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: $1,392 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,730 in Saint John's.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,557 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,728 in Saint John's.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,723 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,727 in Saint John's.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 20% less than in Saint John's, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 5% above, Saint John's 30% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Saint John's
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.6K
$13.91 EC$37.56
-74.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.32 Rp 584.4K
$82.6 EC$223
-60.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.01 Rp 90.5K
$11.28 EC$30.45
-55.59%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 51.1K
$3.86 EC$10.43
-26.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 Rp 24.4K
$2.10 EC$5.66
-35.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
$0.99 EC$2.68
-26.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.93 Rp 53.0K
$1.82 EC$4.92
60.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94 Rp 71.2K
$4.56 EC$12.32
-13.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Saint John's
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.78 Rp 32.2K
$2.26 EC$6.11
-21.24%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 Rp 44.3K
$2.71 EC$7.31
-9.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 Rp 20.8K
$1.82 EC$4.90
-36.81%
Eggs
$2.41 Rp 43.7K
$5.44 EC$14.69
-55.70%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 Rp 259.1K
$8.12 EC$21.93
76.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.19 Rp 75.7K
$8.33 EC$22.50
-49.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.06 Rp 218.1K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.64 Rp 65.8K
$6.51 EC$17.57
-44.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$2.42 EC$6.55
-35.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 50.4K
$8.06 EC$21.77
-65.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.5K
$8.27 EC$22.34
-72.91%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 Rp 35.8K
$2.94 EC$7.94
-32.65%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 41.2K
$2.93 EC$7.92
-22.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 Rp 19.1K
$2.52 EC$6.79
-58.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$1.87 EC$5.05
-57.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.19 Rp 57.7K
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 424.8K
$9.20 EC$24.84
155.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 Rp 52.4K
$2.74 EC$7.40
5.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 Rp 49.8K
$3.60 EC$9.72
-23.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Saint John's
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,821
$1.00 EC$2.70
-73.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.37 Rp 151.3K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,180
$5.42 EC$14.63
-91.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,311
$5.69 EC$15.38
-91.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.07 Rp 109.7K
$19.86 EC$53.6
-69.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
$1.69 EC$4.57
-49.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 480.7M
$24.0K EC$64.8K
10.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 588.6M
$20.8K EC$56.2K
56.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Saint John's
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.0 Rp 1.4M
$131 EC$353
-39.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09 Rp 74.0K
$40.15 EC$108
-89.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.85 Rp 431.2K
$73.2 EC$198
-67.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Saint John's
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.8 Rp 1.8M
$65.6 EC$177
50.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 114.9K
$36.64 EC$98.9
-82.67%
Cinema Ticket
$4.01 Rp 72.5K
$5.93 EC$16.01
-32.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Saint John's
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$297 Rp 5.4M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,602 Rp 119.4M
$1,836 EC$4,958
259.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Saint John's
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 Rp 966.0K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.11 Rp 689.2K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.7 Rp 1.6M
$74.2 EC$200
19.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.6 Rp 1.4M
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Saint John's
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,020 Rp 18.4M
$1,090 EC$2,943
-6.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 Rp 12.3M
$732 EC$1,977
-7.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,469 Rp 62.7M
$1,671 EC$4,512
107.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,090 Rp 37.8M
$1,487 EC$4,014
40.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,729 Rp 49.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,295 Rp 41.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Saint John's
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
$1,354 EC$3,656
-87.91%
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: July 28, 2026

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali and $1,090 in Saint John's. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saint John's pays 727% 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 $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 24% 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, salaries run 727% lower in Saint John's. 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: $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,090 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 in 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 in Saint John's?
Dining out is cheaper in Ubud, Bali – a meal for two runs $32.00 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 living in Ubud, Bali or in Saint John's?
At $1,392 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,730 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 24% 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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