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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $676 per month in Santa Maria vs $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,082 per month in Santa Maria vs $2,540 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,488 per month in Santa Maria vs $3,660 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Santa Maria is about 52% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Santa Maria sits 50% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Maria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.41 R$22.32
$3.56 Rp 63.9K
23.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.70 R$135
$32.73 Rp 586.8K
-18.42%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.39 R$32.32
$4.95 Rp 88.7K
29.09%
Cappuccino
$1.36 R$6.88
$2.71 Rp 48.6K
-49.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 R$4.78
$1.34 Rp 24.1K
-29.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 R$2.99
$0.70 Rp 12.5K
-15.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.45 R$7.35
$2.92 Rp 52.3K
-50.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55 R$17.97
$3.96 Rp 70.9K
-10.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Maria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.83 R$4.21
$1.81 Rp 32.4K
-54.14%
White Bread (500g)
$1.38 R$6.97
$2.52 Rp 45.1K
-45.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.06 R$5.35
$1.16 Rp 20.8K
-8.62%
Eggs
$1.50 R$7.60
$2.46 Rp 44.1K
-39.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.47 R$42.85
$14.71 Rp 263.7K
-42.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.58 R$18.14
$4.32 Rp 77.4K
-17.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.62 R$38.53
$12.14 Rp 217.5K
-37.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.08 R$10.51
$3.84 Rp 68.8K
-45.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 R$6.37
$1.56 Rp 27.9K
-19.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.31 R$6.65
$2.83 Rp 50.8K
-53.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.47 R$7.43
$2.33 Rp 41.7K
-36.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.09 R$5.53
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
-42.93%
Onion (1kg)
$1.08 R$5.45
$2.20 Rp 39.5K
-50.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.77 R$3.87
$1.01 Rp 18.2K
-23.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62 R$3.12
$0.78 Rp 13.9K
-20.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.95 R$9.89
$3.32 Rp 59.4K
-41.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.74 R$39.15
$23.74 Rp 425.5K
-67.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01 R$5.11
$2.79 Rp 50.0K
-63.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 R$9.59
$2.86 Rp 51.3K
-33.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Maria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 R$4.74
$0.27 Rp 4,819
248.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.77 R$135
$8.03 Rp 143.9K
233.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.58 R$8.02
$0.46 Rp 8,181
243.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.04 R$5.26
$0.45 Rp 8,068
131.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.28 R$26.71
$6.10 Rp 109.3K
-13.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 R$5.02
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
25.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K R$116.9K
$26.1K Rp 468.8M
-11.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K R$137.1K
$32.1K Rp 575.8M
-15.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Maria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$48.41 R$245
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
-39.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.90 R$75.4
$4.06 Rp 72.9K
267.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.45 R$83.2
$23.52 Rp 421.6K
-30.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Maria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.75 R$110
$98.7 Rp 1.8M
-77.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.02 R$55.7
$6.63 Rp 118.8K
66.21%
Cinema Ticket
$5.15 R$26.03
$4.15 Rp 74.3K
24.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Maria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$142 R$716
$304 Rp 5.4M
-53.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,668 R$13.5K
$6,613 Rp 118.5M
-59.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Maria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.06 R$248
$55.5 Rp 995.6K
-11.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.92 R$197
$38.31 Rp 686.7K
1.59%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.3 R$411
$88.6 Rp 1.6M
-8.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.0 R$288
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
-26.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Maria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$272 R$1,379
$1,006 Rp 18.0M
-72.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$156 R$788
$675 Rp 12.1M
-76.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$573 R$2,901
$3,442 Rp 61.7M
-83.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$333 R$1,687
$2,039 Rp 36.6M
-83.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,954 R$9,884
$2,841 Rp 50.9M
-31.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$683 R$3,455
$2,264 Rp 40.6M
-69.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Maria
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$623 R$3,154
$165 Rp 3.0M
277.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10
13.28
-24.70%

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

Last update for Santa Maria: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $272 in Santa Maria versus $1,006 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 277% higher in Santa Maria, 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 $27.00 in Santa Maria versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $169 vs $302 – making Santa Maria 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 Maria vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Santa Maria and Ubud, Bali compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $676 in Santa Maria, $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 110% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Santa Maria compared to Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,015 per month in Santa Maria and $2,129 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Santa Maria and Ubud, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Santa Maria, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Santa Maria or Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $676 in Santa Maria and $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Santa Maria and Ubud, Bali?
Public transport costs about 233% less in Santa Maria. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Santa Maria, where all-in costs run around $676, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Santa Maria it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Santa Maria and Ubud, Bali?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $676 in Santa Maria to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Santa Maria or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Santa Maria and Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Santa Maria. 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.

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