Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Cruz and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Cruz and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $582 per month in Santa Cruz vs $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,056 per month in Santa Cruz vs $2,334 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,531 per month in Santa Cruz vs $3,273 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Santa Cruz is about 58% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Santa Cruz sits 58% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.12 BOB 25.88

$3.37 Rp 59.9K

-37.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.61 BOB 203

$38.59 Rp 685.5K

-56.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.65 BOB 56.8

$5.52 Rp 98.1K

-15.76%

Cappuccino

$1.82 BOB 22.16

$2.64 Rp 47.0K

-31.06%

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

$0.49 BOB 5.96

$1.67 Rp 29.7K

-70.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 BOB 5.28

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

-44.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 BOB 12.02

$2.63 Rp 46.8K

-62.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 BOB 15.10

$4.28 Rp 76.1K

-71.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.78 BOB 9.49

$1.55 Rp 27.5K

-49.68%

White Bread (500g)

$0.93 BOB 11.32

$2.22 Rp 39.5K

-58.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.06 BOB 12.93

$1.13 Rp 20.0K

-6.19%

Eggs

$1.06 BOB 12.94

$2.09 Rp 37.1K

-49.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.28 BOB 40.07

$17.39 Rp 309.0K

-81.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.71 BOB 33.03

$3.87 Rp 68.7K

-29.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.02 BOB 61.3

$12.55 Rp 222.9K

-60.00%

Apples (1kg)

$1.67 BOB 20.41

$3.62 Rp 64.2K

-53.87%

Banana (1kg)

$0.67 BOB 8.22

$1.56 Rp 27.7K

-57.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.81 BOB 9.84

$2.35 Rp 41.8K

-65.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 BOB 9.15

$2.06 Rp 36.5K

-63.59%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 BOB 8.38

$1.90 Rp 33.7K

-63.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.60 BOB 7.38

$2.34 Rp 41.5K

-74.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 BOB 6.67

$1.03 Rp 18.3K

-46.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 BOB 7.87

$0.55 Rp 9,854

16.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.98 BOB 24.13

$2.25 Rp 40.0K

-12.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.27 BOB 52.1

$23.81 Rp 422.9K

-82.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 BOB 12.71

$2.31 Rp 41.1K

-54.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 BOB 19.48

$2.80 Rp 49.8K

-42.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 BOB 3.20

$0.27 Rp 4,839

-3.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.36 BOB 273

$8.66 Rp 153.9K

158.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.67 BOB 20.37

$0.48 Rp 8,554

247.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.97 BOB 11.79

$0.45 Rp 7,924

115.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.15 BOB 75.1

$5.72 Rp 101.6K

7.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.55 BOB 6.74

$0.76 Rp 13.5K

-27.63%

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

$15.5K BOB 189.0K

$24.5K Rp 434.9M

-36.72%

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

$19.4K BOB 236.3K

$32.1K Rp 570.6M

-39.71%

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

$34.44 BOB 420

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

-58.78%

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

$19.90 BOB 243

$6.46 Rp 114.7K

208.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.08 BOB 233

$18.99 Rp 337.4K

0.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.23 BOB 235

$56.0 Rp 994.4K

-65.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.69 BOB 155

$18.62 Rp 330.7K

-31.85%

Cinema Ticket

$5.95 BOB 72.6

$4.28 Rp 76.1K

39.02%

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

$126 BOB 1,532

$487 Rp 8.6M

-74.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,948 BOB 36.0K

$5,856 Rp 104.0M

-49.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.02 BOB 317

$45.56 Rp 809.3K

-42.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.88 BOB 389

$36.38 Rp 646.3K

-12.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.4 BOB 798

$82.0 Rp 1.5M

-20.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.8 BOB 693

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

-29.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$270 BOB 3,290

$1,117 Rp 19.8M

-75.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$185 BOB 2,261

$701 Rp 12.5M

-73.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$616 BOB 7,516

$3,537 Rp 62.8M

-82.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$681 BOB 8,311

$1,762 Rp 31.3M

-61.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,288 BOB 15.7K

$2,826 Rp 50.2M

-54.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$744 BOB 9,071

$2,292 Rp 40.7M

-67.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$291 BOB 3,555

$170 Rp 3.0M

71.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.17

13.78

-55.22%

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

Last update for Santa Cruz: September 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $270 in Santa Cruz versus $1,117 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 72% higher in Santa Cruz, 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 $17.00 in Santa Cruz versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $114 vs $293 – making Santa Cruz 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 Cruz vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 140%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $873 per month in Santa Cruz and $2,095 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 158% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Santa Cruz and $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Santa Cruz, where all-in costs run around $582, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. In Santa Cruz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Santa Cruz – 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 Santa Cruz. 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.