🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,375 in Santa Tecla versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,962 in Santa Tecla versus $2,540 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,548 in Santa Tecla versus $3,660 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Santa Tecla costs roughly 3% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Santa Tecla3% above, Ubud, Bali6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santa Tecla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.81$7.81
$3.56Rp 63.7K
119.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.13$35.13
$32.73Rp 584.5K
7.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09$7.09
$4.95Rp 88.4K
43.23%
Cappuccino
$3.31$3.31
$2.71Rp 48.4K
22.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09$1.09
$1.34Rp 24.0K
-18.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90$0.90
$0.70Rp 12.5K
28.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.04$2.04
$2.92Rp 52.1K
-30.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92$2.92
$3.96Rp 70.7K
-26.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santa Tecla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.76$1.76
$1.81Rp 32.3K
-2.76%
White Bread(500g)
$2.05$2.05
$2.52Rp 45.0K
-18.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55$1.55
$1.16Rp 20.7K
33.62%
Eggs
$2.38$2.38
$2.46Rp 43.9K
-3.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.94$6.94
$14.71Rp 262.7K
-52.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.62$5.62
$4.32Rp 77.1K
30.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.80$10.80
$12.14Rp 216.7K
-11.04%
Apples(1kg)
$3.09$3.09
$3.84Rp 68.6K
-19.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66$1.66
$1.56Rp 27.8K
6.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.62$2.62
$2.83Rp 50.6K
-7.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.62$2.62
$2.33Rp 41.5K
12.45%
Potato(1kg)
$2.26$2.26
$1.91Rp 34.2K
18.32%
Onion(1kg)
$2.13$2.13
$2.20Rp 39.3K
-3.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.00$1.00
$1.01Rp 18.1K
-0.99%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07$1.07
$0.78Rp 13.8K
37.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06$4.06
$3.32Rp 59.2K
22.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.21$11.21
$23.74Rp 423.9K
-52.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71$1.71
$2.79Rp 49.8K
-38.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53$2.53
$2.86Rp 51.1K
-11.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Santa Tecla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.27Rp 4,800
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$8.03Rp 143.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.44$5.44
$0.46Rp 8,150
1082.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.00$3.00
$0.45Rp 8,037
566.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.18$20.18
$6.10Rp 108.9K
230.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.98$0.98
$0.79Rp 14.2K
24.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.9K$25.9K
$26.1KRp 467.0M
-0.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.5K$28.5K
$32.1KRp 573.6M
-11.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santa Tecla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103$103
$79.9Rp 1.4M
28.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.19$19.19
$4.06Rp 72.6K
372.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.32$42.32
$23.52Rp 420.0K
79.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santa Tecla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.70$24.70
$98.7Rp 1.8M
-74.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.63Rp 118.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.11$5.11
$4.15Rp 74.1K
23.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santa Tecla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$147$147
$304Rp 5.4M
-51.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,045$6,045
$6,613Rp 118.1M
-8.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santa Tecla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.0$67.0
$55.5Rp 991.8K
20.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.92$43.92
$38.31Rp 684.1K
14.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114$114
$88.6Rp 1.6M
28.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106$106
$77.9Rp 1.4M
36.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santa Tecla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$786$786
$1,006Rp 18.0M
-21.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$606$606
$675Rp 12.1M
-10.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,210$1,210
$3,442Rp 61.5M
-64.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$913$913
$2,039Rp 36.4M
-55.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,841Rp 50.7M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,264Rp 40.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santa Tecla
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$413$413
$165Rp 3.0M
149.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.58
13.28
-35.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Santa Tecla: May 30, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $786 in Santa Tecla and $1,006 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Santa Tecla pays 150% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in Santa Tecla vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $248 vs $302, 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 3% 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 Ubud, Bali?
Santa Tecla pays 150% more on average, 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 vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $786 in Santa Tecla versus $1,006 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 Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 22% 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 $1,375 per month in Santa Tecla versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali – a 3% 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 Ubud, Bali?
At $1,375 in Santa Tecla versus $1,419 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 $1,375 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 3% 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