Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and St John Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and St John

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,378 in Ubud, Bali versus $322 in St John.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $929 in St John.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,275 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,536 in St John.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 328% more expensive than in St John, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 0% above, St John is 77% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.33 Rp 58.7K

$19.94 $19.94

-83.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.82 Rp 631.0K

$177 $177

-79.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.63 Rp 99.2K

Cappuccino

$2.82 Rp 49.7K

$6.87 $6.87

-58.95%

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

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

$2.91 $2.91

-39.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

$2.03 $2.03

-60.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 Rp 53.6K

$8.15 $8.15

-62.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

$8.18 $8.18

-47.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 Rp 28.3K

White Bread (500g)

$2.27 Rp 40.0K

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

Eggs

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.63 Rp 310.6K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.05 Rp 71.4K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 214.6K

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.7K

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 Rp 28.8K

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 40.6K

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

Potato (1kg)

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 Rp 41.8K

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 Rp 9,564

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.30 Rp 40.6K

Wine (Bottle)

$23.08 Rp 406.5K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 Rp 54.0K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,366

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.42 Rp 165.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,635

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 Rp 8,352

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 Rp 98.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

$1.57 $1.57

-48.41%

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

$25.0K Rp 440.5M

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

$31.1K Rp 547.2M

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

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

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

$6.49 Rp 114.3K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.79 Rp 331.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.2 Rp 973.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.21 Rp 320.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

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

$494 Rp 8.7M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,917 Rp 104.2M

$13.8K $13.8K

-56.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.28 Rp 815.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.44 Rp 641.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.8 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 Rp 19.6M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$693 Rp 12.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,639 Rp 64.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,712 Rp 30.2M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,761 Rp 48.6M

$12.8K $12.8K

-78.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,293 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 Rp 2.9M

$5,178 $5,178

-96.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

7.05

95.46%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 6, 2026

Last update for St John: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

St John pays 2999% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out at a mid-range restaurant: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $177 in St John for two.

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 St John: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali and St John differ by about 328% in total monthly costs ($1,378 vs $322 including rent). St John is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 2999% lower in St John. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Dining out is cheaper in St John – a meal for two runs $177 versus $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,378 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $322 in St John – a 328% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $322 in St John versus $1,378 in Ubud, Bali, a $2,000 budget is realistic in St John but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes St John the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and St John are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find St John gentler on the wallet – expenses run 328% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.