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 $818 per month in Santa Cruz vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,366 per month in Santa Cruz vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,914 per month in Santa Cruz vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Santa Cruz is about 42% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Santa Cruz sits 39% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.93 BOB 20.11

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

-17.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.95 BOB 185

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

-17.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.08 BOB 48.54

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

43.03%

Cappuccino

$2.72 BOB 18.63

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

0.37%

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

$0.82 BOB 5.65

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

-38.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 BOB 4.54

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

-5.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.43 BOB 9.82

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

-51.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 BOB 13.29

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

-51.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 BOB 7.42

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

-40.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.34 BOB 9.23

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

-46.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 BOB 9.18

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

15.52%

Eggs

$1.84 BOB 12.66

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

-25.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 BOB 31.40

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

-68.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.14 BOB 28.40

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

-4.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.28 BOB 43.05

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

-48.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 BOB 18.89

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

-28.39%

Banana (1kg)

$0.92 BOB 6.31

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

-41.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 BOB 7.73

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

-60.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 BOB 7.10

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

-55.36%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 BOB 6.31

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

-51.83%

Onion (1kg)

$0.94 BOB 6.43

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

-57.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 BOB 5.50

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

-20.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 BOB 7.64

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

42.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 BOB 14.61

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

-35.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.44 BOB 51.1

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

-68.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 BOB 10.07

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

-47.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 BOB 14.06

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

-28.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 BOB 2.05

$0.27 Rp 4,800

11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.23 BOB 146

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

164.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.88 BOB 19.73

$0.46 Rp 8,150

526.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.47 BOB 10.07

$0.45 Rp 8,037

226.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.29 BOB 50.0

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

19.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.55 BOB 3.77

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

-30.38%

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

$29.5K BOB 202.4K

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

12.83%

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

$27.1K BOB 185.9K

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

-15.64%

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

$54.1 BOB 371

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

-32.27%

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

$22.94 BOB 157

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

465.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.45 BOB 229

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

42.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.55 BOB 216

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

-68.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.52 BOB 148

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

224.59%

Cinema Ticket

$7.04 BOB 48.28

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

69.64%

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

$201 BOB 1,377

$304 Rp 5.4M

-33.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,258 BOB 29.2K

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

-35.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.30 BOB 290

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

-23.84%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.34 BOB 332

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

26.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.6 BOB 580

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

-4.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.0 BOB 411

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

-22.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$401 BOB 2,753

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

-60.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 BOB 1,793

$675 Rp 12.1M

-61.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$754 BOB 5,170

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

-78.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 BOB 4,394

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

-68.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,511 BOB 10.4K

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

-46.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$844 BOB 5,788

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

-62.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$526 BOB 3,608

$165 Rp 3.0M

218.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.67

13.28

-49.77%

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

Last update for Santa Cruz: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $401 in Santa Cruz 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 218% 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 $27.00 in Santa Cruz versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $167 vs $302 – 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 73%, 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 $1,228 per month in Santa Cruz and $2,129 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 81% 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 $27.00 in Santa Cruz and $33.00 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 $818, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. 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.