Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Santarem

For one person, living is cheaper in Santarem: $1,303 a month against $1,349 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $550 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Ubud, Bali outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Santarem, Portugal
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,349
/mo nomad
Santarem
🇵🇹 Portugal
$1,303
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Santarem

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 Santarem actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,349 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,303 in Santarem.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,349
  • Santarem $1,303

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,305 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,010 in Santarem.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,305
  • Santarem $2,010

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,261 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,717 in Santarem.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,261
  • Santarem $2,717

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 4% more expensive than in Santarem, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Santarem
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32 Rp 60.2K
$12.18 €10.91
-72.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.64 Rp 645.8K
$38.63 €34.60
-7.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.53 Rp 100.3K
$8.97 €8.03
-38.35%
Cappuccino
$2.72 Rp 49.3K
$1.77 €1.58
53.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70 Rp 30.8K
$1.71 €1.53
-0.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
$1.11 €0.99
-31.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 48.1K
$2.17 €1.95
22.12%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 Rp 79.4K
$3.28 €2.94
33.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Santarem
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.49 Rp 27.0K
$1.12 €1.01
33.04%
White Bread (500g)
$2.28 Rp 41.2K
$0.47 €0.42
385.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
$1.10 €0.98
8.18%
Eggs
$2.04 Rp 36.9K
$3.29 €2.94
-37.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.70 Rp 320.8K
$10.84 €9.71
63.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.96 Rp 71.8K
$7.01 €6.28
-43.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.19 Rp 220.9K
$13.56 €12.15
-10.10%
Apples (1kg)
$3.66 Rp 66.2K
$2.74 €2.46
33.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 27.5K
$1.33 €1.19
14.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.4K
$2.54 €2.27
-12.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.7K
$2.14 €1.92
-7.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 33.5K
$1.43 €1.28
29.37%
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 43.9K
$1.58 €1.41
53.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 17.9K
$1.15 €1.03
-13.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,303
$0.29 €0.26
75.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22 Rp 40.3K
$5.68 €5.09
-60.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.24 Rp 403.0K
$5.71 €5.11
289.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 Rp 41.0K
$1.22 €1.09
85.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.8K
$3.57 €3.20
-16.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Santarem
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,548
$2.22 €1.99
-88.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.82 Rp 141.8K
$56.2 €50.3
-86.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,964
$3.70 €3.31
-88.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,793
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 Rp 98.0K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 14.9K
$2.10 €1.88
-60.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8K Rp 432.0M
$33.3K €29.8K
-28.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 575.3M
$38.3K €34.3K
-17.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Santarem
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
$127 €114
-37.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.45 Rp 116.8K
$20.29 €18.17
-68.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.58 Rp 336.7K
$56.5 €50.6
-67.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Santarem
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.48 Rp 896.7K
$37.18 €33.30
33.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.65 Rp 319.8K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.27 Rp 77.4K
$6.79 €6.08
-37.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Santarem
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$491 Rp 8.9M
$425 €380
15.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,674 Rp 102.8M
$19.0K €17.0K
-70.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Santarem
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.64 Rp 808.9K
$78.8 €70.6
-43.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.95 Rp 633.4K
$37.35 €33.45
-6.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
$107 €96.1
-25.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.4 Rp 1.4M
$135 €121
-41.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Santarem
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,125 Rp 20.4M
$653 €585
72.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$671 Rp 12.2M
$419 €376
60.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,565 Rp 64.6M
$1,027 €919
247.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,723 Rp 31.2M
$808 €723
113.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,732 Rp 49.5M
$2,173 €1,946
25.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,284 Rp 41.4M
$1,099 €984
107.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Santarem
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
$1,080 €967
-84.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
4.76
189.50%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 25, 2026

Last update for Santarem: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$672
Santarem
$419 37.5% $252
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$288
Santarem
$224 22.2% $64
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$108
Santarem
$174 61.8% $67
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$108
Santarem
$161 50.1% $54
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$104
Santarem
$204 95.8% $100
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$58
Santarem
$51 12.5% $7.3
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$11
Santarem
$69 * 502% $57

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,125 in Ubud, Bali and $653 in Santarem. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Santarem pays about 6.6 times more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $36 in Ubud, Bali vs $39 in Santarem. Groceries flip the comparison at $288 vs $224, with Santarem cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇵🇹 Santarem
🕒 Local time
04:04 4:04 AM
20:04 8:04 PM
8 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
58,671
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 18,120 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.52 USD). 1 EUR = 20,232 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Santarem 13,500 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Santarem

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 Santarem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Santarem?
Santarem wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Santarem the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or in Santarem?
On paper, salaries run 85% lower in Ubud, Bali. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali compared to Santarem?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,125 in Ubud, Bali versus $653 in Santarem. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Ubud, Bali compared to Santarem?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 86% less than in Santarem. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Ubud, Bali and in Santarem?
Childcare runs $491 in Ubud, Bali versus $425 in Santarem. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Santarem?
Both cities are expensive relative to $1,000. Santarem is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ubud, Bali or Santarem?
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.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Santarem?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Santarem are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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