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 $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,611 in Santa Pola, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,399 in Santa Pola, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,188 in Santa Pola, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 11% cheaper than Santa Pola, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ubud, Bali and Santa Pola sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 7%, Santa Pola by 20%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Santa Pola
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 61.9K
$15.07 €12.90
-76.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.58 Rp 564.7K
$57.5 €49.22
-43.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.07 Rp 87.8K
$10.48 €8.97
-51.62%
Cappuccino
$2.83 Rp 49.0K
$2.19 €1.87
29.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34 Rp 23.2K
$2.46 €2.10
-45.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
$1.68 €1.44
-58.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.99 Rp 51.8K
$3.53 €3.02
-15.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.85 Rp 66.7K
$3.45 €2.96
11.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Santa Pola
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 Rp 30.2K
$1.17 €1.00
48.72%
White Bread (500g)
$2.54 Rp 44.0K
$1.38 €1.18
84.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 20.6K
$1.66 €1.42
-28.31%
Eggs
$2.43 Rp 42.0K
$2.82 €2.41
-13.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.66 Rp 254.1K
$13.52 €11.58
8.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.18 Rp 72.4K
$8.21 €7.03
-49.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 Rp 206.9K
$14.89 €12.75
-19.81%
Apples (1kg)
$3.69 Rp 63.9K
$2.43 €2.08
51.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 27.8K
$1.67 €1.43
-3.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.69 Rp 46.5K
$1.92 €1.64
40.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 40.4K
$2.65 €2.26
-12.08%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.0K
$1.72 €1.47
11.05%
Onion (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 37.9K
$2.00 €1.71
9.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
$1.39 €1.19
-23.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 Rp 12.5K
$0.70 €0.60
2.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13 Rp 54.3K
$6.13 €5.25
-48.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 407.1K
$5.58 €4.78
320.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 Rp 47.5K
$1.24 €1.06
120.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88 Rp 49.9K
$2.12 €1.82
35.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Santa Pola
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,029
$1.67 €1.43
-82.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 141.6K
$34.30 €29.36
-76.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 7,863
$4.00 €3.42
-88.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,305
$1.20 €1.03
-65.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.16 Rp 106.7K
$24.91 €21.32
-75.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 14.6K
$1.74 €1.49
-51.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.2K Rp 454.9M
$38.8K €33.2K
-32.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 562.9M
$30.5K €26.1K
6.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Santa Pola
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
$134 €115
-41.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.95 Rp 68.5K
$21.19 €18.14
-81.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.40 Rp 423.0K
$31.80 €27.22
-23.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Santa Pola
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$96.5 Rp 1.7M
$46.90 €40.14
105.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 110.0K
$14.97 €12.82
-57.58%
Cinema Ticket
$4.04 Rp 70.0K
$8.98 €7.69
-55.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Santa Pola
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$303 Rp 5.2M
$400 €342
-24.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,523 Rp 113.1M
$7,475 €6,399
-12.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Santa Pola
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.8 Rp 933.1K
$82.9 €70.9
-35.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98 Rp 658.3K
$35.64 €30.51
6.57%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.8 Rp 1.5M
$88.0 €75.3
-1.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.9 Rp 1.4M
$111 €94.7
-28.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Santa Pola
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 Rp 17.5M
$862 €737
17.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 Rp 11.7M
$699 €599
-3.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,390 Rp 58.8M
$1,344 €1,150
152.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,098 Rp 36.4M
$1,003 €858
109.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,985 Rp 51.7M
$3,478 €2,977
-14.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,339 Rp 40.5M
$2,370 €2,029
-1.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Santa Pola
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$173 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
3.5
279.43%

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 Pola: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $862 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $57.0 in Santa Pola. Groceries tell a different story – $298 in Ubud, Bali vs $258 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 12% 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 vs Santa Pola?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $2,416 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 vs Santa Pola?
Public transport costs about 320% 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 Santa Pola?
Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Ubud, Bali and $400 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 Santa Pola?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,438, than in Santa Pola at $1,611. 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 $1,438 versus $1,611 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 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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