Cost of Living Comparison Between St. Louis, MO and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between St. Louis, MO and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,619 in St. Louis, MO versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,763 in St. Louis, MO versus $2,582 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,907 in St. Louis, MO versus $3,757 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in St. Louis, MO is roughly 86% more expensive than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: St. Louis, MO 95% above, Ubud, Bali 5% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
St. Louis, MO
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.95 $18.95
$3.42 Rp 58.7K
454.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.9 $75.9
$32.96 Rp 566.5K
130.25%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.83 $10.83
$5.08 Rp 87.3K
113.19%
Cappuccino
$5.06 $5.06
$2.82 Rp 48.5K
79.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$1.37 Rp 23.5K
82.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 $1.97
$0.71 Rp 12.2K
177.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.14 $6.14
$2.97 Rp 51.0K
106.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.21 $7.21
$3.91 Rp 67.2K
84.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
St. Louis, MO
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.00 $1.00
$1.75 Rp 30.0K
-42.86%
White Bread (500g)
$3.57 $3.57
$2.52 Rp 43.2K
41.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.28 $4.28
$1.21 Rp 20.8K
253.72%
Eggs
$4.12 $4.12
$2.33 Rp 40.1K
76.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.30 $12.30
$14.50 Rp 249.2K
-15.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.35 $11.35
$4.36 Rp 74.9K
160.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.44 $15.44
$12.05 Rp 207.0K
28.13%
Apples (1kg)
$4.87 $4.87
$3.82 Rp 65.6K
27.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 $1.63
$1.61 Rp 27.7K
1.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.17 $4.17
$2.70 Rp 46.5K
54.44%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.64 $4.64
$2.23 Rp 38.3K
108.07%
Potato (1kg)
$2.86 $2.86
$1.90 Rp 32.6K
50.53%
Onion (1kg)
$2.78 $2.78
$2.18 Rp 37.5K
27.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.10 $2.10
$1.03 Rp 17.7K
103.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.15 $2.15
$0.77 Rp 13.3K
179.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.51 $9.51
$3.18 Rp 54.7K
199.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.08 $14.08
$23.23 Rp 399.2K
-39.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 $1.77
$2.85 Rp 48.9K
-37.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.37 $3.37
$2.72 Rp 46.7K
23.90%
🚌 Getting Around
St. Louis, MO
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.98 $1.98
$0.29 Rp 5,022
582.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.43 Rp 144.8K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.55 $3.55
$0.49 Rp 8,344
624.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
$0.45 Rp 7,812
266.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.96 $28.96
$6.28 Rp 107.8K
361.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$0.85 Rp 14.6K
7.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K $29.3K
$26.1K Rp 447.8M
12.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$31.5K Rp 541.8M
-17.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
St. Louis, MO
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$190 $190
$79.8 Rp 1.4M
138.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.3 $52.3
$4.09 Rp 70.3K
1178.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.1 $67.1
$24.06 Rp 413.6K
178.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
St. Louis, MO
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.27 $43.27
$96.2 Rp 1.7M
-55.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.53 Rp 112.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.63 $13.63
$4.13 Rp 71.1K
230.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
St. Louis, MO
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,304 $1,304
$297 Rp 5.1M
339.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.3K $23.3K
$6,661 Rp 114.5M
249.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
St. Louis, MO
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.4 $51.4
$55.0 Rp 944.5K
-6.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.83 $39.83
$38.75 Rp 666.0K
2.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.7 $85.7
$89.6 Rp 1.5M
-4.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110 $110
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
39.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
St. Louis, MO
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,603 $1,603
$1,018 Rp 17.5M
57.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,376 $1,376
$660 Rp 11.3M
108.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,604 $2,604
$3,435 Rp 59.0M
-24.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,264 $2,264
$2,053 Rp 35.3M
10.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,745 $2,745
$2,981 Rp 51.2M
-7.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,446 $2,446
$2,368 Rp 40.7M
3.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
St. Louis, MO
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$172 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
13.28
-50.98%

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

Last update for St. Louis, MO: April 22, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,603 in St. Louis, MO and $1,018 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $76 in St. Louis, MO vs $33 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $385 vs $299 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

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
St. Louis, MO vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in St. Louis, MO and Ubud, Bali?
St. Louis, MO and Ubud, Bali differ by about 86% in total monthly costs ($2,619 vs $1,408 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in St. Louis, MO compared to Ubud, Bali?
You'd need roughly $3,928 in St. Louis, MO and $2,112 in Ubud, Bali to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in St. Louis, MO and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,603 in St. Louis, MO versus $1,018 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between St. Louis, MO and Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $1,304 in St. Louis, MO versus $297 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $76.0 in St. Louis, MO. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,619 in St. Louis, MO, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in St. Louis, MO. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between St. Louis, MO and Ubud, Bali?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is St. Louis, MO or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, St. Louis, MO 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.
Where should expats move: St. Louis, MO or Ubud, Bali?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in St. Louis, MO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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