Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint John Island and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint John Island and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $6,195 in Saint John Island versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $8,291 in Saint John Island versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $10.4K in Saint John Island versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Saint John Island is roughly 344% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Saint John Island 351% above, Ubud, Bali 2% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$70.5 $70.5

$3.37 Rp 59.9K

1990.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$149 $149

$38.59 Rp 685.5K

286.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$15.20 $15.20

$5.52 Rp 98.1K

175.36%

Cappuccino

$9.08 $9.08

$2.64 Rp 47.0K

243.94%

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

$3.40 $3.40

$1.67 Rp 29.7K

103.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.46 $3.46

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

349.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.15 $5.15

$2.63 Rp 46.8K

95.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.95 $6.95

$4.28 Rp 76.1K

62.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.26 $3.26

$1.55 Rp 27.5K

110.32%

White Bread (500g)

$8.07 $8.07

$2.22 Rp 39.5K

263.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$11.94 $11.94

$1.13 Rp 20.0K

956.64%

Eggs

$12.09 $12.09

$2.09 Rp 37.1K

478.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$32.24 $32.24

$17.39 Rp 309.0K

85.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$32.75 $32.75

$3.87 Rp 68.7K

746.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$24.22 $24.22

$12.55 Rp 222.9K

92.99%

Apples (1kg)

$22.01 $22.01

$3.62 Rp 64.2K

508.01%

Banana (1kg)

$3.96 $3.96

$1.56 Rp 27.7K

153.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$17.61 $17.61

$2.35 Rp 41.8K

649.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$12.22 $12.22

$2.06 Rp 36.5K

493.20%

Potato (1kg)

$7.60 $7.60

$1.90 Rp 33.7K

300.00%

Onion (1kg)

$7.57 $7.57

$2.34 Rp 41.5K

223.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$4.89 $4.89

$1.03 Rp 18.3K

374.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.42 $3.42

$0.55 Rp 9,854

521.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.04 $9.04

$2.25 Rp 40.0K

301.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.77 $22.77

$23.81 Rp 422.9K

-4.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$4.45 $4.45

$2.31 Rp 41.1K

92.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.94 $5.94

$2.80 Rp 49.8K

112.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$7.18 $7.18

$0.27 Rp 4,839

2559.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$152 $152

$8.66 Rp 153.9K

1660.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$29.66 $29.66

$0.48 Rp 8,554

6079.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 7,924

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$50.0 $50.0

$5.72 Rp 101.6K

774.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 $1.57

$0.76 Rp 13.5K

106.58%

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

$48.4K $48.4K

$24.5K Rp 434.9M

97.55%

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

$53.3K $53.3K

$32.1K Rp 570.6M

65.99%

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

$298 $298

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

256.35%

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

$99.4 $99.4

$6.46 Rp 114.7K

1438.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$101 $101

$18.99 Rp 337.4K

433.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 Rp 994.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.62 Rp 330.7K

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 Rp 76.1K

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

$487 Rp 8.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,856 Rp 104.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.3 $81.3

$45.56 Rp 809.3K

78.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.58 $49.58

$36.38 Rp 646.3K

36.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 $86.2

$82.0 Rp 1.5M

5.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 $102

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

26.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,977 $3,977

$1,117 Rp 19.8M

256.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,477 $3,477

$701 Rp 12.5M

395.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,953 $4,953

$3,537 Rp 62.8M

40.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,570 $4,570

$1,762 Rp 31.3M

159.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,826 Rp 50.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,292 Rp 40.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,574 $4,574

$170 Rp 3.0M

2594.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

-49.20%

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

Last update for Saint John Island: September 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,977 in Saint John Island and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saint John Island pays 2594% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $149 in Saint John Island vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $986 vs $293 per month, with Ubud, Bali 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

Saint John Island vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 344% lower than in Saint John Island. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 2594% higher in Saint John Island, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $3,977 in Saint John Island versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 237% higher in Saint John Island. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $6,195 per month in Saint John Island versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali – a 344% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,396 in Ubud, Bali versus $6,195 in Saint John Island, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Saint John Island. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,396 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Saint John Island and Ubud, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 344% less than in Saint John Island. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.