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 $1,745 per month in Santa Cruz vs $1,379 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,752 per month in Santa Cruz vs $2,363 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,759 per month in Santa Cruz vs $3,347 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Santa Cruz costs about 26% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Santa Cruz and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Santa Cruz by 27%, Ubud, Bali by 1%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.20 ₡5,444

$3.31 Rp 58.9K

268.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.2 ₡25.1K

$39.08 Rp 694.5K

43.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.03 ₡4,923

$5.62 Rp 99.8K

96.26%

Cappuccino

$4.41 ₡1,969

$2.64 Rp 46.9K

67.05%

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

$2.36 ₡1,055

$1.58 Rp 28.2K

49.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 ₡869

$0.71 Rp 12.6K

174.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.96 ₡1,322

$2.73 Rp 48.5K

8.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.55 ₡2,032

$4.32 Rp 76.8K

5.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.30 ₡1,026

$1.54 Rp 27.4K

49.35%

White Bread (500g)

$3.33 ₡1,488

$2.30 Rp 40.8K

44.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.45 ₡1,092

$1.03 Rp 18.3K

137.86%

Eggs

$3.54 ₡1,578

$2.12 Rp 37.7K

66.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.88 ₡4,856

$17.30 Rp 307.5K

-37.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.08 ₡4,497

$4.03 Rp 71.6K

150.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.97 ₡6,233

$12.42 Rp 220.8K

12.48%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 ₡2,302

$3.70 Rp 65.7K

39.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ₡489

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

-32.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.78 ₡2,135

$2.27 Rp 40.3K

110.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.93 ₡1,753

$1.99 Rp 35.4K

97.49%

Potato (1kg)

$3.86 ₡1,723

$1.83 Rp 32.5K

110.93%

Onion (1kg)

$3.82 ₡1,705

$2.25 Rp 40.1K

69.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ₡505

$1.04 Rp 18.6K

8.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.18 ₡1,420

$0.56 Rp 10.0K

467.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.95 ₡2,656

$2.22 Rp 39.5K

168.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.70 ₡9,236

$23.22 Rp 412.7K

-10.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 ₡1,271

$2.39 Rp 42.5K

19.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 ₡1,645

$2.87 Rp 51.1K

28.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.32 ₡588

$0.25 Rp 4,416

428.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.17 Rp 127.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.51 ₡1,118

$0.46 Rp 8,163

445.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.62 ₡725

$0.46 Rp 8,235

252.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.72 ₡3,891

$5.70 Rp 101.2K

52.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 ₡689

$0.76 Rp 13.6K

102.63%

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

$22.1K ₡9.8M

$24.6K Rp 436.7M

-10.19%

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

$35.7K ₡15.9M

$31.0K Rp 551.5M

14.93%

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

$104 ₡46.4K

$82.2 Rp 1.5M

26.42%

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

$36.11 ₡16.1K

$6.33 Rp 112.5K

470.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.9 ₡26.3K

$18.54 Rp 329.6K

217.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.7 ₡32.4K

$56.1 Rp 996.2K

29.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.41 Rp 327.2K

Cinema Ticket

$6.59 ₡2,940

$4.26 Rp 75.8K

54.69%

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

$1,010 ₡450.8K

$489 Rp 8.7M

106.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$17.4K ₡7.8M

$5,793 Rp 103.0M

200.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.8 ₡32.9K

$45.98 Rp 817.3K

60.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.3 ₡25.1K

$35.86 Rp 637.4K

56.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$130 ₡58.0K

$79.5 Rp 1.4M

63.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$135 ₡60.1K

$80.9 Rp 1.4M

66.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$829 ₡369.9K

$1,144 Rp 20.3M

-27.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$657 ₡293.2K

$692 Rp 12.3M

-5.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,916 ₡855.3K

$3,532 Rp 62.8M

-45.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,452 ₡648.2K

$1,709 Rp 30.4M

-15.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,785 Rp 49.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,261 Rp 40.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$169 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.89

13.78

-35.49%

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

Last update for Santa Cruz: August 15, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $829 in Santa Cruz versus $1,144 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 $56.0 in Santa Cruz versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $401 vs $293 – 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: $1,745 in Santa Cruz, $1,379 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 26% apart. Santa Cruz costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,617 per month in Santa Cruz and $2,069 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 $1,745 in Santa Cruz and $1,379 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $1,010 per month in Santa Cruz and $489 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 $1,379, than in Santa Cruz at $1,745. 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 $1,379 in Ubud, Bali to $1,745 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.