Cost of Living Comparison Between St Thomas and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between St Thomas and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,287 per month in St Thomas vs $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $7,186 per month in St Thomas vs $2,557 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $10.1K per month in St Thomas vs $3,723 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

St Thomas costs about 208% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both St Thomas and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – St Thomas by 222%, Ubud, Bali by 5%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.20 $20.20

$3.57 Rp 64.3K

465.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$157 $157

$32.32 Rp 581.4K

387.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.86 $11.86

$5.01 Rp 90.1K

136.73%

Cappuccino

$7.15 $7.15

$2.82 Rp 50.8K

153.55%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.08 $4.08

$1.35 Rp 24.3K

202.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 $3.35

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

358.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.63 $6.63

$2.93 Rp 52.8K

126.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.84 $9.84

$3.94 Rp 70.8K

149.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.78 Rp 32.0K

44.38%

White Bread (500g)

$6.62 $6.62

$2.45 Rp 44.1K

170.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$18.57 $18.57

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

1514.78%

Eggs

$8.78 $8.78

$2.41 Rp 43.4K

264.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.19 $11.19

$14.33 Rp 257.8K

-21.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$31.79 $31.79

$4.19 Rp 75.3K

658.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$40.15 $40.15

$12.06 Rp 216.9K

232.92%

Apples (1kg)

$12.31 $12.31

$3.64 Rp 65.4K

238.19%

Banana (1kg)

$10.90 $10.90

$1.57 Rp 28.2K

594.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$12.17 $12.17

$2.79 Rp 50.1K

336.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$20.09 $20.09

$2.24 Rp 40.3K

796.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.98 Rp 35.6K

-1.52%

Onion (1kg)

$8.57 $8.57

$2.28 Rp 41.0K

275.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$7.94 $7.94

$1.05 Rp 19.0K

656.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$6.02 $6.02

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

662.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.19 Rp 57.4K

Wine (Bottle)

$25.27 $25.27

$23.49 Rp 422.6K

7.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 52.1K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.12 $6.12

$2.76 Rp 49.6K

121.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$0.27 Rp 4,796

629.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.6 $59.6

$8.37 Rp 150.5K

611.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$20.34 $20.34

$0.45 Rp 8,138

4420.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.08 $3.08

$0.46 Rp 8,269

569.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 Rp 109.2K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 $1.35

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

56.98%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$55.0K $55.0K

$26.6K Rp 478.3M

106.72%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$37.9K $37.9K

$32.5K Rp 585.6M

16.42%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$384 $384

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

385.62%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$100 $100

$4.09 Rp 73.6K

2346.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$130 $130

$23.85 Rp 429.0K

445.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$127 $127

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

28.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 114.3K

Cinema Ticket

$12.02 $12.02

$4.01 Rp 72.1K

199.75%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,501 $1,501

$297 Rp 5.3M

404.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.7K $21.7K

$6,602 Rp 118.8M

228.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$117 $117

$53.4 Rp 961.1K

118.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$147 $147

$38.11 Rp 685.7K

285.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$203 $203

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

128.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 $153

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

99.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,469 $1,469

$1,020 Rp 18.3M

44.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,788 $1,788

$680 Rp 12.2M

162.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,214 $3,214

$3,469 Rp 62.4M

-7.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,259 $4,259

$2,090 Rp 37.6M

103.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,873 $4,873

$2,729 Rp 49.1M

78.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$10.6K $10.6K

$2,295 Rp 41.3M

362.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,736 $2,736

$164 Rp 2.9M

1571.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.45

13.28

-28.84%

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

Last update for St Thomas: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,469 in St Thomas versus $1,020 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 1571% higher in St Thomas, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $157 in St Thomas versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $980 vs $298 – making Ubud, Bali 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

St Thomas vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $4,287 in St Thomas, $1,392 in Ubud, Bali – roughly 208% apart. St Thomas costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,431 per month in St Thomas and $2,088 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 612% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,501 per month in St Thomas and $297 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,392, than in St Thomas at $4,287. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in St Thomas it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. St Thomas has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,392 in Ubud, Bali to $4,287 in St Thomas. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, St Thomas makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.