Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Castries

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,353 a month against $1,438 in Castries, rent and utilities included – about $1,000 less a year. The total is higher in Castries despite lower rent and utilities.

Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,353
/mo nomad
Castries
🇱🇨 Saint Lucia
$1,438
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Castries

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Castries actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,353 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,438 in Castries, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,353
  • Castries $1,438

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,357 in Castries, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,297
  • Castries $2,357

A family of three spends $3,241 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,276 in Castries, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,241
  • Castries $3,276

Ubud, Bali is about 6% cheaper than Castries, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Ubud, Bali and Castries sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 0%, Castries by 6%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Castries
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.23 Rp 58.1K
$9.45 EC$25.52
-65.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.88 Rp 627.8K
$73.8 EC$199
-52.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.70 Rp 102.5K
$8.56 EC$23.12
-33.41%
Cappuccino
$2.62 Rp 47.1K
$3.81 EC$10.29
-31.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 Rp 31.0K
$1.98 EC$5.34
-13.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$0.98 EC$2.65
-17.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 47.7K
$2.81 EC$7.58
-5.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37 Rp 78.6K
$3.24 EC$8.75
34.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Castries
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$2.03 EC$5.48
-22.66%
White Bread (500g)
$2.19 Rp 39.5K
$1.81 EC$4.88
20.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
$1.65 EC$4.46
-28.48%
Eggs
$2.16 Rp 38.8K
$4.74 EC$12.81
-54.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.65 Rp 317.7K
$11.00 EC$29.69
60.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.78 Rp 68.0K
$9.06 EC$24.46
-58.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.95 Rp 215.1K
$14.50 EC$39.15
-17.59%
Apples (1kg)
$3.60 Rp 64.8K
$8.79 EC$23.73
-59.04%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.6K
$1.61 EC$4.34
-1.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.31 Rp 41.6K
$8.28 EC$22.36
-72.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 34.3K
$14.53 EC$39.22
-86.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
$3.45 EC$9.31
-48.41%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.9K
$1.99 EC$5.37
17.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.00 Rp 18.0K
$2.28 EC$6.16
-56.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 Rp 9,509
$1.28 EC$3.47
-58.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.29 Rp 41.1K
$9.17 EC$24.77
-75.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.07 Rp 397.3K
$10.99 EC$29.66
100.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 Rp 42.2K
$2.21 EC$5.97
6.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 Rp 53.6K
$5.40 EC$14.57
-44.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Castries
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 Rp 4,112
$1.08 EC$2.93
-78.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.90 Rp 160.2K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.47 Rp 8,466
$9.47 EC$25.57
-95.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,737
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.47 Rp 98.4K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
$1.56 EC$4.21
-46.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9K Rp 429.8M
$26.0K EC$70.1K
-8.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8K Rp 590.1M
$37.1K EC$100.2K
-11.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Castries
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$80.0 Rp 1.4M
$121 EC$327
-33.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.56 Rp 118.1K
$87.8 EC$237
-92.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.60 Rp 334.8K
$49.26 EC$133
-62.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Castries
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.1 Rp 974.1K
$41.19 EC$111
31.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.28 Rp 329.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.25 Rp 76.5K
$5.67 EC$15.30
-25.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Castries
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$493 Rp 8.9M
$214 EC$579
129.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,597 Rp 100.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Castries
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.58 Rp 820.4K
$82.1 EC$222
-44.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.96 Rp 629.4K
$50.8 EC$137
-31.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 Rp 1.4M
$109 EC$294
-28.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.5 Rp 1.4M
$112 EC$301
-29.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Castries
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,131 Rp 20.4M
$449 EC$1,212
152.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$347 EC$937
93.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,613 Rp 65.0M
$1,222 EC$3,300
195.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,702 Rp 30.6M
$707 EC$1,910
140.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,717 Rp 48.9M
$102 EC$274
2575.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
$64.5 EC$174
3375.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Castries
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
$1,093 EC$2,952
-84.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
7.75
77.81%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 19, 2026

Last update for Castries: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$673
Castries
$347 48.4% $326
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$287
Castries
$428 49% $141
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$107
Castries
$159 49.2% $52
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$106
Castries
$179 68.6% $73
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$105
Castries
$258 146% $153
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$63
Castries
$53 16.1% $10
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$12
Castries
$14 * 11.1% $1.4

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,131 in Ubud, Bali versus $449 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 557% higher in Castries, 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 $35.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $74.0 in Castries. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $287 vs $428 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇱🇨 Castries
🕒 Local time
11:55 11:55 AM
23:55 11:55 PM
12 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
22,000 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

XCD, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

East Caribbean Dollar exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 2.7 XCD (1 XCD = 0.37 USD). 1 EUR = 3.04 XCD (1 XCD = 0.329 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Castries 19,280 km ≈ 25 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Castries

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Castries?
Castries costs about 6% more than Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali and in Castries?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,030 per month in Ubud, Bali and $2,157 in Castries. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ubud, Bali or Castries?
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.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Castries?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,353 in Ubud, Bali and $1,438 in Castries. That's a gap of about 6%.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Castries?
Kindergarten costs $493 per month in Ubud, Bali and $214 in Castries. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Castries?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,353, than in Castries at $1,438. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Castries it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Castries?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,353 versus $1,438 in Castries. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Castries?
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.
Should I move to Ubud, Bali or to Castries?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Castries makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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