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 $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $879 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,438 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,998 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 60% 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

$3.57 Rp 64.7K

$7.37 JMD 1,159

-51.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.50 Rp 589.5K

$63.3 JMD 9,958

-48.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 Rp 88.2K

$8.95 JMD 1,407

-45.70%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.8K

$4.40 JMD 693

-37.50%

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

$1.32 Rp 24.0K

$1.31 JMD 205

0.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.7K

$0.74 JMD 117

-5.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 Rp 52.8K

$2.52 JMD 397

15.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.8K

$3.17 JMD 498

19.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 Rp 31.0K

$4.23 JMD 665

-59.57%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 Rp 44.9K

$3.49 JMD 549

-29.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.8K

$1.58 JMD 248

-24.05%

Eggs

$2.44 Rp 44.3K

$3.42 JMD 538

-28.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 260.9K

$11.24 JMD 1,768

27.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 78.1K

$6.55 JMD 1,030

-34.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 Rp 221.4K

$7.54 JMD 1,187

61.94%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.8K

$5.96 JMD 938

-38.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 28.1K

$3.16 JMD 497

-50.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 50.5K

$4.13 JMD 650

-32.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 42.3K

$3.00 JMD 472

-22.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.7K

$2.07 JMD 326

-4.83%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.9K

$1.94 JMD 305

19.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.3K

$2.99 JMD 470

-64.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

$1.46 JMD 229

-50.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 59.5K

$9.01 JMD 1,417

-63.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 413.4K

$11.47 JMD 1,804

98.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 Rp 50.9K

$2.85 JMD 449

-1.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 50.5K

$3.21 JMD 506

-13.40%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,281

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 146.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,146

$1.09 JMD 171

-58.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,193

$3.16 JMD 497

-85.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 113.1K

$6.15 JMD 967

1.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.4K

$1.23 JMD 193

-30.89%

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

$26.0K Rp 471.2M

$43.6K JMD 6.9M

-40.45%

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

$31.7K Rp 574.1M

$34.0K JMD 5.3M

-6.77%

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

$80.8 Rp 1.5M

$162 JMD 25.4K

-50.01%

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

$4.06 Rp 73.6K

$22.34 JMD 3,514

-81.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 442.9K

$50.2 JMD 7,897

-51.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.8M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 116.9K

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 73.3K

$12.93 JMD 2,034

-68.75%

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

$304 Rp 5.5M

$226 JMD 35.6K

34.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 120.1M

$2,445 JMD 384.5K

170.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 983.6K

$26.26 JMD 4,130

106.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 703.2K

$26.02 JMD 4,092

49.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.6M

$71.7 JMD 11.3K

20.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

$74.7 JMD 11.7K

2.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.9M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 61.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 Rp 37.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 3.0M

$405 JMD 63.7K

-59.63%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Santa Cruz: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 148% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $63.0 in Santa Cruz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $350 – 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 60%, 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 $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,318 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 $1,404 in Ubud, Bali and $879 in Santa Cruz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $226 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 $879, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. 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.