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 $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $677 in San Cristobal, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,084 in San Cristobal, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,491 in San Cristobal, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 108% more than San Cristobal, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while San Cristobal is 49% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.45 Rp 62.0K

$4.52 VES 3,319

-23.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.34 Rp 580.1K

$30.07 VES 22.1K

7.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 Rp 86.9K

$10.74 VES 7,894

-54.93%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

$1.64 VES 1,205

67.68%

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

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

$0.84 VES 620

64.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

$0.60 VES 444

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 53.7K

$1.21 VES 887

147.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 69.1K

$1.46 VES 1,073

163.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

$1.28 VES 939

35.94%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$1.59 VES 1,172

54.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

$0.96 VES 709

21.87%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 43.6K

$2.16 VES 1,585

12.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.50 Rp 260.2K

$4.74 VES 3,484

205.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.35 Rp 78.0K

$4.24 VES 3,115

2.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.98 Rp 214.9K

$5.86 VES 4,305

104.44%

Apples (1kg)

$3.72 Rp 66.7K

$10.17 VES 7,476

-63.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$0.35 VES 259

365.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 49.2K

$1.26 VES 928

117.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

$1.14 VES 836

96.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.4K

$1.08 VES 793

77.78%

Onion (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

$0.89 VES 652

156.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$0.52 VES 386

103.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$1.70 VES 1,250

-57.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.29 Rp 58.9K

$3.36 VES 2,470

-2.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.19 Rp 416.1K

$9.90 VES 7,280

134.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.8K

$0.78 VES 575

256.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 Rp 49.0K

$1.22 VES 900

123.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,778

$0.51 VES 373

-47.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.11 Rp 145.4K

$24.66 VES 18.1K

-67.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,659

$2.45 VES 1,801

-80.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,532

$3.16 VES 2,321

-86.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.22 Rp 111.6K

$5.14 VES 3,780

21.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.6K

$0.52 VES 382

55.77%

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

$26.6K Rp 477.4M

$30.1K VES 22.1M

-11.57%

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

$32.2K Rp 577.4M

$33.4K VES 24.5M

-3.54%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$21.99 VES 16.2K

256.30%

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

$4.07 Rp 73.0K

$5.87 VES 4,313

-30.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.33 Rp 436.4K

$39.79 VES 29.2K

-38.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$14.72 VES 10.8K

569.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.34 Rp 113.7K

$19.63 VES 14.4K

-67.70%

Cinema Ticket

$3.99 Rp 71.5K

$6.92 VES 5,085

-42.34%

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

$305 Rp 5.5M

$45.45 VES 33.4K

571.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,642 Rp 119.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.1 Rp 971.2K

$32.39 VES 23.8K

67.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.81 Rp 678.2K

$19.85 VES 14.6K

90.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.6M

$93.8 VES 68.9K

-7.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.4 Rp 1.4M

$63.4 VES 46.6K

20.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$992 Rp 17.8M

$173 VES 127.2K

473.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 Rp 12.1M

$121 VES 89.2K

454.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,375 Rp 60.5M

$271 VES 199.5K

1143.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,050 Rp 36.8M

$178 VES 130.9K

1051.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,805 Rp 50.3M

$525 VES 385.6K

434.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 Rp 39.9M

$407 VES 298.9K

447.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$197 VES 144.5K

-15.08%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for San Cristobal: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $173 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 18% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $30.00 in San Cristobal. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $212 – 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: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, $677 in San Cristobal – roughly 108% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,016 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 204% less in San Cristobal. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $305 per month in Ubud, Bali and $45.45 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 $677, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. 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 $677 in San Cristobal to $1,408 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.