Cost of Living Comparison Between Sao Joao da Boa Vista and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Sao Joao da Boa Vista and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $805 per month in Sao Joao da Boa Vista vs $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,251 per month in Sao Joao da Boa Vista vs $2,549 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,697 per month in Sao Joao da Boa Vista vs $3,694 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Sao Joao da Boa Vista is about 43% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Sao Joao da Boa Vista sits 40% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sao Joao da Boa Vista
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.41 R$27.41
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
51.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.65 R$135
$32.50 Rp 582.3K
-18.00%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.67 R$28.72
$4.86 Rp 87.1K
16.67%
Cappuccino
$2.08 R$10.51
$2.75 Rp 49.2K
-24.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20 R$6.06
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
-9.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93 R$4.69
$0.70 Rp 12.6K
32.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.13 R$10.78
$2.91 Rp 52.2K
-26.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64 R$13.38
$3.79 Rp 68.0K
-30.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sao Joao da Boa Vista
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.92 R$4.63
$1.71 Rp 30.6K
-46.20%
White Bread (500g)
$1.58 R$8.00
$2.47 Rp 44.3K
-36.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.33 R$6.71
$1.20 Rp 21.5K
10.83%
Eggs
$2.91 R$14.72
$2.44 Rp 43.8K
19.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.36 R$62.6
$14.38 Rp 257.7K
-14.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.10 R$20.75
$4.31 Rp 77.1K
-4.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.02 R$45.67
$12.21 Rp 218.7K
-26.13%
Apples (1kg)
$1.67 R$8.47
$3.68 Rp 66.0K
-54.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.20 R$6.06
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
-22.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.11 R$10.69
$2.79 Rp 49.9K
-24.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.74 R$8.80
$2.33 Rp 41.8K
-25.32%
Potato (1kg)
$1.26 R$6.40
$1.97 Rp 35.3K
-36.04%
Onion (1kg)
$1.29 R$6.53
$2.31 Rp 41.4K
-44.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 R$5.47
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
1.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47 R$2.39
$0.73 Rp 13.1K
-35.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.12 R$10.73
$3.28 Rp 58.8K
-35.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.72 R$28.95
$22.79 Rp 408.4K
-74.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 R$6.89
$2.81 Rp 50.3K
-51.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 R$10.53
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
-25.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Sao Joao da Boa Vista
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 R$4.37
$0.29 Rp 5,217
196.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.95 R$197
$8.06 Rp 144.4K
383.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.28 R$6.49
$0.45 Rp 8,047
184.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 R$5.11
$0.45 Rp 8,094
124.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.35 R$32.13
$6.24 Rp 111.7K
1.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.78 R$3.94
$0.85 Rp 15.2K
-8.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K R$106.4K
$26.0K Rp 465.4M
-19.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4K R$143.8K
$31.7K Rp 567.2M
-10.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sao Joao da Boa Vista
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$87.8 R$445
$80.8 Rp 1.4M
8.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.03 R$60.9
$4.06 Rp 72.7K
196.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.85 R$90.4
$24.42 Rp 437.6K
-26.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sao Joao da Boa Vista
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.96 R$116
$97.7 Rp 1.7M
-76.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.65 R$110
$6.45 Rp 115.5K
235.66%
Cinema Ticket
$4.59 R$23.26
$4.04 Rp 72.4K
13.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sao Joao da Boa Vista
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$283 R$1,434
$304 Rp 5.4M
-6.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,051 R$40.8K
$6,621 Rp 118.6M
21.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sao Joao da Boa Vista
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.60 R$236
$54.2 Rp 971.7K
-14.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.27 R$199
$38.78 Rp 694.7K
1.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$39.90 R$202
$86.1 Rp 1.5M
-53.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.75 R$211
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
-45.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sao Joao da Boa Vista
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$316 R$1,598
$986 Rp 17.7M
-67.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$219 R$1,110
$658 Rp 11.8M
-66.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$586 R$2,968
$3,369 Rp 60.4M
-82.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$426 R$2,155
$2,066 Rp 37.0M
-79.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,425 R$7,217
$2,741 Rp 49.1M
-48.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$977 R$4,945
$2,228 Rp 39.9M
-56.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sao Joao da Boa Vista
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$646 R$3,271
$163 Rp 2.9M
295.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12
13.28
-9.64%

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

Last update for Sao Joao da Boa Vista: June 6, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $316 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista versus $986 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 295% higher in Sao Joao da Boa Vista, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $198 vs $297 – making Sao Joao da Boa Vista the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Sao Joao da Boa Vista vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Sao Joao da Boa Vista?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 74%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,208 per month in Sao Joao da Boa Vista and $2,106 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sao Joao da Boa Vista, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $283 per month in Sao Joao da Boa Vista and $304 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Sao Joao da Boa Vista and Ubud, Bali?
Groceries cost about 50% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Sao Joao da Boa Vista or Ubud, Bali?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sao Joao da Boa Vista, where all-in costs run around $805, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. In Sao Joao da Boa Vista it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sao Joao da Boa Vista or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sao Joao da Boa Vista – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Sao Joao da Boa Vista or Ubud, Bali?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Sao Joao da Boa Vista. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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