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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,366 in Castries, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,236 in Castries, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,107 in Castries, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 4% more than Castries, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Ubud, Bali and Castries sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 6%, Castries by 2%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

$7.32 EC$19.76

-51.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

$73.9 EC$200

-55.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

$7.56 EC$20.41

-34.52%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

$3.80 EC$10.26

-28.68%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

$1.08 EC$2.92

24.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.99 EC$2.69

-29.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

$2.67 EC$7.20

9.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

$3.37 EC$9.11

17.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

$2.10 EC$5.66

-13.81%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

$1.72 EC$4.64

46.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

$1.68 EC$4.54

-30.95%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

$4.27 EC$11.54

-42.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

$11.03 EC$29.78

33.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

$9.70 EC$26.19

-55.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

$10.03 EC$27.09

21.04%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

$7.36 EC$19.87

-47.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

$1.68 EC$4.54

-7.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

$6.43 EC$17.36

-55.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

$9.01 EC$24.34

-74.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

$3.49 EC$9.43

-45.27%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

$1.76 EC$4.74

25.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

$2.11 EC$5.70

-52.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$1.07 EC$2.89

-27.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

$9.27 EC$25.02

-64.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

$11.25 EC$30.38

111.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

$2.08 EC$5.61

34.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

$4.25 EC$11.47

-32.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,800

$1.12 EC$3.03

-75.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,150

$9.11 EC$24.60

-94.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,037

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

$18.53 EC$50.0

-67.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$1.56 EC$4.22

-49.36%

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

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

$28.6K EC$77.1K

-8.43%

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

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

$26.9K EC$72.7K

19.33%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$108 EC$292

-25.98%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

$89.1 EC$241

-95.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

$44.36 EC$120

-46.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$42.96 EC$116

129.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

$6.63 EC$17.89

-37.41%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$202 EC$546

50.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

$77.5 EC$209

-28.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

$52.5 EC$142

-27.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$105 EC$283

-15.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$113 EC$305

-31.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$590 EC$1,593

70.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$395 EC$1,067

70.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

$998 EC$2,694

244.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

$716 EC$1,933

184.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

$99.1 EC$268

2766.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

$64.1 EC$173

3430.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$1,036 EC$2,797

-84.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

7.75

71.35%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Castries: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $590 in Castries. 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 527% higher in Castries, 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $74.0 in Castries. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $368 – 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

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

Ubud, Bali costs about 4% more than Castries, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $2,049 in Castries. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali and $1,366 in Castries. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $202 in Castries. 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 Castries, where all-in costs run around $1,366, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Castries it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Castries costs $1,366 versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Castries. 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.