Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Saint Croix Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Saint Croix

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,374 in Ubud, Bali versus $830 in Saint Croix.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,313 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,715 in Saint Croix.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,252 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,599 in Saint Croix.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 66% more expensive than in Saint Croix, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 2% above, Saint Croix is 39% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.32 Rp 59.5K

$39.73 $39.73

-91.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.33 Rp 632.1K

$149 $149

-76.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.33 Rp 95.4K

$10.03 $10.03

-46.86%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

$7.59 $7.59

-63.77%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 Rp 30.9K

$3.21 $3.21

-46.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 Rp 14.3K

$3.08 $3.08

-74.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.7K

$6.17 $6.17

-52.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.44 Rp 79.4K

$8.23 $8.23

-46.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 Rp 26.8K

$2.57 $2.57

-41.63%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 Rp 41.1K

$6.88 $6.88

-66.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.10 Rp 19.7K

$10.80 $10.80

-89.81%

Eggs

$2.16 Rp 38.6K

$8.49 $8.49

-74.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.09 Rp 305.7K

$22.03 $22.03

-22.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.88 Rp 69.4K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.92 Rp 213.2K

Apples (1kg)

$3.57 Rp 63.8K

$11.10 $11.10

-67.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 Rp 28.3K

Oranges (1kg)

$2.36 Rp 42.2K

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.2K

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

Onion (1kg)

$2.39 Rp 42.8K

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 Rp 18.2K

$5.97 $5.97

-82.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 Rp 8,792

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 Rp 40.2K

Wine (Bottle)

$22.30 Rp 399.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 Rp 42.4K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 51.8K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,457

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.55 Rp 153.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 Rp 7,906

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,556

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.66 Rp 101.3K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$1.03 $1.03

-21.36%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.7K Rp 424.7M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.0K Rp 554.3M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.3 Rp 1.5M

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.30 Rp 112.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.63 Rp 333.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.7 Rp 979.2K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.45 Rp 330.1K

Cinema Ticket

$4.24 Rp 75.8K

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$484 Rp 8.7M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,590 Rp 100.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.77 Rp 818.9K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.69 Rp 638.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.3 Rp 1.4M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.1 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,147 Rp 20.5M

$2,529 $2,529

-54.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$678 Rp 12.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,504 Rp 62.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,688 Rp 30.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,788 Rp 49.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,257 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 28, 2026

Last update for Saint Croix: September 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,147 in Ubud, Bali and $2,529 in Saint Croix. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $35.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $149 in Saint Croix for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $317 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 Saint Croix: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali and Saint Croix differ by about 66% in total monthly costs ($1,374 vs $830 including rent). Saint Croix is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,062 in Ubud, Bali and $1,245 in Saint Croix to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,147 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,529 in Saint Croix. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Saint Croix – a meal for two runs $149 versus $35.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,374 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $830 in Saint Croix – a 66% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $830 in Saint Croix versus $1,374 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Saint Croix but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Saint Croix the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Saint Croix are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Saint Croix gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.