$2,321 $2,321

-2.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$3,791 $3,791

-95.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

6.34

117.35%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 28, 2026

Last update for Sterling: September 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,147 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,269 in Sterling. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 2197% higher in Sterling, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $76.0 in Sterling. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $464 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Sterling: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sterling costs about 93% more than Ubud, Bali, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,062 per month in Ubud, Bali and $3,987 in Sterling. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,374 in Ubud, Bali and $2,658 in Sterling. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $484 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,925 in Sterling. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,374, than in Sterling at $2,658. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sterling it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,374 versus $2,658 in Sterling. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sterling makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.