Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Cruz Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Cruz Bay

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,815 in Cruz Bay.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,582 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,635 in Cruz Bay.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,757 in Ubud, Bali versus $6,455 in Cruz Bay.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 50% less than in Cruz Bay, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 5% above, Cruz Bay 110% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Cruz Bay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.42 Rp 58.7K
$30.30 $30.30
-88.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96 Rp 566.5K
$91.6 $91.6
-64.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.08 Rp 87.3K
$16.88 $16.88
-69.91%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 48.5K
$9.08 $9.08
-68.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37 Rp 23.5K
$3.08 $3.08
-55.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 Rp 12.2K
$3.91 $3.91
-81.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.97 Rp 51.0K
$7.80 $7.80
-61.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 Rp 67.2K
$9.12 $9.12
-57.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Cruz Bay
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.75 Rp 30.0K
$3.47 $3.47
-49.57%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 Rp 43.2K
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 Rp 20.8K
-
-
Eggs
$2.33 Rp 40.1K
$5.14 $5.14
-54.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 Rp 249.2K
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.36 Rp 74.9K
$15.18 $15.18
-71.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.05 Rp 207.0K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.82 Rp 65.6K
$9.06 $9.06
-57.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.7K
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.70 Rp 46.5K
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 38.3K
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 32.6K
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 Rp 37.5K
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 Rp 17.7K
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 Rp 13.3K
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.18 Rp 54.7K
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$23.23 Rp 399.2K
$25.14 $25.14
-7.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.85 Rp 48.9K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 Rp 46.7K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Cruz Bay
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,022
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.43 Rp 144.8K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.49 Rp 8,344
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 7,812
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.28 Rp 107.8K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 14.6K
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K Rp 447.8M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5K Rp 541.8M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Cruz Bay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.8 Rp 1.4M
$344 $344
-76.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09 Rp 70.3K
$139 $139
-97.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.06 Rp 413.6K
$60.0 $60.0
-59.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Cruz Bay
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.2 Rp 1.7M
$91.4 $91.4
5.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.53 Rp 112.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.13 Rp 71.1K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Cruz Bay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$297 Rp 5.1M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,661 Rp 114.5M
$12.9K $12.9K
-48.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Cruz Bay
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.0 Rp 944.5K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.75 Rp 666.0K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.6 Rp 1.5M
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Cruz Bay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,018 Rp 17.5M
$1,768 $1,768
-42.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$660 Rp 11.3M
$1,515 $1,515
-56.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,435 Rp 59.0M
$3,444 $3,444
-0.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,053 Rp 35.3M
$3,476 $3,476
-40.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,981 Rp 51.2M
$10.9K $10.9K
-72.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,368 Rp 40.7M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Cruz Bay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$172 Rp 3.0M
$6,090 $6,090
-97.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
0
-

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 21, 2026

Last update for Cruz Bay: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,018 in Ubud, Bali and $1,768 in Cruz Bay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cruz Bay pays 3439% 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 $92 in Cruz Bay. Groceries flip the comparison at $299 vs $227, with Cruz Bay cheaper for home cooking.

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 Cruz Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and Cruz Bay?
Ubud, Bali and Cruz Bay differ by about 100% in total monthly costs ($1,408 vs $2,815 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, Cruz Bay earns 3439% 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 Cruz Bay?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,018 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,768 in Cruz Bay. 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 $92.0 in Cruz Bay. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Cruz Bay?
All in, you'll spend $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $2,815 in Cruz Bay – a 100% 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 $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,815 in Cruz Bay, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Cruz Bay. 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 Cruz Bay?
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 Cruz Bay safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Cruz Bay 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 Cruz Bay?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 100% less than in Cruz Bay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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