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 $1,397 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $868 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,588 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,448 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,778 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,027 in Santa Cruz, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 61% more than Santa Cruz, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Santa Cruz is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.43 Rp 61.6K

$7.44 JMD 1,172

-53.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.97 Rp 574.4K

$63.3 JMD 9,961

-49.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.05 Rp 90.8K

$8.76 JMD 1,379

-42.35%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.8K

$4.35 JMD 685

-37.70%

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

$1.39 Rp 25.0K

$1.35 JMD 213

2.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 Rp 13.3K

$0.71 JMD 112

4.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.89 Rp 52.0K

$2.44 JMD 384

18.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.1K

$3.16 JMD 498

19.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 Rp 32.2K

$4.44 JMD 699

-59.68%

White Bread (500g)

$2.51 Rp 45.0K

$3.61 JMD 569

-30.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 Rp 21.8K

$1.58 JMD 248

-23.42%

Eggs

$2.37 Rp 42.5K

$3.58 JMD 564

-33.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.43 Rp 259.3K

$10.92 JMD 1,719

32.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.15 Rp 74.6K

$6.53 JMD 1,029

-36.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.11 Rp 217.7K

$7.57 JMD 1,192

59.97%

Apples (1kg)

$3.77 Rp 67.7K

$5.93 JMD 934

-36.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$3.01 JMD 474

-45.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 Rp 48.6K

$4.14 JMD 653

-34.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 Rp 40.5K

$3.01 JMD 475

-24.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.93 Rp 34.6K

$2.09 JMD 330

-7.66%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 39.4K

$1.99 JMD 314

10.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 Rp 18.3K

$2.97 JMD 468

-65.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$1.48 JMD 233

-51.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.18 Rp 57.2K

$8.88 JMD 1,398

-64.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.84 Rp 428.3K

$11.15 JMD 1,756

113.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.77 Rp 49.8K

$2.87 JMD 452

-3.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 Rp 49.4K

$3.10 JMD 488

-11.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,802

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.20 Rp 147.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,684

$1.11 JMD 175

-56.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,571

$3.09 JMD 487

-86.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.03 Rp 108.3K

$6.36 JMD 1,001

-5.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 Rp 14.7K

$1.23 JMD 194

-33.33%

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

$26.6K Rp 477.3M

$42.8K JMD 6.7M

-37.97%

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

$32.2K Rp 578.6M

$33.4K JMD 5.3M

-3.61%

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

$78.3 Rp 1.4M

$161 JMD 25.4K

-51.48%

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

$3.91 Rp 70.3K

$21.95 JMD 3,457

-82.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.91 Rp 429.7K

$51.8 JMD 8,162

-53.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.2 Rp 1.7M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.53 Rp 117.3K

Cinema Ticket

$4.01 Rp 72.1K

$13.26 JMD 2,087

-69.76%

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

$303 Rp 5.4M

$227 JMD 35.7K

33.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,551 Rp 117.7M

$2,505 JMD 394.4K

161.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.3 Rp 993.9K

$25.76 JMD 4,057

114.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.32 Rp 688.6K

$25.96 JMD 4,087

47.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.5 Rp 1.6M

$70.2 JMD 11.1K

25.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

$76.2 JMD 12.0K

0.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$682 Rp 12.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,420 Rp 61.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,075 Rp 37.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,762 Rp 49.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,243 Rp 40.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$169 Rp 3.0M

$401 JMD 63.1K

-57.88%

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: July 22, 2026

Last update for Santa Cruz: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 137% 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 $32.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $63.0 in Santa Cruz. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $351 – 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 61%, 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 $2,096 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,303 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 $1,397 in Ubud, Bali and $868 in Santa Cruz. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Ubud, Bali and $227 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 $868, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,397. 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.