🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,397 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,830 in Cruz Bay.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,588 in Ubud, Bali versus $4,574 in Cruz Bay.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,778 in Ubud, Bali versus $6,317 in Cruz Bay.
🌍Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 51% less than in Cruz Bay, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali5% above, Cruz Bay112% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Cruz Bay
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.43Rp 61.6K
$29.60$29.60
-88.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.97Rp 574.4K
$91.9$91.9
-65.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.05Rp 90.8K
$17.11$17.11
-70.49%
Cappuccino
$2.71Rp 48.8K
$9.03$9.03
-69.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39Rp 25.0K
$3.05$3.05
-54.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74Rp 13.3K
$3.92$3.92
-81.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.89Rp 52.0K
$7.94$7.94
-63.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.79Rp 68.1K
$9.10$9.10
-58.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Cruz Bay
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79Rp 32.2K
$3.40$3.40
-47.35%
White Bread(500g)
$2.51Rp 45.0K
-
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.21Rp 21.8K
-
-
Eggs
$2.37Rp 42.5K
$4.86$4.86
-51.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.43Rp 259.3K
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.15Rp 74.6K
$15.71$15.71
-73.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.11Rp 217.7K
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.77Rp 67.7K
$9.07$9.07
-58.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63Rp 29.2K
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.71Rp 48.6K
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26Rp 40.5K
-
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.93Rp 34.6K
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$2.19Rp 39.4K
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02Rp 18.3K
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72Rp 12.9K
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.18Rp 57.2K
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$23.84Rp 428.3K
$25.21$25.21
-5.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.77Rp 49.8K
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75Rp 49.4K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Cruz Bay
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,802
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.20Rp 147.3K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,684
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42Rp 7,571
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.03Rp 108.3K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82Rp 14.7K
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KRp 477.3M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2KRp 578.6M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Cruz Bay
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.3Rp 1.4M
$346$346
-77.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.91Rp 70.3K
$142$142
-97.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.91Rp 429.7K
$60.3$60.3
-60.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Cruz Bay
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$96.2Rp 1.7M
$88.9$88.9
8.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.53Rp 117.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.01Rp 72.1K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Cruz Bay
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$303Rp 5.4M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,551Rp 117.7M
$13.2K$13.2K
-50.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Cruz Bay
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.3Rp 993.9K
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.32Rp 688.6K
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.5Rp 1.6M
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.7Rp 1.4M
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Cruz Bay
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$986Rp 17.7M
$1,772$1,772
-44.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$682Rp 12.3M
$1,509$1,509
-54.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,420Rp 61.5M
$3,480$3,480
-1.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,075Rp 37.3M
$3,535$3,535
-41.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,762Rp 49.6M
$10.9K$10.9K
-74.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,243Rp 40.3M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Cruz Bay
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$169Rp 3.0M
$6,133$6,133
-97.25%
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: July 22, 2026
Last update for Cruz Bay: July 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $986 in Ubud, Bali and $1,772 in Cruz Bay. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cruz Bay pays 3535% 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: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $92.0 in Cruz Bay. Groceries flip the comparison at $298 vs $228, 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 in Cruz Bay?
Ubud, Bali and Cruz Bay differ by about 103% in total monthly costs ($1,397 vs $2,830 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, salaries run 3535% lower in Cruz Bay. 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 in Cruz Bay?
Rent for a central apartment: $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,772 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 $32.00 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 $1,397 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $2,830 in Cruz Bay – a 103% 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 $1,397 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,830 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 103% less than in Cruz Bay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared