Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and San Cristobal Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and San Cristobal

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $659 in San Cristobal, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,071 in San Cristobal, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,482 in San Cristobal, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 115% more than San Cristobal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while San Cristobal is 51% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.9K

$4.56 VES 2,547

-21.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 586.8K

$29.56 VES 16.5K

10.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.7K

$10.74 VES 6,001

-53.91%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.6K

$1.62 VES 906

67.28%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.1K

$0.84 VES 469

59.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.65 VES 364

7.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.3K

$1.21 VES 677

141.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.9K

$1.52 VES 850

160.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

$1.33 VES 742

36.09%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.1K

$1.56 VES 874

61.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.8K

$0.96 VES 534

20.83%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$2.09 VES 1,170

17.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 263.7K

$4.82 VES 2,692

205.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.4K

$4.23 VES 2,364

2.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 217.5K

$5.91 VES 3,304

105.41%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.8K

$9.91 VES 5,538

-61.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.9K

$0.35 VES 198

345.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.8K

$1.21 VES 679

133.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.7K

$1.11 VES 618

109.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.3K

$1.08 VES 602

76.85%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.5K

$0.91 VES 508

141.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.2K

$0.48 VES 267

110.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

$1.73 VES 964

-54.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.4K

$3.26 VES 1,821

1.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 425.5K

$9.98 VES 5,577

137.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 50.0K

$0.73 VES 409

282.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.3K

$1.23 VES 685

132.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,819

$0.54 VES 302

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.9K

$24.22 VES 13.5K

-66.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,181

$2.44 VES 1,366

-81.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,068

$3.04 VES 1,699

-85.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 109.3K

$4.88 VES 2,726

25.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$0.51 VES 287

54.90%

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

$26.1K Rp 468.8M

$29.6K VES 16.5M

-11.58%

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

$32.1K Rp 575.8M

$33.6K VES 18.8M

-4.33%

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$22.40 VES 12.5K

256.88%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.9K

$6.16 VES 3,443

-34.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 421.6K

$40.66 VES 22.7K

-42.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$15.11 VES 8,447

553.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.8K

$19.71 VES 11.0K

-66.36%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.3K

$7.09 VES 3,961

-41.47%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$44.55 VES 24.9K

582.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.5M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 995.6K

$32.19 VES 18.0K

72.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 686.7K

$20.02 VES 11.2K

91.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$93.7 VES 52.4K

-5.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$62.2 VES 34.8K

25.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$172 VES 96.3K

484.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$120 VES 66.9K

464.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.7M

$275 VES 153.5K

1153.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.6M

$177 VES 98.8K

1053.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.9M

$523 VES 292.5K

443.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.6M

$393 VES 219.5K

476.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$202 VES 113.0K

-18.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for San Cristobal: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $172 in San Cristobal. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 22% higher in San Cristobal, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $30.00 in San Cristobal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $210 – making San Cristobal the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 San Cristobal: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,419 in Ubud, Bali, $659 in San Cristobal – roughly 115% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $989 in San Cristobal. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Cristobal, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 202% less in San Cristobal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $44.55 in San Cristobal. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in San Cristobal, where all-in costs run around $659, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In San Cristobal it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $659 in San Cristobal to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with San Cristobal. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.