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 $802 per month in Santa Cruz vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,332 per month in Santa Cruz vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,862 per month in Santa Cruz vs $3,763 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Santa Cruz is about 43% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Santa Cruz sits 40% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.88 BOB 30.62

$3.45 Rp 61.8K

-16.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.73 BOB 285

$32.34 Rp 578.5K

-17.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 BOB 76.7

$4.84 Rp 86.7K

48.76%

Cappuccino

$2.85 BOB 30.34

$2.75 Rp 49.1K

3.64%

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

$0.78 BOB 8.32

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

-43.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 BOB 6.99

$0.75 Rp 13.4K

-12.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.43 BOB 15.26

$2.99 Rp 53.5K

-52.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 BOB 20.65

$3.85 Rp 68.9K

-49.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 BOB 11.56

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

-37.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 BOB 14.39

$2.46 Rp 44.0K

-45.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 BOB 13.84

$1.17 Rp 20.9K

11.11%

Eggs

$1.76 BOB 18.70

$2.43 Rp 43.5K

-27.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.75 BOB 50.5

$14.50 Rp 259.5K

-67.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.04 BOB 43.01

$4.35 Rp 77.8K

-7.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.29 BOB 67.0

$11.98 Rp 214.3K

-47.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.70 BOB 28.79

$3.72 Rp 66.5K

-27.42%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 BOB 10.29

$1.63 Rp 29.1K

-40.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 BOB 12.21

$2.74 Rp 49.1K

-58.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 BOB 10.99

$2.24 Rp 40.1K

-54.02%

Potato (1kg)

$0.91 BOB 9.73

$1.92 Rp 34.3K

-52.60%

Onion (1kg)

$1.00 BOB 10.63

$2.28 Rp 40.7K

-56.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 BOB 8.42

$1.06 Rp 19.0K

-25.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 BOB 11.78

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

54.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.24 BOB 23.85

$3.29 Rp 58.8K

-31.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.30 BOB 77.7

$23.19 Rp 414.9K

-68.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.41 BOB 15.03

$2.78 Rp 49.7K

-49.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 BOB 21.66

$2.73 Rp 48.9K

-25.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 BOB 3.15

$0.27 Rp 4,765

11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.01 BOB 224

$8.11 Rp 145.0K

159.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 BOB 31.42

$0.48 Rp 8,636

514.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.43 BOB 15.23

$0.42 Rp 7,511

240.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.42 BOB 79.0

$6.22 Rp 111.3K

19.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 BOB 6.20

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

-28.40%

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

$29.1K BOB 310.2K

$26.6K Rp 476.1M

9.44%

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

$27.4K BOB 291.7K

$32.2K Rp 575.9M

-14.91%

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

$55.4 BOB 590

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

-29.32%

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

$22.26 BOB 237

$4.07 Rp 72.8K

446.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.17 BOB 353

$24.33 Rp 435.2K

36.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$32.35 BOB 345

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

-67.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.67 BOB 231

$6.34 Rp 113.3K

241.80%

Cinema Ticket

$7.37 BOB 78.5

$3.99 Rp 71.3K

84.71%

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

$203 BOB 2,161

$305 Rp 5.5M

-33.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,245 BOB 45.2K

$6,642 Rp 118.8M

-36.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.54 BOB 453

$54.1 Rp 968.6K

-21.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.82 BOB 509

$37.81 Rp 676.3K

26.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.2 BOB 896

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

-3.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$59.8 BOB 637

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

-21.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$415 BOB 4,415

$992 Rp 17.7M

-58.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$258 BOB 2,747

$673 Rp 12.0M

-61.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$739 BOB 7,867

$3,375 Rp 60.4M

-78.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$643 BOB 6,849

$2,050 Rp 36.7M

-68.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,502 BOB 16.0K

$2,805 Rp 50.2M

-46.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$988 BOB 10.5K

$2,227 Rp 39.8M

-55.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$475 BOB 5,061

$167 Rp 3.0M

184.63%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $415 in Santa Cruz 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 185% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $166 vs $297 – 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 76%, 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 $1,202 per month in Santa Cruz 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 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 79% 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 $32.00 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 $802, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. 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.