Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Saint John's Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Saint John's

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,671 in Saint John's.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,722 in Saint John's.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,732 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,772 in Saint John's.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 14% less than in Saint John's, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 7% above, Saint John's 25% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Saint John's
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 61.6K
$13.82 EC$37.32
-74.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58 Rp 562.6K
$83.1 EC$224
-60.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 Rp 87.5K
$10.94 EC$29.55
-53.66%
Cappuccino
$2.83 Rp 48.8K
$4.00 EC$10.81
-29.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 23.1K
$2.05 EC$5.53
-34.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
$0.91 EC$2.47
-24.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 51.6K
$1.83 EC$4.95
63.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 66.4K
$4.35 EC$11.76
-11.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Saint John's
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 30.1K
$2.24 EC$6.05
-22.32%
White Bread (500g)
$2.54 Rp 43.8K
$2.83 EC$7.64
-10.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
$1.90 EC$5.12
-37.37%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 41.9K
$5.35 EC$14.44
-54.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.66 Rp 253.2K
$8.24 EC$22.25
77.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.18 Rp 72.1K
$8.21 EC$22.17
-49.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 Rp 206.1K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.69 Rp 63.6K
$6.51 EC$17.57
-43.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.7K
$2.40 EC$6.49
-32.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 Rp 46.4K
$8.06 EC$21.77
-66.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 40.2K
$8.21 EC$22.17
-71.62%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 32.9K
$2.88 EC$7.78
-33.68%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 37.7K
$2.93 EC$7.92
-25.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
$2.62 EC$7.06
-59.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
$1.80 EC$4.87
-60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 Rp 54.1K
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 405.6K
$9.17 EC$24.77
156.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 Rp 47.3K
$2.68 EC$7.24
2.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 Rp 49.7K
$3.77 EC$10.18
-23.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Saint John's
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,010
$1.04 EC$2.80
-72.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 141.0K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 7,834
$5.43 EC$14.67
-91.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,278
$5.70 EC$15.39
-92.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.16 Rp 106.3K
$19.66 EC$53.1
-68.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 14.5K
$1.75 EC$4.72
-52.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K Rp 453.1M
$24.1K EC$65.2K
8.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 560.8M
$20.7K EC$55.9K
56.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Saint John's
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$130 EC$352
-39.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95 Rp 68.2K
$40.98 EC$111
-90.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40 Rp 421.4K
$72.1 EC$195
-66.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Saint John's
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
$64.4 EC$174
49.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 109.6K
$36.92 EC$99.7
-82.80%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 69.7K
$6.05 EC$16.34
-33.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Saint John's
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 Rp 5.2M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,523 Rp 112.6M
$1,831 EC$4,945
256.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Saint John's
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 Rp 929.5K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98 Rp 655.8K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
$73.4 EC$198
18.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Saint John's
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
$1,108 EC$2,992
-8.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 Rp 11.6M
$752 EC$2,030
-10.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,390 Rp 58.5M
$1,645 EC$4,442
106.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,098 Rp 36.2M
$1,494 EC$4,035
40.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,985 Rp 51.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,339 Rp 40.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Saint John's
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$173 Rp 3.0M
$1,361 EC$3,675
-87.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
5.5
141.45%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Last update for Saint John's: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali and $1,108 in Saint John's. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saint John's pays 686% 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: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $83.0 in Saint John's for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $352 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 John's: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Saint John's cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 16% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ubud, Bali or Saint John's?
On paper, Saint John's earns 686% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Saint John's?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,108 in Saint John's. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and Saint John's?
Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in Saint John's. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or Saint John's?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $83.0 in Saint John's. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Ubud, Bali or Saint John's?
At $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,671 in Saint John's, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Saint John's. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ubud, Bali or Saint John's more family-friendly?
For families, Ubud, Bali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Saint John's, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Saint John's?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Saint John's are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Saint John's. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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