🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,386 in Santa Tecla versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,013 in Santa Tecla versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,639 in Santa Tecla versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Santa Tecla costs roughly 1% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Santa Tecla1% above, Ubud, Bali2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Tecla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.16$7.16
$3.37Rp 59.7K
112.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.78$43.78
$38.59Rp 682.4K
13.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.87$6.87
$5.52Rp 97.6K
24.46%
Cappuccino
$3.51$3.51
$2.64Rp 46.8K
32.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15$1.15
$1.67Rp 29.6K
-31.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87$0.87
$0.77Rp 13.6K
12.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.97$1.97
$2.63Rp 46.6K
-25.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60$3.60
$4.28Rp 75.7K
-15.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Tecla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67$1.67
$1.55Rp 27.3K
7.74%
White Bread(500g)
$2.25$2.25
$2.22Rp 39.3K
1.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.37$1.37
$1.13Rp 19.9K
21.24%
Eggs
$2.27$2.27
$2.09Rp 36.9K
8.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.65$7.65
$17.39Rp 307.6K
-56.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.36$5.36
$3.87Rp 68.4K
38.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.22$10.22
$12.55Rp 221.9K
-18.57%
Apples(1kg)
$3.17$3.17
$3.62Rp 63.9K
-12.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.54$1.54
$1.56Rp 27.6K
-1.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.89$2.89
$2.35Rp 41.6K
22.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.91$2.91
$2.06Rp 36.4K
41.26%
Potato(1kg)
$2.43$2.43
$1.90Rp 33.6K
27.89%
Onion(1kg)
$2.43$2.43
$2.34Rp 41.3K
3.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04$1.04
$1.03Rp 18.2K
0.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.97$0.97
$0.55Rp 9,809
76.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99$3.99
$2.25Rp 39.8K
77.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.15$12.15
$23.81Rp 421.0K
-48.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18$2.18
$2.31Rp 40.9K
-5.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87$2.87
$2.80Rp 49.5K
2.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Tecla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.27Rp 4,816
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.66Rp 153.2K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.09$6.09
$0.48Rp 8,515
1168.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.94$2.94
$0.45Rp 7,887
553.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.79$19.79
$5.72Rp 101.1K
245.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22$1.22
$0.76Rp 13.4K
60.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2K$25.2K
$24.5KRp 433.0M
2.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4K$27.4K
$32.1KRp 568.0M
-14.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Tecla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$130$130
$83.6Rp 1.5M
55.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.56$21.56
$6.46Rp 114.2K
233.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.03$43.03
$18.99Rp 335.9K
126.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Tecla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.54$24.54
$56.0Rp 989.8K
-56.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.62Rp 329.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.10$5.10
$4.28Rp 75.7K
19.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Tecla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$164$164
$487Rp 8.6M
-66.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,762$4,762
$5,856Rp 103.6M
-18.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Tecla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.4$66.4
$45.56Rp 805.6K
45.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.83$46.83
$36.38Rp 643.3K
28.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121$121
$82.0Rp 1.4M
47.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117$117
$80.4Rp 1.4M
46.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Tecla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$763$763
$1,117Rp 19.7M
-31.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$586$586
$701Rp 12.4M
-16.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,224$1,224
$3,537Rp 62.5M
-65.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$903$903
$1,762Rp 31.2M
-48.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,826Rp 50.0M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,292Rp 40.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Tecla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$414$414
$170Rp 3.0M
143.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.5
13.78
-38.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Santa Tecla: August 31, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $763 in Santa Tecla and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Santa Tecla pays 144% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $44.00 in Santa Tecla vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $254 vs $293, with Santa Tecla cheaper for home cooking.
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 Tecla vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Santa Tecla or Ubud, Bali?
Santa Tecla wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Santa Tecla the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Santa Tecla or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 144% higher in Santa Tecla, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Santa Tecla compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $763 in Santa Tecla versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Santa Tecla or in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Santa Tecla compared to Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $1,386 per month in Santa Tecla versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Santa Tecla or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,386 in Santa Tecla versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Santa Tecla but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Santa Tecla the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Santa Tecla or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Santa Tecla delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,386 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Santa Tecla hard to pass up.
How safe is Santa Tecla compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Santa Tecla and Ubud, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Santa Tecla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Santa Tecla vs other spots: cost of living compared