Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Saint John Island

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,353 a month against $6,147 in Saint John Island, rent and utilities included – about $57,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

66

Cost of Living Index in Ubud, Bali
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Ubud, Bali Living Index
296

Cost of Living Index in Saint John Island
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Saint John Island Living Index

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Ubud, Bali

🇮🇩 Indonesia

$1,353

/mo nomad

Saint John Island

🇻🇮 U.S. Virgin Islands

$6,147

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Saint John Island

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Saint John Island actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,353 in Ubud, Bali versus $6,147 in Saint John Island.

Ubud, Bali $1,353
Saint John Island $6,147

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,297 in Ubud, Bali versus $8,398 in Saint John Island.

Ubud, Bali $2,297
Saint John Island $8,398

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,241 in Ubud, Bali versus $10.6K in Saint John Island.

Ubud, Bali $3,241
Saint John Island $10.6K

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 78% less than in Saint John Island, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 0% above, Saint John Island 354% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.23 Rp 58.1K

$70.5 $70.5

-95.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.88 Rp 627.8K

$147 $147

-76.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.70 Rp 102.5K

$14.70 $14.70

-61.22%

Cappuccino

$2.62 Rp 47.1K

$9.12 $9.12

-71.27%

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

$1.72 Rp 31.0K

$3.57 $3.57

-51.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$3.44 $3.44

-76.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.65 Rp 47.7K

$4.86 $4.86

-45.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 Rp 78.6K

$6.81 $6.81

-35.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 Rp 28.3K

$3.12 $3.12

-49.68%

White Bread (500g)

$2.19 Rp 39.5K

$8.12 $8.12

-73.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 Rp 21.2K

$12.15 $12.15

-90.29%

Eggs

$2.16 Rp 38.8K

$11.83 $11.83

-81.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.65 Rp 317.7K

$31.38 $31.38

-43.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.78 Rp 68.0K

$32.45 $32.45

-88.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.95 Rp 215.1K

$24.40 $24.40

-51.02%

Apples (1kg)

$3.60 Rp 64.8K

$22.40 $22.40

-83.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.6K

$4.02 $4.02

-60.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.6K

$17.72 $17.72

-86.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.3K

$12.20 $12.20

-84.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.78 Rp 32.1K

$7.90 $7.90

-77.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.9K

$7.88 $7.88

-70.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 Rp 18.0K

$5.13 $5.13

-80.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 Rp 9,509

$3.49 $3.49

-84.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.29 Rp 41.1K

$8.88 $8.88

-74.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.07 Rp 397.3K

$23.37 $23.37

-5.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 Rp 42.2K

$4.42 $4.42

-46.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 Rp 53.6K

$6.02 $6.02

-50.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 Rp 4,112

$7.10 $7.10

-96.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.90 Rp 160.2K

$150 $150

-94.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.47 Rp 8,466

$30.19 $30.19

-98.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,737

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.47 Rp 98.4K

$49.78 $49.78

-89.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 Rp 14.9K

$1.63 $1.63

-49.08%

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

$23.9K Rp 429.8M

$47.1K $47.1K

-49.30%

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

$32.8K Rp 590.1M

$52.8K $52.8K

-37.92%

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

$80.0 Rp 1.4M

$302 $302

-73.56%

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

$6.56 Rp 118.1K

$99.7 $99.7

-93.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.60 Rp 334.8K

$101 $101

-81.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$54.1 Rp 974.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.28 Rp 329.0K

Cinema Ticket

$4.25 Rp 76.5K

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

$493 Rp 8.9M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,597 Rp 100.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.58 Rp 820.4K

$81.6 $81.6

-44.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.96 Rp 629.4K

$49.95 $49.95

-30.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.7 Rp 1.4M

$83.4 $83.4

-6.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.5 Rp 1.4M

$99.9 $99.9

-21.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,131 Rp 20.4M

$3,920 $3,920

-71.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.1M

$3,521 $3,521

-80.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,613 Rp 65.0M

$4,982 $4,982

-27.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,702 Rp 30.6M

$4,584 $4,584

-62.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,717 Rp 48.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,241 Rp 40.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$166 Rp 3.0M

$4,557 $4,557

-96.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

96.86%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 19, 2026

Last update for Saint John Island: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Ubud, Bali

$673 49.7%

Saint John Island

$3.5K 57.3% 423% $2.8K

Groceries & Markets

Ubud, Bali

$287 21.2%

Saint John Island

$989 16.1% 244% $701

Clothing & Footwear

Ubud, Bali

$107 7.9%

Saint John Island

$142 2.3% 33% $35

Eating Out

Ubud, Bali

$106 7.9%

Saint John Island

$784 12.8% 636% $677

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Ubud, Bali

$105 7.8%

Saint John Island

$503 8.2% 378% $398

Sport & Entertainment

Ubud, Bali

$63 4.6%

Saint John Island

- * 0% 100%

Getting Around

Ubud, Bali

$12 0.9%

Saint John Island

$209 * 3.4% 1578% $196

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,131 in Ubud, Bali and $3,920 in Saint John Island. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saint John Island pays 2639% 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: $35.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $147 in Saint John Island for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $287 vs $989 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali

🇻🇮 Saint John Island

🕒 Local time

20:35 8:35 PM

08:35 8:35 AM

12 h behind Ubud, Bali

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

74,800

4,170

💱 Currency

Indonesian Rupiah IDR Rp

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD

100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇮🇩 Indonesian Rupiah (Rp)

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

USD to IDR in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Ubud, Bali Saint John Island 18,920 km ≈ 24 h nonstop flight

From you

Ubud, Bali
Saint John Island

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 John Island: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 354% lower than in Saint John Island. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 2639% lower in Saint John Island. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,131 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,920 in Saint John Island. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 244% higher in Saint John Island. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,353 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $6,147 in Saint John Island – a 354% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,353 in Ubud, Bali versus $6,147 in Saint John Island, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Saint John Island. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,353 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Saint John Island 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 Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 354% less than in Saint John Island. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.