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 $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,409 in Castries, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,208 in Castries, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,007 in Castries, rent included.

Ubud, Bali and Castries have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Ubud, Bali and Castries sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 5%, Castries by 5%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Castries
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45 Rp 62.1K
$7.34 EC$19.83
-53.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 Rp 581.1K
$75.2 EC$203
-57.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.84 Rp 87.1K
$7.30 EC$19.70
-33.70%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
$3.80 EC$10.27
-27.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 24.9K
$1.12 EC$3.03
23.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
$1.00 EC$2.69
-25.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 53.8K
$2.63 EC$7.09
13.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 69.2K
$3.29 EC$8.87
17.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Castries
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 31.2K
$2.18 EC$5.89
-20.18%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 44.2K
$1.71 EC$4.61
43.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
$1.66 EC$4.47
-29.52%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 43.7K
$4.31 EC$11.64
-43.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 Rp 260.6K
$11.30 EC$30.50
28.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.35 Rp 78.2K
$9.96 EC$26.90
-56.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.98 Rp 215.3K
$9.94 EC$26.84
20.52%
Apples (1kg)
$3.72 Rp 66.8K
$7.52 EC$20.30
-50.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
$1.68 EC$4.52
-2.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.74 Rp 49.3K
$6.12 EC$16.53
-55.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
$9.25 EC$24.97
-75.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 Rp 34.5K
$3.32 EC$8.95
-42.17%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.9K
$1.74 EC$4.70
31.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$2.09 EC$5.64
-49.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
$1.08 EC$2.90
-33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29 Rp 59.0K
$9.00 EC$24.31
-63.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.19 Rp 416.8K
$10.97 EC$29.61
111.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$2.12 EC$5.71
31.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$4.29 EC$11.57
-36.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Castries
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,786
$1.10 EC$2.96
-75.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.11 Rp 145.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,675
$9.52 EC$25.72
-94.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,545
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.22 Rp 111.8K
$18.42 EC$49.74
-66.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$1.53 EC$4.13
-47.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 478.2M
$29.1K EC$78.5K
-8.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K Rp 578.5M
$27.6K EC$74.5K
16.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Castries
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$107 EC$289
-26.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07 Rp 73.1K
$89.6 EC$242
-95.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33 Rp 437.1K
$43.87 EC$118
-44.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Castries
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
$42.35 EC$114
132.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34 Rp 113.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.99 Rp 71.6K
$6.74 EC$18.21
-40.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Castries
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 Rp 5.5M
$197 EC$533
54.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,642 Rp 119.4M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Castries
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 Rp 972.9K
$79.8 EC$215
-32.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81 Rp 679.4K
$52.6 EC$142
-28.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
$105 EC$283
-17.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
$109 EC$294
-29.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Castries
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$992 Rp 17.8M
$586 EC$1,582
69.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$395 EC$1,067
70.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,375 Rp 60.7M
$1,005 EC$2,714
235.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
$692 EC$1,868
196.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,805 Rp 50.4M
$100 EC$271
2691.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,227 Rp 40.0M
$63.7 EC$172
3395.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Castries
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 3.0M
$1,092 EC$2,949
-84.71%
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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Castries: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $586 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 554% higher in Castries. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $75.0 in Castries. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $370 – 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
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali and in Castries?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $2,113 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.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Castries?
Groceries cost about 25% more in Castries, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Castries?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali and $75.0 in Castries. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap 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 $1,408, than in Castries at $1,409. 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 $1,408 versus $1,409 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.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities