Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Monica, CA and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Santa Monica, CA and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,500 per month in Santa Monica, CA vs $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,801 per month in Santa Monica, CA vs $2,334 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $9,103 per month in Santa Monica, CA vs $3,273 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Santa Monica, CA costs about 222% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Santa Monica, CA and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Santa Monica, CA by 228%, Ubud, Bali by 2%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.93 $29.93

$3.37 Rp 59.9K

788.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$118 $118

$38.59 Rp 685.5K

206.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$13.99 $13.99

$5.52 Rp 98.1K

153.44%

Cappuccino

$5.70 $5.70

$2.64 Rp 47.0K

115.91%

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

$3.45 $3.45

$1.67 Rp 29.7K

106.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 $2.76

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

258.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.82 $7.82

$2.63 Rp 46.8K

197.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.97 $9.97

$4.28 Rp 76.1K

132.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 $1.33

$1.55 Rp 27.5K

-14.19%

White Bread (500g)

$5.05 $5.05

$2.22 Rp 39.5K

127.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.92 $4.92

$1.13 Rp 20.0K

335.40%

Eggs

$6.00 $6.00

$2.09 Rp 37.1K

187.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.98 $16.98

$17.39 Rp 309.0K

-2.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.02 $14.02

$3.87 Rp 68.7K

262.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.12 $20.12

$12.55 Rp 222.9K

60.32%

Apples (1kg)

$4.54 $4.54

$3.62 Rp 64.2K

25.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.90 $1.90

$1.56 Rp 27.7K

21.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.55 $4.55

$2.35 Rp 41.8K

93.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.81 $5.81

$2.06 Rp 36.5K

182.04%

Potato (1kg)

$3.28 $3.28

$1.90 Rp 33.7K

72.63%

Onion (1kg)

$2.71 $2.71

$2.34 Rp 41.5K

15.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.17 $2.17

$1.03 Rp 18.3K

110.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.14 $2.14

$0.55 Rp 9,854

289.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.80 $11.80

$2.25 Rp 40.0K

424.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.79 $16.79

$23.81 Rp 422.9K

-29.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.31 Rp 41.1K

-6.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 $2.96

$2.80 Rp 49.8K

5.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.52 $2.52

$0.27 Rp 4,839

833.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$66.8 $66.8

$8.66 Rp 153.9K

671.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.93 $2.93

$0.48 Rp 8,554

510.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 $1.82

$0.45 Rp 7,924

304.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.96 $27.96

$5.72 Rp 101.6K

388.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.76 Rp 13.5K

92.11%

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

$36.5K $36.5K

$24.5K Rp 434.9M

49.24%

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

$26.2K $26.2K

$32.1K Rp 570.6M

-18.36%

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

$256 $256

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

205.88%

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

$74.4 $74.4

$6.46 Rp 114.7K

1051.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.0 $78.0

$18.99 Rp 337.4K

310.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.3 $73.3

$56.0 Rp 994.4K

30.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.21 $44.21

$18.62 Rp 330.7K

137.43%

Cinema Ticket

$19.87 $19.87

$4.28 Rp 76.1K

364.25%

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

$1,926 $1,926

$487 Rp 8.6M

295.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.7K $32.7K

$5,856 Rp 104.0M

458.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.1 $89.1

$45.56 Rp 809.3K

95.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.7 $56.7

$36.38 Rp 646.3K

55.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 $115

$82.0 Rp 1.5M

40.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$145 $145

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

79.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,423 $3,423

$1,117 Rp 19.8M

206.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,874 $2,874

$701 Rp 12.5M

309.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,931 $5,931

$3,537 Rp 62.8M

67.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,992 $4,992

$1,762 Rp 31.3M

183.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$10.7K $10.7K

$2,826 Rp 50.2M

278.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$8,198 $8,198

$2,292 Rp 40.7M

257.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,139 $7,139

$170 Rp 3.0M

4104.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.42

13.78

-53.41%

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

Last update for Santa Monica, CA: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,423 in Santa Monica, CA versus $1,117 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 4105% higher in Santa Monica, CA, 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 $118 in Santa Monica, CA versus $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $470 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 Monica, CA vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Santa Monica, CA is pricier by about 222%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,750 per month in Santa Monica, CA and $2,095 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.

Kindergarten costs $1,926 per month in Santa Monica, CA and $487 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 61% more in Santa Monica, CA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,396, than in Santa Monica, CA at $4,500. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santa Monica, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ubud, Bali – 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 Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santa Monica, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.