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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,860 in Christiansted.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,901 in Christiansted.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,732 in Ubud, Bali versus $6,942 in Christiansted.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 50% less than in Christiansted, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 7% above, Christiansted 114% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Christiansted
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 61.4K
$24.90 $24.90
-85.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58 Rp 560.9K
$122 $122
-73.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 Rp 87.2K
$9.89 $9.89
-48.74%
Cappuccino
$2.83 Rp 48.6K
$5.02 $5.02
-43.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 23.1K
$2.28 $2.28
-41.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 Rp 11.9K
$1.41 $1.41
-51.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 51.5K
$6.02 $6.02
-50.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 66.2K
$5.85 $5.85
-34.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Christiansted
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 30.0K
$2.43 $2.43
-28.40%
White Bread (500g)
$2.54 Rp 43.7K
$5.12 $5.12
-50.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 20.5K
$5.50 $5.50
-78.36%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 41.8K
$5.67 $5.67
-57.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.66 Rp 252.4K
$22.22 $22.22
-34.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.18 Rp 71.9K
$20.38 $20.38
-79.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 Rp 205.5K
$24.52 $24.52
-51.31%
Apples (1kg)
$3.69 Rp 63.5K
$9.48 $9.48
-61.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.6K
$3.26 $3.26
-50.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 Rp 46.2K
$5.60 $5.60
-51.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 40.1K
$5.02 $5.02
-53.59%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 32.8K
$2.63 $2.63
-27.38%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 37.6K
$3.65 $3.65
-40.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 18.2K
$3.71 $3.71
-71.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.4K
$2.52 $2.52
-71.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 Rp 53.9K
$4.54 $4.54
-31.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 404.4K
$13.68 $13.68
71.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 Rp 47.1K
$2.35 $2.35
16.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 Rp 49.6K
$3.07 $3.07
-6.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Christiansted
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 4,996
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 140.6K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 7,811
$20.34 $20.34
-97.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,256
$4.90 $4.90
-91.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.16 Rp 106.0K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 14.5K
$1.28 $1.28
-34.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K Rp 451.8M
$38.4K $38.4K
-31.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 559.1M
$38.0K $38.0K
-14.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Christiansted
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$419 $419
-81.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95 Rp 68.0K
$59.9 $59.9
-93.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40 Rp 420.1K
$55.6 $55.6
-56.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Christiansted
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
$104 $104
-6.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 109.2K
$37.14 $37.14
-82.90%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 69.5K
$18.25 $18.25
-77.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Christiansted
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 Rp 5.2M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,523 Rp 112.3M
$25.3K $25.3K
-74.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Christiansted
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 Rp 926.8K
$49.54 $49.54
8.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98 Rp 653.9K
$26.01 $26.01
46.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
$126 $126
-31.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
$105 $105
-25.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Christiansted
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 Rp 17.4M
$1,852 $1,852
-45.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 Rp 11.6M
$1,108 $1,108
-39.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,390 Rp 58.4M
$3,203 $3,203
5.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,098 Rp 36.1M
$2,841 $2,841
-26.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,985 Rp 51.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,339 Rp 40.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Christiansted
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$173 Rp 3.0M
$2,718 $2,718
-93.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
3.9
240.51%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Last update for Christiansted: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali and $1,852 in Christiansted. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Christiansted pays 1470% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33 in Ubud, Bali vs $122 in Christiansted for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $582 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
Ubud, Bali vs Christiansted: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and Christiansted?
Ubud, Bali and Christiansted differ by about 99% in total monthly costs ($1,438 vs $2,860 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Christiansted earns 1470% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ubud, Bali and Christiansted?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,852 in Christiansted. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $122 in Christiansted. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Christiansted?
All in, you'll spend $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $2,860 in Christiansted – a 99% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,860 in Christiansted, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Christiansted. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Christiansted?
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 Ubud, Bali or Christiansted safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Christiansted 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: Ubud, Bali or Christiansted?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 99% less than in Christiansted. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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