Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Sun City

For one person, living is cheaper in Sun City: $1,255 a month against $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $1,400 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Ubud, Bali outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,368
/mo nomad
Sun City
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,255
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Sun City

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Sun City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,255 in Sun City, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,368
  • Sun City $1,255

A couple spends around $2,314 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,930 in Sun City, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,314
  • Sun City $1,930

A family of three spends $3,260 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,606 in Sun City, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,260
  • Sun City $2,606

Ubud, Bali costs about 9% more than Sun City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Ubud, Bali sits 1% above the global median, while Sun City is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Sun City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33 Rp 59.9K
$11.94 R 197
-72.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.18 Rp 633.2K
$43.53 R 717
-19.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.80 Rp 104.5K
$7.40 R 122
-21.62%
Cappuccino
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$2.46 R 40.54
10.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 Rp 29.5K
$1.23 R 20.26
33.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
$0.93 R 15.34
-10.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.70 Rp 48.6K
$2.20 R 36.18
22.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 Rp 77.4K
$2.77 R 45.61
55.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Sun City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 Rp 27.1K
$1.35 R 22.30
11.11%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 Rp 41.4K
$1.28 R 21.14
79.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
$1.77 R 29.18
-33.33%
Eggs
$2.14 Rp 38.6K
$2.63 R 43.27
-18.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.48 Rp 314.6K
$8.41 R 139
107.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.03 Rp 72.5K
$5.65 R 93.1
-28.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.23 Rp 220.1K
$8.48 R 140
44.22%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 Rp 63.9K
$2.10 R 34.58
69.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$1.88 R 30.91
-16.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
$1.77 R 29.21
26.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.93 Rp 34.7K
$2.12 R 34.93
-8.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.88 Rp 33.9K
$1.67 R 27.45
12.57%
Onion (1kg)
$2.29 Rp 41.3K
$1.83 R 30.09
25.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 17.9K
$1.49 R 24.55
-33.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 Rp 9,475
$1.32 R 21.70
-59.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
$3.38 R 55.8
-32.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.01 Rp 414.2K
$6.09 R 100
277.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 Rp 42.2K
$1.89 R 31.11
23.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 Rp 52.4K
$2.40 R 39.52
21.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Sun City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.24 Rp 4,315
$1.49 R 24.54
-83.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.82 Rp 158.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,684
$0.82 R 13.44
-41.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,233
$0.91 R 15.01
-49.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 Rp 98.2K
$14.50 R 239
-62.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 Rp 15.9K
$1.49 R 24.59
-40.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K Rp 442.2M
$35.2K R 579.9K
-30.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2K Rp 561.4M
$31.5K R 519.7K
-1.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Sun City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 Rp 1.5M
$233 R 3,832
-64.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 116.0K
$38.09 R 628
-83.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.57 Rp 334.2K
$36.25 R 597
-48.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Sun City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.8 Rp 1.0M
$32.16 R 530
73.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.11 Rp 326.0K
$10.57 R 174
71.33%
Cinema Ticket
$4.38 Rp 78.9K
$7.69 R 127
-43.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Sun City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$493 Rp 8.9M
$246 R 4,052
100.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,754 Rp 103.6M
$5,459 R 89.9K
5.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Sun City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.19 Rp 831.4K
$58.1 R 957
-20.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.33 Rp 636.0K
$46.31 R 763
-23.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$107 R 1,766
-26.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$107 R 1,757
-26.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Sun City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,142 Rp 20.6M
$395 R 6,502
189.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$676 Rp 12.2M
$354 R 5,834
90.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,503 Rp 63.1M
$737 R 12.1K
375.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,700 Rp 30.6M
$737 R 12.1K
130.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 Rp 50.1M
$890 R 14.7K
212.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
$658 R 10.8K
240.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Sun City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
10.91
26.31%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 11, 2026

Last update for Sun City: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$676
Sun City
$354 47.6% $322
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$290
Sun City
$219 24.5% $71
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$109
Sun City
$172 58.5% $64
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$108
Sun City
$307 184% $199
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Sun City
$143 33.2% $36
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$65
Sun City
$48 26.4% $17
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$13
Sun City
$11 * 9.7% $1.2

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,142 in Ubud, Bali versus $395 in Sun City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $44.00 in Sun City. Groceries tell a different story – $290 in Ubud, Bali vs $219 in Sun City – so Sun City wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇿🇦 Sun City
🕒 Local time
19:29 7:29 PM
13:29 1:29 PM
6 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
1,556
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ZAR, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

South African Rand exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 16.48 ZAR (100 ZAR = 6.07 USD). 1 EUR = 18.52 ZAR (100 ZAR = 5.4 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Sun City 9,420 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Sun City

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Sun City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Sun City?
Ubud, Bali costs about 9% more than Sun City, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali and in Sun City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,051 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,882 in Sun City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ubud, Bali or Sun City?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sun City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Sun City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,368 in Ubud, Bali and $1,255 in Sun City. That's a gap of about 9%.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Sun City?
Kindergarten costs $493 per month in Ubud, Bali and $246 in Sun City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Sun City?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sun City, where all-in costs run around $1,255, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. In Sun City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Sun City?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Sun City costs $1,255 versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Sun City?
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.
Should I move to Ubud, Bali or to Sun City?
If budget matters most, go with Sun City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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