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 $1,319 per month in Santa Cruz vs $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,032 per month in Santa Cruz vs $2,327 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,745 per month in Santa Cruz vs $3,275 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Santa Cruz is about 4% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Santa Cruz sits 4% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.51 JMD 1,180

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

125.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.6 JMD 9,839

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

74.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.53 JMD 1,025

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

15.99%

Cappuccino

$5.37 JMD 844

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

90.43%

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

$1.25 JMD 196

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

-28.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 JMD 107

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

-15.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.26 JMD 355

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

-25.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 JMD 490

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

-27.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$4.21 JMD 661

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

161.49%

White Bread (500g)

$2.53 JMD 397

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

11.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.62 JMD 254

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

38.46%

Eggs

$3.53 JMD 554

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

62.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.47 JMD 1,802

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

-34.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.35 JMD 998

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

56.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.43 JMD 1,638

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

-14.37%

Apples (1kg)

$5.98 JMD 939

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

65.19%

Banana (1kg)

$3.93 JMD 618

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

139.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$7.46 JMD 1,171

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

222.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.98 JMD 469

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

52.04%

Potato (1kg)

$3.22 JMD 506

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

75.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.61 JMD 411

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

10.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.15 JMD 495

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

200.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 JMD 226

$0.54 Rp 9,560

166.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.61 JMD 1,510

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

317.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.48 JMD 1,803

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

-50.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.95 JMD 463

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

26.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.95 JMD 620

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

28.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,365

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 JMD 187

$0.49 Rp 8,631

142.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.07 JMD 482

$0.47 Rp 8,349

553.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.42 JMD 1,009

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

14.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 JMD 217

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

70.37%

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

$44.5K JMD 7.0M

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

78.01%

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

$33.4K JMD 5.2M

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

7.54%

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

$178 JMD 27.9K

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

114.77%

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

$28.99 JMD 4,554

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

346.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.1 JMD 8,178

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

177.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.11 JMD 5,829

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

-32.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

Cinema Ticket

$13.09 JMD 2,056

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

204.42%

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

$361 JMD 56.7K

$494 Rp 8.7M

-27.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,150 JMD 1.3M

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

37.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$24.06 JMD 3,780

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

-48.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.68 JMD 4,977

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

-13.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 JMD 12.0K

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

-5.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 JMD 16.4K

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

32.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 JMD 49.2K

$693 Rp 12.2M

-54.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$504 JMD 79.2K

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

-70.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$409 JMD 64.3K

$167 Rp 2.9M

144.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.45

13.78

-31.42%

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

Last update for Santa Cruz: September 7, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 145% 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 $63.0 in Santa Cruz versus $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $374 vs $294 – 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 4%, 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 $1,978 per month in Santa Cruz and $2,067 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 $1,319 in Santa Cruz and $1,378 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $361 per month in Santa Cruz and $494 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 $1,319, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,378. 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.