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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $981 in St Lucia, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,695 in St Lucia, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,410 in St Lucia, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 45% more than St Lucia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while St Lucia is 27% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.7K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 584.5K

$74.7 EC$202

-56.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.4K

$8.03 EC$21.68

-38.36%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.4K

$3.28 EC$8.86

-17.38%

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

$1.34 Rp 24.0K

$0.98 EC$2.66

36.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.97 EC$2.62

-27.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.1K

$4.07 EC$10.99

-28.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.7K

$5.02 EC$13.56

-21.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.3K

$1.95 EC$5.26

-7.18%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

$1.00 EC$2.71

16.00%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 43.9K

$4.28 EC$11.56

-42.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 262.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.1K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 216.7K

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.6K

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.8K

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.5K

$4.12 EC$11.11

-43.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

$8.39 EC$22.66

-77.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.3K

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.2K

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 423.9K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 49.8K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.1K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,800

$0.68 EC$1.84

-60.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,150

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,037

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 108.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

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

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

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

$32.1K Rp 573.6M

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

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$101 EC$273

-20.95%

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

$4.06 Rp 72.6K

$44.08 EC$119

-90.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 420.0K

$38.18 EC$103

-38.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$56.3 EC$152

75.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.4K

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.1K

$7.55 EC$20.39

-45.03%

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

$304 Rp 5.4M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 991.8K

$22.38 EC$60.4

148.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 684.1K

$54.6 EC$147

-29.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$112 EC$303

-21.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$151 EC$407

-48.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$335 EC$904

200.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$385 EC$1,040

75.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.4M

$922 EC$2,490

121.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$754 EC$2,035

-78.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for St Lucia: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $335 in St Lucia. 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 356% higher in St Lucia, 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 $75.0 in St Lucia. Groceries tell a different story – $302 in Ubud, Bali vs $86.0 in St Lucia – so St Lucia 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 St Lucia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 45%, 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 $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,471 in St Lucia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in St Lucia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 250% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $75.0 in St Lucia. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in St Lucia, where all-in costs run around $981, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In St Lucia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward St Lucia – 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 St Lucia. 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.