Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Santa Monica, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,368 a month against $4,430 in Santa Monica, CA, rent and utilities included – about $36,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

67

Cost of Living Index in Ubud, Bali
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Ubud, Bali Living Index
214

Cost of Living Index in Santa Monica, CA
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Santa Monica, CA Living Index

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Ubud, Bali

🇮🇩 Indonesia

$1,368

/mo nomad

Santa Monica, CA

🇺🇸 United States

$4,430

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Santa Monica, CA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Santa Monica, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,430 in Santa Monica, CA, rent included.

Ubud, Bali $1,368
Santa Monica, CA $4,430

A couple spends around $2,314 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $6,581 in Santa Monica, CA, rent included.

Ubud, Bali $2,314
Santa Monica, CA $6,581

A family of three spends $3,260 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $8,732 in Santa Monica, CA, rent included.

Ubud, Bali $3,260
Santa Monica, CA $8,732

Ubud, Bali is about 69% cheaper than Santa Monica, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Santa Monica, CA sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 1%, Santa Monica, CA by 228%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.33 Rp 59.9K

$26.77 $26.77

-87.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.18 Rp 633.2K

$118 $118

-70.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.80 Rp 104.5K

$14.88 $14.88

-61.02%

Cappuccino

$2.73 Rp 49.1K

$5.93 $5.93

-53.96%

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

$1.64 Rp 29.5K

$3.26 $3.26

-49.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 Rp 15.0K

$2.40 $2.40

-65.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.70 Rp 48.6K

$8.13 $8.13

-66.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 Rp 77.4K

$9.95 $9.95

-56.78%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.50 Rp 27.1K

$1.34 $1.34

11.94%

White Bread (500g)

$2.30 Rp 41.4K

$4.57 $4.57

-49.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 Rp 21.2K

$4.65 $4.65

-74.62%

Eggs

$2.14 Rp 38.6K

$5.73 $5.73

-62.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.48 Rp 314.6K

$15.77 $15.77

10.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.03 Rp 72.5K

$14.21 $14.21

-71.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.23 Rp 220.1K

$19.80 $19.80

-38.23%

Apples (1kg)

$3.55 Rp 63.9K

$4.76 $4.76

-25.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.3K

$2.29 $2.29

-31.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

$3.95 $3.95

-43.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.93 Rp 34.7K

$5.45 $5.45

-64.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.88 Rp 33.9K

$3.31 $3.31

-43.20%

Onion (1kg)

$2.29 Rp 41.3K

$2.83 $2.83

-19.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 Rp 17.9K

$2.14 $2.14

-53.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 Rp 9,475

$2.48 $2.48

-78.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 Rp 41.1K

$11.56 $11.56

-80.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.01 Rp 414.2K

$15.25 $15.25

50.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 Rp 42.2K

$2.43 $2.43

-3.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 Rp 52.4K

$3.06 $3.06

-4.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 Rp 4,315

$2.52 $2.52

-90.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.82 Rp 158.7K

$67.0 $67.0

-86.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,684

$3.15 $3.15

-84.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 Rp 8,233

$1.90 $1.90

-75.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 Rp 98.2K

$32.68 $32.68

-83.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 Rp 15.9K

$1.45 $1.45

-39.31%

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

$24.6K Rp 442.2M

$36.8K $36.8K

-33.24%

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

$31.2K Rp 561.4M

$25.6K $25.6K

21.98%

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

$83.0 Rp 1.5M

$218 $218

-61.89%

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

$6.45 Rp 116.0K

$46.37 $46.37

-86.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.57 Rp 334.2K

$65.1 $65.1

-71.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.8 Rp 1.0M

$70.7 $70.7

-21.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.11 Rp 326.0K

$44.11 $44.11

-58.94%

Cinema Ticket

$4.38 Rp 78.9K

$19.36 $19.36

-77.38%

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

$493 Rp 8.9M

$1,694 $1,694

-70.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,754 Rp 103.6M

$32.5K $32.5K

-82.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.19 Rp 831.4K

$88.9 $88.9

-48.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.33 Rp 636.0K

$54.8 $54.8

-35.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.1 Rp 1.4M

$104 $104

-23.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$121 $121

-35.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,142 Rp 20.6M

$3,328 $3,328

-65.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$676 Rp 12.2M

$2,860 $2,860

-76.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,503 Rp 63.1M

$5,804 $5,804

-39.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,700 Rp 30.6M

$5,048 $5,048

-66.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 50.1M

$10.9K $10.9K

-74.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,241 Rp 40.3M

$7,924 $7,924

-71.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$6,900 $6,900

-97.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

6.62

108.16%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 11, 2026

Last update for Santa Monica, CA: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Ubud, Bali

$676 49.4%

Santa Monica, CA

$2.9K 64.6% 323% $2.2K

Groceries & Markets

Ubud, Bali

$290 21.2%

Santa Monica, CA

$462 10.4% 59% $171

Eating Out

Ubud, Bali

$109 8%

Santa Monica, CA

$413 9.3% 280% $304

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Ubud, Bali

$108 7.9%

Santa Monica, CA

$329 7.4% 205% $221

Clothing & Footwear

Ubud, Bali

$108 7.9%

Santa Monica, CA

$166 3.8% 54.4% $59

Sport & Entertainment

Ubud, Bali

$65 4.7%

Santa Monica, CA

$109 2.5% 69.4% $45

Getting Around

Ubud, Bali

$13 0.9%

Santa Monica, CA

$90 2% 615% $77

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,142 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,328 in Santa Monica, CA. 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 4093% higher in Santa Monica, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $118 in Santa Monica, CA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $290 vs $462 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali

🇺🇸 Santa Monica, CA

🕒 Local time

09:45 9:45 AM

18:45 6:45 PM

15 h behind Ubud, Bali

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

74,800

89,736

💱 Currency

Indonesian Rupiah IDR Rp

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD

100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇮🇩 Indonesian Rupiah (Rp)

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

USD to IDR in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Ubud, Bali Santa Monica, CA 13,850 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight

From you

Ubud, Bali
Santa Monica, CA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Monica, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Santa Monica, CA is pricier by about 224%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,051 per month in Ubud, Bali and $6,645 in Santa Monica, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $493 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,694 in Santa Monica, CA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 59% more in Santa Monica, CA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,368, than in Santa Monica, CA at $4,430. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santa Monica, CA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ubud, Bali – 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 Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santa Monica, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.