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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,718 in Santa Pola, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,494 in Santa Pola, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,271 in Santa Pola, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 20% cheaper than Santa Pola, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Santa Pola sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 0%, Santa Pola by 26%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Santa Pola
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44 Rp 60.9K
$17.47 €15.23
-80.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.31 Rp 643.0K
$59.3 €51.7
-38.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.71 Rp 101.0K
$11.72 €10.22
-51.28%
Cappuccino
$2.67 Rp 47.3K
$2.33 €2.03
14.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 Rp 31.0K
$2.49 €2.17
-29.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 Rp 15.4K
$1.93 €1.68
-54.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 Rp 52.3K
$3.44 €3.00
-14.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52 Rp 80.0K
$3.79 €3.31
19.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Santa Pola
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
$1.19 €1.04
36.13%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
$1.45 €1.26
60.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 19.6K
$1.65 €1.44
-32.73%
Eggs
$2.20 Rp 39.0K
$3.34 €2.91
-34.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.69 Rp 313.3K
$14.04 €12.24
26.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.10 Rp 72.5K
$8.35 €7.28
-50.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.18 Rp 215.6K
$16.64 €14.50
-26.80%
Apples (1kg)
$3.71 Rp 65.6K
$2.68 €2.34
38.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.1K
$1.67 €1.45
-4.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.4K
$2.11 €1.84
8.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.95 Rp 34.6K
$2.58 €2.25
-24.42%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.7K
$1.93 €1.68
-1.04%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
$2.18 €1.90
6.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 17.8K
$1.41 €1.23
-28.37%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 9,773
$0.77 €0.67
-28.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 Rp 39.5K
$6.43 €5.61
-65.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.07 Rp 408.6K
$5.91 €5.15
290.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 Rp 42.8K
$1.28 €1.12
89.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 Rp 53.1K
$2.19 €1.91
36.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Santa Pola
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,814
$1.71 €1.49
-84.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.98 Rp 159.1K
$34.21 €29.82
-73.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,566
$4.05 €3.53
-88.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,679
$1.40 €1.22
-69.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.64 Rp 99.9K
$24.59 €21.44
-77.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
$1.80 €1.57
-55.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K Rp 441.7M
$36.5K €31.8K
-31.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 561.5M
$30.7K €26.7K
3.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Santa Pola
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
$158 €137
-48.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49 Rp 115.0K
$18.51 €16.13
-64.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.77 Rp 332.4K
$31.38 €27.35
-40.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Santa Pola
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.9 Rp 1.0M
$45.52 €39.68
24.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.73 Rp 331.7K
$16.62 €14.48
12.70%
Cinema Ticket
$4.54 Rp 80.4K
$9.96 €8.68
-54.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Santa Pola
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$481 Rp 8.5M
$490 €427
-1.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,711 Rp 101.1M
$8,718 €7,599
-34.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Santa Pola
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.52 Rp 806.0K
$87.0 €75.8
-47.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.88 Rp 635.4K
$38.05 €33.17
-5.70%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
$94.5 €82.4
-14.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
$113 €98.1
-30.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Santa Pola
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,115 Rp 19.7M
$913 €795
22.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$698 Rp 12.4M
$694 €605
0.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,637 Rp 64.4M
$1,387 €1,209
162.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,737 Rp 30.8M
$1,052 €917
65.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 Rp 49.3M
$3,452 €3,009
-19.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,290 Rp 40.5M
$2,320 €2,022
-1.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Santa Pola
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$168 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
3.3
317.58%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Santa Pola: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $913 in Santa Pola. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $59.0 in Santa Pola. Groceries tell a different story – $295 in Ubud, Bali vs $273 in Santa Pola – so Santa Pola wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Pola: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Santa Pola?
Santa Pola costs about 26% more than Ubud, Bali, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali and in Santa Pola?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,052 per month in Ubud, Bali and $2,577 in Santa Pola. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Ubud, Bali or Santa Pola?
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.
How expensive is transport in Ubud, Bali compared to Santa Pola?
Public transport costs about 281% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Santa Pola?
Kindergarten costs $481 per month in Ubud, Bali and $490 in Santa Pola. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Santa Pola?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,368, than in Santa Pola at $1,718. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Santa Pola it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Santa Pola?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,368 versus $1,718 in Santa Pola. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Santa Pola?
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.
Should I move to Ubud, Bali or to Santa Pola?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Santa Pola makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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