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 $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $682 in San Cristobal, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,111 in San Cristobal, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,275 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,540 in San Cristobal, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 102% more than San Cristobal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while San Cristobal is 51% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

$5.14 VES 4,271

-35.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

$30.12 VES 25.0K

18.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

$10.88 VES 9,033

-48.25%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

$1.60 VES 1,332

76.25%

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

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

$0.91 VES 753

92.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

$0.78 VES 649

2.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

$1.17 VES 970

159.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$1.73 VES 1,437

148.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

$1.39 VES 1,153

15.83%

White Bread (500g)

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

$0.99 VES 822

129.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

$1.21 VES 1,006

-3.31%

Eggs

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

$2.35 VES 1,949

-7.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

$6.07 VES 5,041

190.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

$4.86 VES 4,033

-16.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

$6.48 VES 5,382

87.96%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

$9.85 VES 8,181

-63.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

$1.96 VES 1,627

17.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

$1.03 VES 853

90.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

$0.97 VES 808

89.69%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

$1.01 VES 842

134.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

$0.52 VES 436

101.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 Rp 9,560

$1.93 VES 1,603

-72.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

$2.94 VES 2,441

-21.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

$9.92 VES 8,238

132.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

$0.62 VES 512

277.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

$0.61 VES 508

403.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,365

$0.62 VES 511

-59.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,631

$2.05 VES 1,702

-76.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 Rp 8,349

$2.43 VES 2,021

-80.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

$5.42 VES 4,501

3.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

$0.52 VES 430

55.77%

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

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

$30.2K VES 25.1M

-17.24%

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

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

$34.5K VES 28.6M

-9.91%

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

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

$23.67 VES 19.7K

249.47%

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

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

$10.45 VES 8,681

-37.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

$30.39 VES 25.2K

-38.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

$20.30 VES 16.9K

172.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

$15.23 VES 12.6K

19.57%

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$3.90 VES 3,239

10.26%

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

$494 Rp 8.7M

$68.0 VES 56.4K

627.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

$28.83 VES 23.9K

60.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

$19.85 VES 16.5K

83.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

$112 VES 93.2K

-28.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

$93.1 VES 77.3K

-15.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

$199 VES 165.7K

458.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$693 Rp 12.2M

$148 VES 122.8K

368.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

$322 VES 267.8K

1028.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

$232 VES 193.0K

636.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

$516 VES 428.7K

434.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

$399 VES 331.0K

475.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 2.9M

$203 VES 168.2K

-17.51%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

-37.36%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Last update for San Cristobal: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,114 in Ubud, Bali versus $199 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 21% 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 $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $30.00 in San Cristobal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $294 vs $217 – 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: $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, $682 in San Cristobal – roughly 102% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,067 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,023 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,378 in Ubud, Bali and $682 in San Cristobal. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $494 per month in Ubud, Bali and $68.0 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 $682, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,378. 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 $682 in San Cristobal to $1,378 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.