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: $1,533 in Santarem versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,042 in Santarem versus $2,557 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,550 in Santarem versus $3,723 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Santarem is roughly 10% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Santarem 15% above, Ubud, Bali 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Santarem
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.69 €11.94
$3.57 Rp 64.6K
283.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.78 €35.55
$32.32 Rp 584.4K
26.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.52 €7.43
$5.01 Rp 90.5K
70.06%
Cappuccino
$1.66 €1.44
$2.82 Rp 51.1K
-41.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 €1.13
$1.35 Rp 24.4K
-4.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40 €1.22
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
91.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.28 €1.99
$2.93 Rp 53.0K
-22.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 €2.98
$3.94 Rp 71.2K
-13.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Santarem
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 €0.94
$1.78 Rp 32.2K
-39.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.48 €0.42
$2.45 Rp 44.3K
-80.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 €1.02
$1.15 Rp 20.8K
2.61%
Eggs
$3.15 €2.75
$2.41 Rp 43.7K
30.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.99 €9.58
$14.33 Rp 259.1K
-23.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.50 €6.54
$4.19 Rp 75.7K
79.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.67 €11.92
$12.06 Rp 218.1K
13.35%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 €2.27
$3.64 Rp 65.8K
-28.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.36 €1.19
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
-13.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 €1.86
$2.79 Rp 50.4K
-23.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 €1.98
$2.24 Rp 40.5K
1.34%
Potato (1kg)
$1.42 €1.24
$1.98 Rp 35.8K
-28.28%
Onion (1kg)
$1.60 €1.40
$2.28 Rp 41.2K
-29.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.88 €0.77
$1.05 Rp 19.1K
-16.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33 €0.28
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
-58.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.13 €5.35
$3.19 Rp 57.7K
92.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.84 €5.09
$23.49 Rp 424.8K
-75.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 €1.14
$2.90 Rp 52.4K
-54.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 €3.20
$2.76 Rp 49.8K
33.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Santarem
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.26 €1.97
$0.27 Rp 4,821
737.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.50 €36.18
$8.37 Rp 151.3K
395.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.70 €3.22
$0.45 Rp 8,180
722.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.31 €1.14
$0.46 Rp 8,311
184.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.03 €14.85
$6.07 Rp 109.7K
180.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.99 €1.74
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
131.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K €29.8K
$26.6K Rp 480.7M
28.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7K €33.8K
$32.5K Rp 588.6M
19.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Santarem
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.3 €73.5
$79.0 Rp 1.4M
6.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.68 €18.90
$4.09 Rp 74.0K
430.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.24 €42.92
$23.85 Rp 431.2K
106.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Santarem
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.50 €34.44
$98.8 Rp 1.8M
-60.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.35 Rp 114.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.07 €6.16
$4.01 Rp 72.5K
76.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Santarem
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$444 €387
$297 Rp 5.4M
49.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,373 €7,300
$6,602 Rp 119.4M
26.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Santarem
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.7 €75.5
$53.4 Rp 966.0K
62.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.29 €33.39
$38.11 Rp 689.2K
0.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.3 €86.6
$88.7 Rp 1.6M
12.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.7 €80.0
$76.6 Rp 1.4M
19.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Santarem
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$935 €815
$1,020 Rp 18.4M
-8.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$743 €648
$680 Rp 12.3M
9.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,451 €1,265
$3,469 Rp 62.7M
-58.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$695 €606
$2,090 Rp 37.8M
-66.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,173 €1,895
$2,729 Rp 49.3M
-20.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,123 €979
$2,295 Rp 41.5M
-51.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Santarem
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,095 €954
$164 Rp 3.0M
568.82%
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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $935 in Santarem and $1,020 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Santarem pays 569% 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: $41.00 in Santarem vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $226 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 10% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 569% 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: $935 in Santarem versus $1,020 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 Ubud, Bali runs roughly 396% 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 in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $444 in Santarem versus $297 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 $1,392 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,533 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 $1,392 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 10% less than in Santarem. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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