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 $1,597 per month in Santa Cruz vs $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,403 per month in Santa Cruz vs $2,549 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,209 per month in Santa Cruz vs $3,694 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Santa Cruz costs about 14% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Santa Cruz and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Santa Cruz by 19%, Ubud, Bali by 4%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.80 ₡4,881

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

202.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.0 ₡27.1K

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

84.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.94 ₡4,489

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

104.53%

Cappuccino

$3.91 ₡1,766

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

42.18%

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

$2.04 ₡923

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

54.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 ₡717

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

127.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 ₡1,331

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

1.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 ₡2,116

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

23.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ₡917

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

18.71%

White Bread (500g)

$2.90 ₡1,309

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

17.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.15 ₡972

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

79.17%

Eggs

$2.98 ₡1,345

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

22.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.10 ₡4,563

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

-29.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.15 ₡4,135

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

112.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.85 ₡6,258

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

13.43%

Apples (1kg)

$4.47 ₡2,018

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

21.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 ₡457

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

-34.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.38 ₡1,979

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

56.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.48 ₡1,574

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

49.36%

Potato (1kg)

$3.48 ₡1,574

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

76.65%

Onion (1kg)

$3.22 ₡1,455

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

39.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 ₡462

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

-3.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 ₡1,322

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

301.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.30 ₡2,396

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

61.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.85 ₡9,874

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

-4.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.51 ₡1,135

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

-10.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 ₡1,334

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

6.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 ₡468

$0.29 Rp 5,217

258.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.80 ₡812

$0.45 Rp 8,047

300.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.80 ₡815

$0.45 Rp 8,094

300.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.96 ₡3,598

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

27.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ₡638

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

65.88%

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

$37.8K ₡17.1M

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

45.37%

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

$33.2K ₡15.0M

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

4.89%

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

$92.0 ₡41.6K

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

13.94%

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

$26.19 ₡11.8K

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

545.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.7 ₡24.7K

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

123.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.2 ₡25.4K

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

-42.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.29 ₡11.0K

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

276.59%

Cinema Ticket

$5.99 ₡2,707

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

48.27%

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

$565 ₡255.4K

$304 Rp 5.4M

85.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.6K ₡5.7M

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

89.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.6 ₡28.3K

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

15.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.5 ₡23.3K

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

32.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 ₡56.4K

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

44.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 ₡49.4K

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

42.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$767 ₡346.6K

$986 Rp 17.7M

-22.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$605 ₡273.3K

$658 Rp 11.8M

-8.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,513 ₡683.4K

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

-55.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$977 ₡441.4K

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

-52.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

13.28

-23.42%

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

Last update for Santa Cruz: June 7, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $767 in Santa Cruz versus $986 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Santa Cruz versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $369 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 Cruz vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,597 in Santa Cruz, $1,404 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 14% apart. Santa Cruz costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,395 per month in Santa Cruz and $2,106 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 $1,597 in Santa Cruz and $1,404 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $565 per month in Santa Cruz and $304 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,404, than in Santa Cruz at $1,597. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santa Cruz it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Santa Cruz has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,404 in Ubud, Bali to $1,597 in Santa Cruz. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Cruz makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.