Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Sao Joao da Boa Vista Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Sao Joao da Boa Vista

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,404 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $805 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,251 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,694 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,697 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 74% more than Sao Joao da Boa Vista, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 4% above the global median, while Sao Joao da Boa Vista is 40% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 64.0K

$5.41 R$27.41

-34.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.50 Rp 582.3K

$26.65 R$135

21.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.86 Rp 87.1K

$5.67 R$28.72

-14.29%

Cappuccino

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

$2.08 R$10.51

32.21%

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

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

$1.20 R$6.06

10.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.93 R$4.69

-24.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

$2.13 R$10.78

36.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 Rp 68.0K

$2.64 R$13.38

43.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 Rp 30.6K

$0.92 R$4.63

85.87%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

$1.58 R$8.00

56.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$1.33 R$6.71

-9.77%

Eggs

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

$2.91 R$14.72

-16.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.38 Rp 257.7K

$12.36 R$62.6

16.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 Rp 77.1K

$4.10 R$20.75

5.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.21 Rp 218.7K

$9.02 R$45.67

35.37%

Apples (1kg)

$3.68 Rp 66.0K

$1.67 R$8.47

120.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

$1.20 R$6.06

29.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

$2.11 R$10.69

32.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.8K

$1.74 R$8.80

33.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.3K

$1.26 R$6.40

56.35%

Onion (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.4K

$1.29 R$6.53

79.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$1.08 R$5.47

-1.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$0.47 R$2.39

55.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.28 Rp 58.8K

$2.12 R$10.73

54.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.79 Rp 408.4K

$5.72 R$28.95

298.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.81 Rp 50.3K

$1.36 R$6.89

106.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.78 Rp 49.9K

$2.08 R$10.53

33.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,217

$0.86 R$4.37

-66.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.06 Rp 144.4K

$38.95 R$197

-79.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,047

$1.28 R$6.49

-64.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,094

$1.01 R$5.11

-55.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.24 Rp 111.7K

$6.35 R$32.13

-1.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

$0.78 R$3.94

8.97%

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

$26.0K Rp 465.4M

$21.0K R$106.4K

23.57%

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

$31.7K Rp 567.2M

$28.4K R$143.8K

11.48%

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

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

$87.8 R$445

-8.07%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

$12.03 R$60.9

-66.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.42 Rp 437.6K

$17.85 R$90.4

36.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

$22.96 R$116

325.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.45 Rp 115.5K

$21.65 R$110

-70.21%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 72.4K

$4.59 R$23.26

-11.98%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

$283 R$1,434

7.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 Rp 118.6M

$8,051 R$40.8K

-17.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.2 Rp 971.7K

$46.60 R$236

16.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.78 Rp 694.7K

$39.27 R$199

-1.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

$39.90 R$202

115.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.7 Rp 1.4M

$41.75 R$211

83.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$986 Rp 17.7M

$316 R$1,598

212.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.8M

$219 R$1,110

200.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,369 Rp 60.4M

$586 R$2,968

474.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,066 Rp 37.0M

$426 R$2,155

385.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,741 Rp 49.1M

$1,425 R$7,217

92.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,228 Rp 39.9M

$977 R$4,945

128.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

$646 R$3,271

-74.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

10.67%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026

Last update for Sao Joao da Boa Vista: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $986 in Ubud, Bali versus $316 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista. 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 295% higher in Sao Joao da Boa Vista, 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $27.00 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $198 – making Sao Joao da Boa Vista 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 Sao Joao da Boa Vista: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 74%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,106 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,208 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sao Joao da Boa Vista, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $304 per month in Ubud, Bali and $283 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 50% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sao Joao da Boa Vista, where all-in costs run around $805, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,404. In Sao Joao da Boa Vista it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sao Joao da Boa Vista – 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 Sao Joao da Boa Vista. 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.