Cost of Living Comparison Between Santarem and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Santarem and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,550 in Santarem versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,032 in Santarem versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,513 in Santarem versus $3,732 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Santarem is roughly 8% more expensive than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Santarem 16% above, Ubud, Bali 7% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santarem
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.09 €12.06
$3.57 Rp 61.9K
294.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.98 €34.22
$32.58 Rp 564.7K
22.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.49 €7.27
$5.07 Rp 87.8K
67.46%
Cappuccino
$1.66 €1.42
$2.83 Rp 49.0K
-41.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.24 €1.07
$1.34 Rp 23.2K
-7.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 €1.17
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
98.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.38 €2.04
$2.99 Rp 51.8K
-20.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51 €3.00
$3.85 Rp 66.7K
-8.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santarem
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.03 €0.89
$1.74 Rp 30.2K
-40.80%
White Bread (500g)
$0.48 €0.41
$2.54 Rp 44.0K
-81.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.12 €0.96
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
-5.88%
Eggs
$3.21 €2.75
$2.43 Rp 42.0K
32.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.98 €9.40
$14.66 Rp 254.1K
-25.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.76 €6.65
$4.18 Rp 72.4K
85.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.75 €11.77
$11.94 Rp 206.9K
15.16%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 €2.24
$3.69 Rp 63.9K
-29.27%
Banana (1kg)
$1.36 €1.17
$1.61 Rp 27.8K
-15.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 €1.87
$2.69 Rp 46.5K
-18.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 €1.93
$2.33 Rp 40.4K
-3.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.48 €1.27
$1.91 Rp 33.0K
-22.51%
Onion (1kg)
$1.61 €1.38
$2.19 Rp 37.9K
-26.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.86 €0.73
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
-18.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32 €0.28
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
-55.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.84 €5.00
$3.13 Rp 54.3K
86.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.01 €5.14
$23.49 Rp 407.1K
-74.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 €1.12
$2.74 Rp 47.5K
-52.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 €3.19
$2.88 Rp 49.9K
29.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Santarem
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.95
$0.29 Rp 5,029
686.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.87 €35.84
$8.17 Rp 141.6K
412.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.69 €3.16
$0.45 Rp 7,863
720.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.38 €1.18
$0.42 Rp 7,305
228.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.30 €14.81
$6.16 Rp 106.7K
180.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.89 €1.61
$0.84 Rp 14.6K
125.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K €30.0K
$26.2K Rp 454.9M
33.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.9K €34.2K
$32.5K Rp 562.9M
22.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santarem
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.1 €73.7
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
9.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.49 €18.40
$3.95 Rp 68.5K
444.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.71 €42.55
$24.40 Rp 423.0K
103.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santarem
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.23 €32.73
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
-60.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.35 Rp 110.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.76 €5.79
$4.04 Rp 70.0K
67.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santarem
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$437 €374
$303 Rp 5.2M
44.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,188 €7,009
$6,523 Rp 113.1M
25.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santarem
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.8 €75.1
$53.8 Rp 933.1K
63.04%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.40 €32.87
$37.98 Rp 658.3K
1.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.0 €84.7
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
14.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.0 €77.9
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
15.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santarem
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$938 €803
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
-7.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$726 €622
$674 Rp 11.7M
7.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,470 €1,258
$3,390 Rp 58.8M
-56.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$702 €601
$2,098 Rp 36.4M
-66.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,972 €1,688
$2,985 Rp 51.7M
-33.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,165 €998
$2,339 Rp 40.5M
-50.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santarem
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,109 €950
$173 Rp 3.0M
540.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.32
13.28
-59.94%

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

Last update for Santarem: April 26, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $938 in Santarem and $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Santarem pays 541% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $40.00 in Santarem vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $228 vs $298, 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?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Santarem. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Santarem or Ubud, Bali?
Santarem pays 541% 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 Santarem vs Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $938 in Santarem versus $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Santarem vs Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 412% less than in Santarem. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Santarem and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $437 in Santarem versus $303 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 Ubud, Bali?
At $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,550 in Santarem, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Santarem. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali 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 Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,438 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali 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 Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Santarem. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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