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 $1,395 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $878 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,559 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,429 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,724 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,981 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 59% more than Santa Cruz, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% above the global median, while Santa Cruz is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.48 Rp 59.7K

$7.66 JMD 1,213

-54.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.88 Rp 563.4K

$62.0 JMD 9,819

-47.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.09 Rp 87.2K

$8.89 JMD 1,407

-42.74%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 47.1K

$4.39 JMD 695

-37.36%

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

$1.38 Rp 23.7K

$1.31 JMD 207

5.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 Rp 12.2K

$0.76 JMD 120

-6.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.88 Rp 49.3K

$2.56 JMD 405

12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.87 Rp 66.3K

$3.15 JMD 498

22.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 Rp 30.7K

$4.44 JMD 703

-59.68%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 Rp 41.9K

$3.62 JMD 573

-32.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 Rp 20.7K

$1.55 JMD 246

-21.94%

Eggs

$2.39 Rp 40.9K

$3.48 JMD 550

-31.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.70 Rp 251.9K

$10.91 JMD 1,727

34.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.24 Rp 72.7K

$6.50 JMD 1,029

-34.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.08 Rp 206.9K

$7.69 JMD 1,216

57.09%

Apples (1kg)

$3.66 Rp 62.8K

$5.99 JMD 948

-38.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.5K

$3.15 JMD 499

-48.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 Rp 46.6K

$4.31 JMD 682

-36.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.27 Rp 38.9K

$2.96 JMD 468

-23.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 32.6K

$2.10 JMD 332

-9.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.30 Rp 39.4K

$2.02 JMD 320

13.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 Rp 17.4K

$3.09 JMD 490

-66.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.3K

$1.50 JMD 237

-48.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.24 Rp 55.6K

$8.68 JMD 1,374

-62.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.06 Rp 412.3K

$11.38 JMD 1,801

111.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 Rp 48.7K

$2.88 JMD 455

-1.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 47.8K

$3.22 JMD 510

-13.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,606

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.24 Rp 141.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,700

$1.12 JMD 177

-59.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,298

$3.27 JMD 517

-86.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.02 Rp 103.2K

$6.12 JMD 968

-1.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 Rp 14.7K

$1.23 JMD 194

-30.08%

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

$26.1K Rp 446.6M

$43.5K JMD 6.9M

-40.02%

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

$31.7K Rp 543.2M

$33.3K JMD 5.3M

-4.79%

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

$78.3 Rp 1.3M

$161 JMD 25.5K

-51.39%

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

$4.00 Rp 68.5K

$21.96 JMD 3,476

-81.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.35 Rp 417.3K

$51.8 JMD 8,200

-53.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.8 Rp 1.6M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.46 Rp 110.6K

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 Rp 68.7K

$12.91 JMD 2,043

-68.94%

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

$302 Rp 5.2M

$225 JMD 35.6K

34.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,545 Rp 112.2M

$2,521 JMD 398.9K

159.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.4 Rp 915.5K

$26.24 JMD 4,153

103.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.55 Rp 660.6K

$25.28 JMD 4,001

52.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.1 Rp 1.5M

$70.6 JMD 11.2K

26.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$76.9 JMD 12.2K

2.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,016 Rp 17.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$672 Rp 11.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,368 Rp 57.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,108 Rp 36.1M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,001 Rp 51.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,337 Rp 40.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$178 Rp 3.0M

$401 JMD 63.4K

-55.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

9.15

45.14%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 12, 2026

Last update for Santa Cruz: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,016 in Ubud, Bali versus $0 in Santa Cruz. 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 126% 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 $33 in Ubud, Bali versus $62 in Santa Cruz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $354 – 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 59%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,092 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,317 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 $1,395 in Ubud, Bali and $878 in Santa Cruz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $302 per month in Ubud, Bali and $225 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 $878, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,395. 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.