😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,438 in Ubud, Bali versus $648 in Santa Lucía Milpas Altas.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,585 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,084 in Santa Lucía Milpas Altas.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,732 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,520 in Santa Lucía Milpas Altas.
😐Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 122% more expensive than Santa Lucía Milpas Altas, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 7% above, Santa Lucía Milpas Altas is 52% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Santa Lucía Milpas Altas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57Rp 61.6K
$2.59Q 19.80
37.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58Rp 562.6K
$15.92Q 122
104.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.07Rp 87.5K
$6.28Q 48.06
-19.27%
Cappuccino
$2.83Rp 48.8K
$3.33Q 25.49
-15.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34Rp 23.1K
$1.21Q 9.28
10.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69Rp 12.0K
$0.99Q 7.59
-30.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.99Rp 51.6K
$3.34Q 25.58
-10.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85Rp 66.4K
$4.52Q 34.59
-14.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Santa Lucía Milpas Altas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74Rp 30.1K
$1.02Q 7.82
70.59%
White Bread(500g)
$2.54Rp 43.8K
$1.60Q 12.21
58.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.19Rp 20.6K
$0.53Q 4.08
124.53%
Eggs
$2.43Rp 41.9K
$1.61Q 12.30
50.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.66Rp 253.2K
$7.69Q 58.9
90.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.18Rp 72.1K
$8.33Q 63.7
-49.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94Rp 206.1K
$8.70Q 66.6
37.24%
Apples(1kg)
$3.69Rp 63.6K
$3.48Q 26.59
6.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61Rp 27.7K
$1.52Q 11.65
5.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.69Rp 46.4K
$3.18Q 24.29
-15.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.33Rp 40.2K
$1.17Q 8.92
99.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91Rp 32.9K
$1.47Q 11.27
29.93%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19Rp 37.7K
$1.12Q 8.58
95.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 18.3K
$0.54Q 4.16
96.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72Rp 12.5K
$0.76Q 5.79
-5.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13Rp 54.1K
$3.56Q 27.21
-12.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.49Rp 405.6K
$8.34Q 63.8
181.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74Rp 47.3K
$1.61Q 12.35
70.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88Rp 49.7K
$2.40Q 18.34
20.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Santa Lucía Milpas Altas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,010
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.17Rp 141.0K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 7,834
$5.15Q 39.42
-91.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.42Rp 7,278
$0.59Q 4.53
-28.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.16Rp 106.3K
$15.47Q 118
-60.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84Rp 14.5K
$1.06Q 8.14
-20.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2KRp 453.1M
$19.7KQ 150.4K
33.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5KRp 560.8M
$24.3KQ 185.8K
33.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Santa Lucía Milpas Altas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$78.4Rp 1.4M
$79.7Q 610
-1.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95Rp 68.2K
$26.35Q 202
-85.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40Rp 421.4K
$26.32Q 201
-7.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Santa Lucía Milpas Altas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$96.5Rp 1.7M
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35Rp 109.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.04Rp 69.7K
$7.00Q 53.5
-42.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Santa Lucía Milpas Altas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$303Rp 5.2M
$106Q 813
184.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,523Rp 112.6M
$5,881Q 45.0K
10.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Santa Lucía Milpas Altas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8Rp 929.5K
$50.5Q 386
6.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98Rp 655.8K
$53.7Q 411
-29.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.8Rp 1.5M
$115Q 883
-24.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9Rp 1.4M
$122Q 934
-35.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Santa Lucía Milpas Altas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,012Rp 17.5M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$674Rp 11.6M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,390Rp 58.5M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,098Rp 36.2M
$180Q 1,381
1062.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,985Rp 51.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,339Rp 40.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Santa Lucía Milpas Altas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$173Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
8.9
49.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026
Last update for Santa Lucía Milpas Altas: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $33.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $16.00 in Santa Lucía Milpas Altas for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $298 vs $218 per month, with Santa Lucía Milpas Altas cheaper across the board.
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 Lucía Milpas Altas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ubud, Bali and Santa Lucía Milpas Altas?
Ubud, Bali and Santa Lucía Milpas Altas differ by about 122% in total monthly costs ($1,438 vs $648 including rent). Santa Lucía Milpas Altas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Ubud, Bali compared to Santa Lucía Milpas Altas?
You'd need roughly $2,158 in Ubud, Bali and $972 in Santa Lucía Milpas Altas to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Santa Lucía Milpas Altas?
All in, you'll spend $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $648 in Santa Lucía Milpas Altas – a 122% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $648 in Santa Lucía Milpas Altas versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Santa Lucía Milpas Altas but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Santa Lucía Milpas Altas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Santa Lucía Milpas Altas?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ubud, Bali or Santa Lucía Milpas Altas safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Santa Lucía Milpas Altas are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ubud, Bali or Santa Lucía Milpas Altas?
Expats usually find Santa Lucía Milpas Altas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 122% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared