Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Lucia and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Lucia and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,276 per month in Santa Lucia vs $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,800 per month in Santa Lucia vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,324 per month in Santa Lucia vs $3,732 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Santa Lucia is about 11% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Santa Lucia sits 5% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.84 CUP 236

$3.57 Rp 61.6K

175.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.90 CUP 718

$32.58 Rp 562.6K

-8.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 CUP 173

$5.07 Rp 87.5K

42.01%

Cappuccino

$3.29 CUP 78.9

$2.83 Rp 48.8K

16.25%

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

$1.08 CUP 26.02

$1.34 Rp 23.1K

-19.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 CUP 20.97

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

26.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.97 CUP 47.35

$2.99 Rp 51.6K

-34.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 CUP 73.2

$3.85 Rp 66.4K

-20.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.99 CUP 47.83

$1.74 Rp 30.1K

14.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.81 CUP 43.38

$2.54 Rp 43.8K

-28.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.52 CUP 36.57

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

27.73%

Eggs

$3.56 CUP 85.5

$2.43 Rp 41.9K

46.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.21 CUP 149

$14.66 Rp 253.2K

-57.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.72 CUP 137

$4.18 Rp 72.1K

36.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.80 CUP 259

$11.94 Rp 206.1K

-9.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 CUP 66.3

$3.69 Rp 63.6K

-25.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 CUP 36.46

$1.61 Rp 27.7K

-5.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 CUP 49.88

$2.69 Rp 46.4K

-22.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.31 CUP 55.5

$2.33 Rp 40.2K

-0.86%

Potato (1kg)

$2.03 CUP 48.79

$1.91 Rp 32.9K

6.28%

Onion (1kg)

$1.71 CUP 41.15

$2.19 Rp 37.7K

-21.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 CUP 24.25

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

-4.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 CUP 23.69

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

37.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.96 CUP 95.0

$3.13 Rp 54.1K

26.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.94 CUP 287

$23.49 Rp 405.6K

-49.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 CUP 39.35

$2.74 Rp 47.3K

-40.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 CUP 57.4

$2.88 Rp 49.7K

-17.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 CUP 5.33

$0.29 Rp 5,010

-24.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$25.27 CUP 606

$8.17 Rp 141.0K

209.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 CUP 78.3

$0.45 Rp 7,834

624.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 CUP 9.17

$0.42 Rp 7,278

-9.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.20 CUP 365

$6.16 Rp 106.3K

146.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 CUP 25.80

$0.84 Rp 14.5K

27.38%

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

$71.3K CUP 1.7M

$26.2K Rp 453.1M

171.53%

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

$81.4K CUP 2.0M

$32.5K Rp 560.8M

150.68%

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

$35.39 CUP 849

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

-54.87%

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

$14.82 CUP 356

$3.95 Rp 68.2K

275.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$247 CUP 5,930

$24.40 Rp 421.4K

912.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.37 CUP 945

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

-59.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.01 CUP 360

$6.35 Rp 109.6K

136.38%

Cinema Ticket

$0.98 CUP 23.40

$4.04 Rp 69.7K

-75.74%

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

$162 CUP 3,888

$303 Rp 5.2M

-46.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,930 CUP 94.3K

$6,523 Rp 112.6M

-39.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.4 CUP 1,690

$53.8 Rp 929.5K

30.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.5 CUP 1,331

$37.98 Rp 655.8K

46.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.2 CUP 2,358

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

13.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 CUP 2,554

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

34.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$554 CUP 13.3K

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

-45.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 CUP 8,341

$674 Rp 11.6M

-48.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$746 CUP 17.9K

$3,390 Rp 58.5M

-77.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$499 CUP 12.0K

$2,098 Rp 36.2M

-76.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$344 CUP 8,264

$2,985 Rp 51.5M

-88.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$369 CUP 8,859

$2,339 Rp 40.4M

-84.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$56.9 CUP 1,366

$173 Rp 3.0M

-67.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.94

13.28

-62.80%

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

Last update for Santa Lucia: April 28, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $554 in Santa Lucia versus $1,012 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 204% higher in Ubud, Bali, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Santa Lucia versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $298 – making Santa Lucia the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Santa Lucia vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,913 per month in Santa Lucia and $2,158 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 Lucia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 23% 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 $30.00 in Santa Lucia and $33.00 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 Lucia, where all-in costs run around $1,276, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. In Santa Lucia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Santa Lucia – 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 Lucia. 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.