Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Santa Cruz Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Santa Cruz

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,319 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,032 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,275 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,745 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 4% more than Santa Cruz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 0% above the global median, while Santa Cruz is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

$7.51 JMD 1,180

-55.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.82 Rp 630.7K

$62.6 JMD 9,839

-42.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 Rp 99.1K

$6.53 JMD 1,025

-13.78%

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

$5.37 JMD 844

-47.49%

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

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

$1.25 JMD 196

40.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

$0.68 JMD 107

17.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

$2.26 JMD 355

34.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$3.12 JMD 490

37.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

$4.21 JMD 661

-61.76%

White Bread (500g)

$2.27 Rp 39.9K

$2.53 JMD 397

-10.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

$1.62 JMD 254

-27.78%

Eggs

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

$3.53 JMD 554

-38.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.63 Rp 310.5K

$11.47 JMD 1,802

53.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

$6.35 JMD 998

-36.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 214.5K

$10.43 JMD 1,638

16.78%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

$5.98 JMD 939

-39.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

$3.93 JMD 618

-58.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

$7.46 JMD 1,171

-69.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

$2.98 JMD 469

-34.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

$3.22 JMD 506

-42.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 Rp 41.7K

$2.61 JMD 411

-9.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

$3.15 JMD 495

-66.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 Rp 9,560

$1.44 JMD 226

-62.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

$9.61 JMD 1,510

-76.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.08 Rp 406.4K

$11.48 JMD 1,803

101.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

$2.95 JMD 463

-20.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

$3.95 JMD 620

-22.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,365

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,631

$1.19 JMD 187

-58.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 Rp 8,349

$3.07 JMD 482

-84.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 Rp 98.6K

$6.42 JMD 1,009

-12.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

$1.38 JMD 217

-41.30%

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

$25.0K Rp 440.3M

$44.5K JMD 7.0M

-43.82%

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

$31.1K Rp 547.0M

$33.4K JMD 5.2M

-7.01%

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

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

$178 JMD 27.9K

-53.44%

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

$6.49 Rp 114.2K

$28.99 JMD 4,554

-77.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.79 Rp 330.8K

$52.1 JMD 8,178

-63.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 Rp 972.6K

$37.11 JMD 5,829

48.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 Rp 320.6K

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$13.09 JMD 2,056

-67.15%

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

$494 Rp 8.7M

$361 JMD 56.7K

36.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

$8,150 JMD 1.3M

-27.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.28 Rp 814.8K

$24.06 JMD 3,780

92.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.44 Rp 641.6K

$31.68 JMD 4,977

15.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

$76.3 JMD 12.0K

5.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

$105 JMD 16.4K

-24.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$693 Rp 12.2M

$313 JMD 49.2K

121.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 Rp 30.1M

$504 JMD 79.2K

239.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 2.9M

$409 JMD 64.3K

-59.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

9.45

45.82%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Last update for Santa Cruz: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 145% higher in Santa Cruz, 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 $63.0 in Santa Cruz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $294 vs $374 – making Ubud, Bali 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 Santa Cruz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 4%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,067 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,978 in Santa Cruz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,378 in Ubud, Bali and $1,319 in Santa Cruz. 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 $361 in Santa Cruz. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Santa Cruz, where all-in costs run around $1,319, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,378. In Santa Cruz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Santa Cruz – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Santa Cruz. 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.