Last update: Oct 2026

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

For one person, living costs are similar in Ubud, Bali and in Santa Cruz: $1,349 and $1,285 a month, rent and utilities included.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Santa Cruz, Jamaica
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Santa Cruz
🇯🇲 Jamaica
$1,285
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Santa Cruz

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Santa Cruz actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,349 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,285 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,349
  • Santa Cruz $1,285

A couple spends around $2,305 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,988 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,305
  • Santa Cruz $1,988

A family of three spends $3,261 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,690 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,261
  • Santa Cruz $2,690

Ubud, Bali costs about 5% more than Santa Cruz.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Santa Cruz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32 Rp 59.9K
$7.37 JMD 1,163
-54.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.64 Rp 642.4K
$63.6 JMD 10.0K
-43.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.53 Rp 99.7K
$6.45 JMD 1,016
-14.26%
Cappuccino
$2.72 Rp 49.0K
$5.34 JMD 842
-49.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 Rp 30.7K
$1.16 JMD 182
46.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 Rp 13.7K
$0.75 JMD 119
1.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 47.8K
$2.26 JMD 357
17.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 Rp 79.0K
$3.08 JMD 485
42.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Santa Cruz
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 Rp 26.9K
$4.04 JMD 638
-63.12%
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 Rp 41.0K
$2.58 JMD 406
-11.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 21.5K
$1.57 JMD 248
-24.20%
Eggs
$2.04 Rp 36.7K
$3.47 JMD 548
-41.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.70 Rp 319.1K
$11.33 JMD 1,787
56.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.96 Rp 71.4K
$6.40 JMD 1,010
-38.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.19 Rp 219.7K
$10.41 JMD 1,641
17.10%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 Rp 65.9K
$5.97 JMD 941
-38.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 27.4K
$3.83 JMD 604
-60.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.2K
$7.43 JMD 1,171
-69.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.6K
$3.01 JMD 474
-34.55%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 33.3K
$3.32 JMD 523
-44.28%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 43.7K
$2.64 JMD 416
-8.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 17.8K
$3.01 JMD 475
-67.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,255
$1.45 JMD 229
-64.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 Rp 40.0K
$9.47 JMD 1,494
-76.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.24 Rp 400.9K
$11.53 JMD 1,818
92.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 Rp 40.7K
$2.89 JMD 456
-21.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.5K
$4.01 JMD 632
-25.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Santa Cruz
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,525
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.82 Rp 141.0K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,923
$1.27 JMD 201
-65.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,753
$3.12 JMD 492
-86.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 Rp 97.5K
$6.12 JMD 966
-11.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 14.9K
$1.39 JMD 220
-41.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K Rp 429.7M
$44.8K JMD 7.1M
-46.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 572.3M
$32.6K JMD 5.1M
-2.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Santa Cruz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$166 JMD 26.2K
-52.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 116.2K
$29.57 JMD 4,664
-78.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.58 Rp 334.9K
$51.8 JMD 8,165
-64.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Santa Cruz
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.48 Rp 892.0K
$38.40 JMD 6,055
28.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.65 Rp 318.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.27 Rp 77.0K
$13.44 JMD 2,119
-68.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Santa Cruz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$491 Rp 8.8M
$359 JMD 56.6K
36.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,674 Rp 102.3M
$8,104 JMD 1.3M
-29.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Santa Cruz
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.64 Rp 804.7K
$23.66 JMD 3,731
88.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.95 Rp 630.1K
$31.85 JMD 5,022
9.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$78.3 JMD 12.3K
2.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
$101 JMD 15.9K
-21.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Santa Cruz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 Rp 20.3M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$671 Rp 12.1M
$311 JMD 49.0K
116.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,565 Rp 64.3M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,723 Rp 31.1M
$499 JMD 78.8K
245.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,732 Rp 49.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,284 Rp 41.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Santa Cruz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
$408 JMD 64.3K
-59.85%
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: October 25, 2026

Last update for Santa Cruz: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$672
Santa Cruz
$311 53.7% $361
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$288
Santa Cruz
$371 28.8% $83
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$108
Santa Cruz
$168 55.6% $60
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Santa Cruz
$106 1.8% $1.9
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$104
Santa Cruz
$248 138% $143
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$58
Santa Cruz
$65 12.5% $7.2
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$11
Santa Cruz
$17 * 47.9% $5.5

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Salaries in Santa Cruz are about 2.5 times higher, 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 in Ubud, Bali versus $64 in Santa Cruz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $371 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇯🇲 Santa Cruz
🕒 Local time
22:11 10:11 PM
09:11 9:11 AM
13 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
8,217
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JMD, USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18,025 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.55 USD). 1 EUR = 20,061 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.98 EUR).

Jamaican Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JMD (1,000 JMD = 6.34 USD). 1 EUR = 176 JMD (1,000 JMD = 5.7 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Santa Cruz 18,260 km ≈ 23 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Santa Cruz

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Which city is cheaper: Ubud, Bali or Santa Cruz?
Ubud, Bali costs about 5% more than Santa Cruz, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,023 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,928 in Santa Cruz. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali and in Santa Cruz?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,349 in Ubud, Bali and $1,285 in Santa Cruz. That’s a gap of about 5%.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $491 per month in Ubud, Bali and $359 in Santa Cruz. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 enough for either Ubud, Bali or Santa Cruz?
$1,500 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,349 in Ubud, Bali and $1,285 in Santa Cruz, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is it better to live in Ubud, Bali or in Santa Cruz?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,285 in Santa Cruz to $1,349 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

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