Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint John's and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Saint John's and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,730 in Saint John's versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,728 in Saint John's versus $2,557 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,727 in Saint John's versus $3,723 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Saint John's is roughly 24% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Saint John's 30% above, Ubud, Bali 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saint John's
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.91 EC$37.56
$3.57 Rp 64.6K
289.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.6 EC$223
$32.32 Rp 584.4K
155.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.28 EC$30.45
$5.01 Rp 90.5K
125.15%
Cappuccino
$3.86 EC$10.43
$2.82 Rp 51.1K
36.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 EC$5.66
$1.35 Rp 24.4K
55.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99 EC$2.68
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
35.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.82 EC$4.92
$2.93 Rp 53.0K
-37.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.56 EC$12.32
$3.94 Rp 71.2K
15.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saint John's
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 EC$6.11
$1.78 Rp 32.2K
26.97%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 EC$7.31
$2.45 Rp 44.3K
10.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.82 EC$4.90
$1.15 Rp 20.8K
58.26%
Eggs
$5.44 EC$14.69
$2.41 Rp 43.7K
125.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.12 EC$21.93
$14.33 Rp 259.1K
-43.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.33 EC$22.50
$4.19 Rp 75.7K
98.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$12.06 Rp 218.1K
-
Apples (1kg)
$6.51 EC$17.57
$3.64 Rp 65.8K
78.85%
Banana (1kg)
$2.42 EC$6.55
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
54.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$8.06 EC$21.77
$2.79 Rp 50.4K
188.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$8.27 EC$22.34
$2.24 Rp 40.5K
269.20%
Potato (1kg)
$2.94 EC$7.94
$1.98 Rp 35.8K
48.48%
Onion (1kg)
$2.93 EC$7.92
$2.28 Rp 41.2K
28.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.52 EC$6.79
$1.05 Rp 19.1K
140.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 EC$5.05
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
136.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.19 Rp 57.7K
-
Wine (Bottle)
$9.20 EC$24.84
$23.49 Rp 424.8K
-60.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 EC$7.40
$2.90 Rp 52.4K
-5.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 EC$9.72
$2.76 Rp 49.8K
30.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Saint John's
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.00 EC$2.70
$0.27 Rp 4,821
270.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.37 Rp 151.3K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.42 EC$14.63
$0.45 Rp 8,180
1104.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$5.69 EC$15.38
$0.46 Rp 8,311
1136.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.86 EC$53.6
$6.07 Rp 109.7K
227.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.69 EC$4.57
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
96.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.0K EC$64.8K
$26.6K Rp 480.7M
-9.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8K EC$56.2K
$32.5K Rp 588.6M
-36.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saint John's
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$131 EC$353
$79.0 Rp 1.4M
65.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.15 EC$108
$4.09 Rp 74.0K
881.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.2 EC$198
$23.85 Rp 431.2K
206.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saint John's
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$65.6 EC$177
$98.8 Rp 1.8M
-33.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.64 EC$98.9
$6.35 Rp 114.9K
477.01%
Cinema Ticket
$5.93 EC$16.01
$4.01 Rp 72.5K
47.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saint John's
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$297 Rp 5.4M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,836 EC$4,958
$6,602 Rp 119.4M
-72.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saint John's
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$53.4 Rp 966.0K
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$38.11 Rp 689.2K
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.2 EC$200
$88.7 Rp 1.6M
-16.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$76.6 Rp 1.4M
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saint John's
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,090 EC$2,943
$1,020 Rp 18.4M
6.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$732 EC$1,977
$680 Rp 12.3M
7.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,671 EC$4,512
$3,469 Rp 62.7M
-51.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,487 EC$4,014
$2,090 Rp 37.8M
-28.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,729 Rp 49.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,295 Rp 41.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saint John's
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,354 EC$3,656
$164 Rp 3.0M
727.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.5
13.28
-58.58%

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

Last update for Saint John's: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,090 in Saint John's and $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saint John's pays 727% 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: $83.0 in Saint John's vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $352 vs $298 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's vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Saint John's?
Ubud, Bali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 24% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Saint John's or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 727% higher in Saint John's, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Saint John's and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,090 in Saint John's versus $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Saint John's and in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in Saint John's. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Saint John's or in Ubud, Bali?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $83.0 in Saint John's. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Saint John's or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,392 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,730 in Saint John's, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Saint John's. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Saint John's or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Ubud, Bali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Saint John's, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Saint John's or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Saint John's 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Saint John's. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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