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 $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $790 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,257 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,723 in Sao Joao da Boa Vista, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 82% more than Sao Joao da Boa Vista, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 7% above the global median, while Sao Joao da Boa Vista is 41% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 61.9K

$5.36 R$26.75

-33.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

$26.62 R$133

22.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

$5.81 R$28.97

-12.74%

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

$2.07 R$10.34

36.71%

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

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

$1.20 R$5.96

11.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

$0.92 R$4.60

-25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

$2.03 R$10.12

47.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

$2.72 R$13.59

41.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

$0.94 R$4.70

85.11%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

$1.54 R$7.69

64.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$1.33 R$6.63

-10.53%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

$2.85 R$14.21

-14.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

$12.75 R$63.6

14.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

$4.08 R$20.35

2.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

$8.68 R$43.29

37.56%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

$1.63 R$8.13

126.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

$1.24 R$6.20

29.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

$2.08 R$10.39

29.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

$1.81 R$9.02

28.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

$1.28 R$6.38

49.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

$1.29 R$6.45

69.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

$1.10 R$5.50

-3.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

$0.47 R$2.34

53.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

$2.10 R$10.47

49.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

$5.85 R$29.19

301.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

$1.35 R$6.75

102.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

$2.09 R$10.42

37.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,029

$0.89 R$4.44

-67.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

$38.62 R$193

-78.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,863

$1.28 R$6.41

-64.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,305

$1.06 R$5.30

-60.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

$6.38 R$31.84

-3.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

$0.84 R$4.18

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

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

$21.1K R$105.3K

24.36%

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

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

$29.3K R$146.0K

10.97%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$86.6 R$432

-9.40%

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

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

$11.75 R$58.7

-66.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

$17.93 R$89.5

36.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

$22.82 R$114

323.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

$21.99 R$110

-71.12%

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

$4.52 R$22.56

-10.62%

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

$284 R$1,419

6.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

$8,037 R$40.1K

-18.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

$46.49 R$232

15.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

$39.92 R$199

-4.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

$38.93 R$194

122.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$41.18 R$206

91.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

$318 R$1,588

218.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.7M

$219 R$1,090

208.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

$591 R$2,951

473.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

$434 R$2,167

383.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

$1,644 R$8,205

81.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

$1,137 R$5,675

105.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

$681 R$3,396

-74.56%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Sao Joao da Boa Vista: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $318 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 293% 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: $298 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 82%, 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 $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,185 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 $303 per month in Ubud, Bali and $284 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 $790, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. 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.