Cost of Living Comparison Between San Cristobal and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between San Cristobal and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $677 per month in San Cristobal vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,084 per month in San Cristobal vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,491 per month in San Cristobal vs $3,763 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

San Cristobal is about 52% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

San Cristobal sits 49% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Cristobal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.52 VES 3,299
$3.45 Rp 61.8K
31.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.07 VES 22.0K
$32.34 Rp 578.5K
-7.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.74 VES 7,847
$4.84 Rp 86.7K
121.90%
Cappuccino
$1.64 VES 1,197
$2.75 Rp 49.1K
-40.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 VES 616
$1.38 Rp 24.8K
-39.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 VES 442
$0.75 Rp 13.4K
-20.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.21 VES 882
$2.99 Rp 53.5K
-59.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 VES 1,067
$3.85 Rp 68.9K
-62.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Cristobal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 VES 933
$1.74 Rp 31.1K
-26.44%
White Bread (500g)
$1.59 VES 1,165
$2.46 Rp 44.0K
-35.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.96 VES 704
$1.17 Rp 20.9K
-17.95%
Eggs
$2.16 VES 1,575
$2.43 Rp 43.5K
-11.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.74 VES 3,463
$14.50 Rp 259.5K
-67.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.24 VES 3,096
$4.35 Rp 77.8K
-2.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.86 VES 4,279
$11.98 Rp 214.3K
-51.09%
Apples (1kg)
$10.17 VES 7,431
$3.72 Rp 66.5K
173.39%
Banana (1kg)
$0.35 VES 257
$1.63 Rp 29.1K
-78.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.26 VES 922
$2.74 Rp 49.1K
-54.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.14 VES 831
$2.24 Rp 40.1K
-49.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 VES 788
$1.92 Rp 34.3K
-43.75%
Onion (1kg)
$0.89 VES 649
$2.28 Rp 40.7K
-60.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.52 VES 384
$1.06 Rp 19.0K
-50.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.70 VES 1,243
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
136.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.36 VES 2,455
$3.29 Rp 58.8K
2.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.90 VES 7,236
$23.19 Rp 414.9K
-57.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 VES 572
$2.78 Rp 49.7K
-71.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22 VES 895
$2.73 Rp 48.9K
-55.31%
🚌 Getting Around
San Cristobal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 VES 371
$0.27 Rp 4,765
88.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.66 VES 18.0K
$8.11 Rp 145.0K
204.07%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.45 VES 1,790
$0.48 Rp 8,636
410.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.16 VES 2,307
$0.42 Rp 7,511
652.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.14 VES 3,757
$6.22 Rp 111.3K
-17.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.52 VES 379
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
-35.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.1K VES 22.0M
$26.6K Rp 476.1M
13.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K VES 24.4M
$32.2K Rp 575.9M
3.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Cristobal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$21.99 VES 16.1K
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
-71.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.87 VES 4,287
$4.07 Rp 72.8K
44.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.79 VES 29.1K
$24.33 Rp 435.2K
63.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Cristobal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$14.72 VES 10.8K
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
-85.07%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.63 VES 14.3K
$6.34 Rp 113.3K
209.62%
Cinema Ticket
$6.92 VES 5,054
$3.99 Rp 71.3K
73.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Cristobal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$45.45 VES 33.2K
$305 Rp 5.5M
-85.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$6,642 Rp 118.8M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Cristobal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.39 VES 23.7K
$54.1 Rp 968.6K
-40.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.85 VES 14.5K
$37.81 Rp 676.3K
-47.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.8 VES 68.5K
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
7.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.4 VES 46.3K
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
-16.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Cristobal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$173 VES 126.5K
$992 Rp 17.7M
-82.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$121 VES 88.6K
$673 Rp 12.0M
-81.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$271 VES 198.3K
$3,375 Rp 60.4M
-91.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$178 VES 130.1K
$2,050 Rp 36.7M
-91.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$525 VES 383.3K
$2,805 Rp 50.2M
-81.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$407 VES 297.0K
$2,227 Rp 39.8M
-81.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Cristobal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$197 VES 143.6K
$167 Rp 3.0M
17.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
13.28
-

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

Last update for San Cristobal: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $173 in San Cristobal versus $992 in Ubud, Bali. 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 18% higher in San Cristobal, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in San Cristobal versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $212 vs $297 – making San Cristobal 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
San Cristobal vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in San Cristobal and in Ubud, Bali compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $677 in San Cristobal, $1,408 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 108% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in San Cristobal compared to Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,016 per month in San Cristobal and $2,112 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between San Cristobal and Ubud, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in San Cristobal, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in San Cristobal and in Ubud, Bali?
Public transport costs about 204% less in San Cristobal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between San Cristobal and Ubud, Bali?
Kindergarten costs $45.45 per month in San Cristobal and $305 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in San Cristobal, where all-in costs run around $677, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In San Cristobal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between San Cristobal and Ubud, Bali?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $677 in San Cristobal to $1,408 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is San Cristobal or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between San Cristobal and Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with San Cristobal. 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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