Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Santa Maria Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Santa Maria

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,408 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $657 in Santa Maria, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,090 in Santa Maria, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,763 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,523 in Santa Maria, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 114% more than Santa Maria, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 5% above the global median, while Santa Maria is 51% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Santa Maria
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45 Rp 62.1K
$4.56 R$23.20
-24.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.34 Rp 581.1K
$26.82 R$137
20.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.84 Rp 87.1K
$6.38 R$32.50
-24.14%
Cappuccino
$2.75 Rp 49.4K
$1.41 R$7.19
95.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 Rp 24.9K
$0.95 R$4.86
45.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
$0.59 R$2.98
27.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 53.8K
$1.43 R$7.26
109.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 69.2K
$3.54 R$18.04
8.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Santa Maria
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 31.2K
$0.89 R$4.51
95.51%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 Rp 44.2K
$1.40 R$7.14
75.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 Rp 21.0K
$1.04 R$5.31
12.50%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 43.7K
$1.56 R$7.96
55.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.50 Rp 260.6K
$8.17 R$41.59
77.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.35 Rp 78.2K
$3.70 R$18.84
17.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.98 Rp 215.3K
$7.49 R$38.14
59.95%
Apples (1kg)
$3.72 Rp 66.8K
$2.07 R$10.54
79.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
$1.26 R$6.40
29.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.74 Rp 49.3K
$1.33 R$6.79
106.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.3K
$1.45 R$7.41
54.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 Rp 34.5K
$1.05 R$5.32
82.86%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.9K
$1.08 R$5.50
111.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
$0.78 R$3.98
35.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
$0.58 R$2.97
24.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.29 Rp 59.0K
$1.88 R$9.60
75.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.19 Rp 416.8K
$7.81 R$39.74
196.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 Rp 49.9K
$0.97 R$4.95
186.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$1.86 R$9.47
46.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Santa Maria
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,786
$0.88 R$4.46
-69.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.11 Rp 145.7K
$27.18 R$138
-70.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,675
$1.66 R$8.47
-71.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,545
$1.04 R$5.30
-59.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.22 Rp 111.8K
$5.48 R$27.91
13.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.6K
$1.04 R$5.29
-22.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 478.2M
$23.0K R$116.9K
15.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2K Rp 578.5M
$27.5K R$139.9K
17.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Santa Maria
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$48.09 R$245
62.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.07 Rp 73.1K
$14.35 R$73.1
-71.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.33 Rp 437.1K
$16.30 R$83.0
49.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Santa Maria
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.6 Rp 1.8M
$21.79 R$111
352.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.34 Rp 113.9K
$10.90 R$55.5
-41.83%
Cinema Ticket
$3.99 Rp 71.6K
$5.26 R$26.79
-24.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Santa Maria
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$305 Rp 5.5M
$146 R$742
109.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,642 Rp 119.4M
$2,740 R$14.0K
142.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Santa Maria
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 Rp 972.9K
$48.47 R$247
11.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.81 Rp 679.4K
$38.94 R$198
-2.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.6M
$81.0 R$413
7.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4 Rp 1.4M
$57.1 R$291
33.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Santa Maria
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$992 Rp 17.8M
$272 R$1,386
264.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 Rp 12.1M
$152 R$775
342.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,375 Rp 60.7M
$581 R$2,959
480.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,050 Rp 36.8M
$326 R$1,658
529.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,805 Rp 50.4M
$1,920 R$9,775
46.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,227 Rp 40.0M
$660 R$3,359
237.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Santa Maria
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 3.0M
$623 R$3,172
-73.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
10
32.80%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026

Last update for Santa Maria: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $992 in Ubud, Bali versus $272 in Santa Maria. 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 273% higher in Santa Maria, 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 $27.00 in Santa Maria. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $169 – making Santa Maria 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 Maria: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Ubud, Bali and in Santa Maria compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, $657 in Santa Maria – roughly 114% apart. Ubud, Bali costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Ubud, Bali compared to Santa Maria?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,112 per month in Ubud, Bali and $986 in Santa Maria. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Ubud, Bali and Santa Maria?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Santa Maria, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ubud, Bali or Santa Maria?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,408 in Ubud, Bali and $657 in Santa Maria. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Santa Maria?
Public transport costs about 235% less in Santa Maria. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Santa Maria, where all-in costs run around $657, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In Santa Maria it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Ubud, Bali and Santa Maria?
It depends on your priorities. Ubud, Bali has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $657 in Santa Maria to $1,408 in Ubud, Bali. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Ubud, Bali or Santa Maria safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Ubud, Bali and Santa Maria?
If budget matters most, go with Santa Maria. 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.

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