🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,345 in Santarem versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,104 in Santarem versus $2,327 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,864 in Santarem versus $3,275 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Santarem costs roughly 2% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Santarem is 2% below, Ubud, Bali is 0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santarem
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.92€11.13
$3.33Rp 58.7K
287.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.65€35.04
$35.82Rp 630.7K
13.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.57€8.25
$5.63Rp 99.1K
69.98%
Cappuccino
$1.85€1.59
$2.82Rp 49.7K
-34.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81€1.56
$1.75Rp 30.8K
3.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13€0.98
$0.80Rp 14.0K
41.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.39€2.06
$3.04Rp 53.6K
-21.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56€3.07
$4.30Rp 75.7K
-17.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santarem
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17€1.01
$1.61Rp 28.3K
-27.33%
White Bread(500g)
$0.44€0.38
$2.27Rp 39.9K
-80.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14€0.98
$1.17Rp 20.6K
-2.56%
Eggs
$3.42€2.95
$2.17Rp 38.2K
57.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.42€9.84
$17.63Rp 310.5K
-35.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.09€6.12
$4.05Rp 71.4K
75.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.04€12.10
$12.18Rp 214.5K
15.27%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95€2.55
$3.62Rp 63.7K
-18.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.35€1.16
$1.64Rp 28.8K
-17.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.55€2.20
$2.31Rp 40.6K
10.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30€1.98
$1.96Rp 34.5K
17.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.42€1.22
$1.84Rp 32.5K
-22.83%
Onion(1kg)
$1.65€1.43
$2.37Rp 41.7K
-30.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.14€0.99
$1.05Rp 18.5K
8.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30€0.25
$0.54Rp 9,560
-44.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.07€5.23
$2.30Rp 40.6K
163.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.14€5.29
$23.08Rp 406.4K
-73.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28€1.10
$2.34Rp 41.2K
-45.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81€3.29
$3.07Rp 54.0K
24.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Santarem
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29€1.98
$0.25Rp 4,365
816.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$58.6€50.6
$9.42Rp 165.9K
522.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.71€3.20
$0.49Rp 8,631
657.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.47Rp 8,349
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.60Rp 98.6K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.05€1.77
$0.81Rp 14.2K
153.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6K€29.8K
$25.0KRp 440.3M
38.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.0K€34.4K
$31.1KRp 547.0M
28.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santarem
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$134€116
$82.7Rp 1.5M
62.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.22€18.29
$6.49Rp 114.2K
226.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.9€50.7
$18.79Rp 330.8K
213.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santarem
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.36€33.93
$55.2Rp 972.6K
-28.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.21Rp 320.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.10€6.12
$4.30Rp 75.7K
65.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santarem
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$437€376
$494Rp 8.7M
-11.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.7K€16.9K
$5,917Rp 104.2M
232.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santarem
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$81.0€69.8
$46.28Rp 814.8K
74.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.57€34.11
$36.44Rp 641.6K
8.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109€93.9
$80.7Rp 1.4M
34.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140€120
$78.8Rp 1.4M
77.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santarem
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$673€581
$1,114Rp 19.6M
-39.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$438€378
$693Rp 12.2M
-36.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,055€909
$3,639Rp 64.1M
-71.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$817€705
$1,712Rp 30.1M
-52.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,211€1,906
$2,761Rp 48.6M
-19.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,139€982
$2,293Rp 40.4M
-50.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santarem
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,100€948
$167Rp 2.9M
558.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.76
13.78
-65.46%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Santarem: September 6, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $673 in Santarem and $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Santarem pays 558% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $41.00 in Santarem vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $233 vs $294, with Santarem 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
Santarem vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Santarem or Ubud, Bali?
Santarem wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Santarem the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Santarem or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 558% higher in Santarem, 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 Santarem compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $673 in Santarem versus $1,114 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Santarem compared to Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Santarem runs roughly 523% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Santarem and in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $437 in Santarem versus $494 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Santarem or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,345 in Santarem versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Santarem but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Santarem the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Santarem or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Santarem delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,345 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Santarem hard to pass up.
How safe is Santarem compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Santarem 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 Santarem gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.