Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Barbara, CA and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Barbara, CA and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,684 per month in Santa Barbara, CA vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,686 per month in Santa Barbara, CA vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,689 per month in Santa Barbara, CA vs $3,763 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Santa Barbara, CA costs about 162% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Santa Barbara, CA and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Santa Barbara, CA by 176%, Ubud, Bali by 5%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.44 $25.44

$3.45 Rp 61.8K

637.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$99.3 $99.3

$32.34 Rp 578.5K

206.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.02 $10.02

$4.84 Rp 86.7K

107.02%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$2.75 Rp 49.1K

105.82%

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

$2.74 $2.74

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

98.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 $2.06

$0.75 Rp 13.4K

174.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.02 $8.02

$2.99 Rp 53.5K

168.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.95 $8.95

$3.85 Rp 68.9K

132.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 $1.31

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

-24.71%

White Bread (500g)

$5.06 $5.06

$2.46 Rp 44.0K

105.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.79 $4.79

$1.17 Rp 20.9K

309.40%

Eggs

$5.46 $5.46

$2.43 Rp 43.5K

124.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.36 $12.36

$14.50 Rp 259.5K

-14.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.65 $11.65

$4.35 Rp 77.8K

167.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.26 $14.26

$11.98 Rp 214.3K

19.03%

Apples (1kg)

$6.37 $6.37

$3.72 Rp 66.5K

71.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 $1.85

$1.63 Rp 29.1K

13.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.79 $3.79

$2.74 Rp 49.1K

38.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.43 $5.43

$2.24 Rp 40.1K

142.41%

Potato (1kg)

$3.29 $3.29

$1.92 Rp 34.3K

71.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.94 $2.94

$2.28 Rp 40.7K

28.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.06 $2.06

$1.06 Rp 19.0K

94.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

190.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.91 $12.91

$3.29 Rp 58.8K

292.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.11 $16.11

$23.19 Rp 414.9K

-30.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.78 Rp 49.7K

-36.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 $4.03

$2.73 Rp 48.9K

47.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.74 $1.74

$0.27 Rp 4,765

544.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$63.6 $63.6

$8.11 Rp 145.0K

684.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.92 $5.92

$0.48 Rp 8,636

1133.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.01 $2.01

$0.42 Rp 7,511

378.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$50.2 $50.2

$6.22 Rp 111.3K

706.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

58.02%

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

$28.1K $28.1K

$26.6K Rp 476.1M

5.64%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$32.2K Rp 575.9M

-20.25%

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

$201 $201

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

157.03%

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

$54.9 $54.9

$4.07 Rp 72.8K

1247.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.5 $72.5

$24.33 Rp 435.2K

197.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.9 $65.9

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

-33.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.16 $18.16

$6.34 Rp 113.3K

186.44%

Cinema Ticket

$12.45 $12.45

$3.99 Rp 71.3K

212.03%

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

$1,425 $1,425

$305 Rp 5.5M

367.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$37.7K $37.7K

$6,642 Rp 118.8M

466.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.8 $68.8

$54.1 Rp 968.6K

27.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.29 $40.29

$37.81 Rp 676.3K

6.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 $77.6

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

-10.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

85.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,649 $2,649

$992 Rp 17.7M

167.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,302 $2,302

$673 Rp 12.0M

242.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,177 $5,177

$3,375 Rp 60.4M

53.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,388 $4,388

$2,050 Rp 36.7M

114.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,917 $9,917

$2,805 Rp 50.2M

253.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$9,963 $9,963

$2,227 Rp 39.8M

347.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,070 $5,070

$167 Rp 3.0M

2936.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.68

13.28

-49.70%

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

Last update for Santa Barbara, CA: July 11, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,649 in Santa Barbara, CA 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 2937% higher in Santa Barbara, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $99.0 in Santa Barbara, CA versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $426 vs $297 – making Ubud, Bali 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

Santa Barbara, CA vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Santa Barbara, CA is pricier by about 162%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,526 per month in Santa Barbara, CA and $2,112 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,684 in Santa Barbara, CA and $1,408 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 685% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,408, than in Santa Barbara, CA at $3,684. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santa Barbara, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ubud, Bali – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santa Barbara, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.