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 $659 per month in San Cristobal vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,071 per month in San Cristobal vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,482 per month in San Cristobal vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

San Cristobal is about 54% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

San Cristobal sits 51% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
San Cristobal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56 VES 2,540
$3.56 Rp 63.7K
28.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.56 VES 16.5K
$32.73 Rp 584.5K
-9.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.74 VES 5,982
$4.95 Rp 88.4K
116.97%
Cappuccino
$1.62 VES 904
$2.71 Rp 48.4K
-40.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 VES 468
$1.34 Rp 24.0K
-37.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 VES 363
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
-7.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.21 VES 675
$2.92 Rp 52.1K
-58.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 VES 847
$3.96 Rp 70.7K
-61.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
San Cristobal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 VES 740
$1.81 Rp 32.3K
-26.52%
White Bread (500g)
$1.56 VES 871
$2.52 Rp 45.0K
-38.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.96 VES 532
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
-17.24%
Eggs
$2.09 VES 1,167
$2.46 Rp 43.9K
-15.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.82 VES 2,683
$14.71 Rp 262.7K
-67.23%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.23 VES 2,357
$4.32 Rp 77.1K
-2.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.91 VES 3,294
$12.14 Rp 216.7K
-51.32%
Apples (1kg)
$9.91 VES 5,521
$3.84 Rp 68.6K
158.07%
Banana (1kg)
$0.35 VES 197
$1.56 Rp 27.8K
-77.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.21 VES 677
$2.83 Rp 50.6K
-57.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.11 VES 616
$2.33 Rp 41.5K
-52.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 VES 600
$1.91 Rp 34.2K
-43.46%
Onion (1kg)
$0.91 VES 507
$2.20 Rp 39.3K
-58.64%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.48 VES 266
$1.01 Rp 18.1K
-52.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 VES 961
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
121.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.26 VES 1,815
$3.32 Rp 59.2K
-1.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.98 VES 5,560
$23.74 Rp 423.9K
-57.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 VES 408
$2.79 Rp 49.8K
-73.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 VES 683
$2.86 Rp 51.1K
-56.99%
🚌 Getting Around
San Cristobal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 VES 301
$0.27 Rp 4,800
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.22 VES 13.5K
$8.03 Rp 143.4K
201.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.44 VES 1,362
$0.46 Rp 8,150
430.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.04 VES 1,693
$0.45 Rp 8,037
575.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.88 VES 2,717
$6.10 Rp 108.9K
-20.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.51 VES 286
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
-35.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K VES 16.5M
$26.1K Rp 467.0M
13.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6K VES 18.7M
$32.1K Rp 573.6M
4.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
San Cristobal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$22.40 VES 12.5K
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
-71.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.16 VES 3,432
$4.06 Rp 72.6K
51.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.66 VES 22.7K
$23.52 Rp 420.0K
72.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
San Cristobal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$15.11 VES 8,421
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-84.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.71 VES 11.0K
$6.63 Rp 118.4K
197.29%
Cinema Ticket
$7.09 VES 3,949
$4.15 Rp 74.1K
70.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
San Cristobal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$44.55 VES 24.8K
$304 Rp 5.4M
-85.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$6,613 Rp 118.1M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
San Cristobal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.19 VES 17.9K
$55.5 Rp 991.8K
-42.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.02 VES 11.2K
$38.31 Rp 684.1K
-47.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.7 VES 52.2K
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
5.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.2 VES 34.7K
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
-20.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
San Cristobal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$172 VES 96.0K
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
-82.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$120 VES 66.7K
$675 Rp 12.1M
-82.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$275 VES 153.0K
$3,442 Rp 61.5M
-92.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$177 VES 98.5K
$2,039 Rp 36.4M
-91.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$523 VES 291.6K
$2,841 Rp 50.7M
-81.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$393 VES 218.8K
$2,264 Rp 40.4M
-82.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
San Cristobal
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$202 VES 112.6K
$165 Rp 3.0M
22.33%
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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $172 in San Cristobal versus $1,006 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 22% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $210 vs $302 – 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 Ubud, Bali compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $659 in San Cristobal, $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 115% 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 $989 per month in San Cristobal and $2,129 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 Ubud, Bali?
Public transport costs about 202% 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 $44.55 per month in San Cristobal and $304 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 $659, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. 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 $659 in San Cristobal to $1,419 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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