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 $1,396 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $700 in St Lucia, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $787 in St Lucia, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,273 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $875 in St Lucia, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 100% more than St Lucia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 2% above the global median, while St Lucia is 49% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.37 Rp 59.5K

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.59 Rp 680.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.52 Rp 97.3K

Cappuccino

$2.64 Rp 46.6K

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

$1.67 Rp 29.5K

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.63 Rp 46.4K

$4.95 EC$13.37

-46.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.28 Rp 75.5K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 Rp 27.3K

$2.01 EC$5.43

-22.89%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 Rp 39.2K

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 Rp 19.8K

$1.04 EC$2.80

8.65%

Eggs

$2.09 Rp 36.8K

$4.15 EC$11.21

-49.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.39 Rp 306.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.87 Rp 68.2K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.55 Rp 221.3K

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 63.8K

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.5K

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 Rp 41.5K

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 Rp 36.2K

Potato (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 33.5K

Onion (1kg)

$2.34 Rp 41.2K

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 Rp 18.2K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,781

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 Rp 39.7K

Wine (Bottle)

$23.81 Rp 419.8K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.31 Rp 40.8K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 Rp 49.4K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,803

$0.63 EC$1.70

-57.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.66 Rp 152.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,490

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 7,865

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.72 Rp 100.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

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

$24.5K Rp 431.7M

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

$32.1K Rp 566.4M

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

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

$100 EC$271

-16.65%

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

$6.46 Rp 113.8K

$45.23 EC$122

-85.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.99 Rp 334.9K

$39.06 EC$105

-51.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.0 Rp 987.0K

$56.3 EC$152

-0.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.62 Rp 328.3K

Cinema Ticket

$4.28 Rp 75.5K

$7.18 EC$19.39

-40.39%

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

$487 Rp 8.6M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,856 Rp 103.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.56 Rp 803.3K

$22.52 EC$60.8

102.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.38 Rp 641.5K

$54.6 EC$147

-33.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.0 Rp 1.4M

$110 EC$297

-25.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$149 EC$402

-46.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,117 Rp 19.7M

$334 EC$901

234.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$701 Rp 12.4M

$223 EC$602

214.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,537 Rp 62.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,762 Rp 31.1M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,826 Rp 49.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,292 Rp 40.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 Rp 3.0M

$766 EC$2,067

-77.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Last update for St Lucia: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,117 in Ubud, Bali versus $334 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 351% higher in St Lucia, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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 100%, 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 $2,095 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,049 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,396 in Ubud, Bali and $700 in St Lucia. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 616% 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 St Lucia, where all-in costs run around $700, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,396. 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.