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 $878 per month in Santa Cruz vs $1,395 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,429 per month in Santa Cruz vs $2,559 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,981 per month in Santa Cruz vs $3,724 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Santa Cruz is about 37% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Santa Cruz sits 35% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.66 JMD 1,213

$3.48 Rp 59.7K

120.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.0 JMD 9,819

$32.88 Rp 563.4K

88.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.89 JMD 1,407

$5.09 Rp 87.2K

74.66%

Cappuccino

$4.39 JMD 695

$2.75 Rp 47.1K

59.64%

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

$1.31 JMD 207

$1.38 Rp 23.7K

-5.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.76 JMD 120

$0.71 Rp 12.2K

7.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.56 JMD 405

$2.88 Rp 49.3K

-11.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 JMD 498

$3.87 Rp 66.3K

-18.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.44 JMD 703

$1.79 Rp 30.7K

148.04%

White Bread (500g)

$3.62 JMD 573

$2.45 Rp 41.9K

47.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 JMD 246

$1.21 Rp 20.7K

28.10%

Eggs

$3.48 JMD 550

$2.39 Rp 40.9K

45.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.91 JMD 1,727

$14.70 Rp 251.9K

-25.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.50 JMD 1,029

$4.24 Rp 72.7K

53.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.69 JMD 1,216

$12.08 Rp 206.9K

-36.34%

Apples (1kg)

$5.99 JMD 948

$3.66 Rp 62.8K

63.66%

Banana (1kg)

$3.15 JMD 499

$1.61 Rp 27.5K

95.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.31 JMD 682

$2.72 Rp 46.6K

58.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.96 JMD 468

$2.27 Rp 38.9K

30.40%

Potato (1kg)

$2.10 JMD 332

$1.90 Rp 32.6K

10.53%

Onion (1kg)

$2.02 JMD 320

$2.30 Rp 39.4K

-12.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.09 JMD 490

$1.02 Rp 17.4K

202.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 JMD 237

$0.78 Rp 13.3K

92.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.68 JMD 1,374

$3.24 Rp 55.6K

167.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.38 JMD 1,801

$24.06 Rp 412.3K

-52.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 JMD 455

$2.84 Rp 48.7K

1.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 JMD 510

$2.79 Rp 47.8K

15.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,606

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.24 Rp 141.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.12 JMD 177

$0.45 Rp 7,700

148.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.27 JMD 517

$0.43 Rp 7,298

660.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.12 JMD 968

$6.02 Rp 103.2K

1.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 JMD 194

$0.86 Rp 14.7K

43.02%

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

$43.5K JMD 6.9M

$26.1K Rp 446.6M

66.72%

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

$33.3K JMD 5.3M

$31.7K Rp 543.2M

5.03%

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

$161 JMD 25.5K

$78.3 Rp 1.3M

105.72%

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

$21.96 JMD 3,476

$4.00 Rp 68.5K

449.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.8 JMD 8,200

$24.35 Rp 417.3K

112.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.8 Rp 1.6M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.46 Rp 110.6K

Cinema Ticket

$12.91 JMD 2,043

$4.01 Rp 68.7K

221.95%

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

$225 JMD 35.6K

$302 Rp 5.2M

-25.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,521 JMD 398.9K

$6,545 Rp 112.2M

-61.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.24 JMD 4,153

$53.4 Rp 915.5K

-50.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.28 JMD 4,001

$38.55 Rp 660.6K

-34.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.6 JMD 11.2K

$89.1 Rp 1.5M

-20.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.9 JMD 12.2K

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

-2.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,016 Rp 17.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$672 Rp 11.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,368 Rp 57.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,108 Rp 36.1M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,001 Rp 51.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,337 Rp 40.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$401 JMD 63.4K

$178 Rp 3.0M

125.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.15

13.28

-31.10%

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

Last update for Santa Cruz: April 11, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $0 in Santa Cruz versus $1,016 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 126% 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 $62 in Santa Cruz versus $33 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $354 vs $300 – 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

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 59%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,317 per month in Santa Cruz and $2,092 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $878 in Santa Cruz and $1,395 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $225 per month in Santa Cruz and $302 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Santa Cruz, where all-in costs run around $878, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,395. 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.