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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,362 in St Thomas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,348 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $7,203 in St Thomas, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,327 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $10.0K in St Thomas, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 69% cheaper than St Thomas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ubud, Bali and St Thomas sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 0%, St Thomas by 219%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 Rp 60.9K

$22.41 $22.41

-84.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.31 Rp 643.0K

$169 $169

-78.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 Rp 101.0K

$13.25 $13.25

-56.91%

Cappuccino

$2.67 Rp 47.3K

$5.76 $5.76

-53.65%

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

$1.75 Rp 31.0K

$4.11 $4.11

-57.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 Rp 15.4K

$3.42 $3.42

-74.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.95 Rp 52.3K

$4.86 $4.86

-39.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 Rp 80.0K

$6.85 $6.85

-34.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

$2.79 $2.79

-41.94%

White Bread (500g)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$6.52 $6.52

-64.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 Rp 19.6K

$18.83 $18.83

-94.11%

Eggs

$2.20 Rp 39.0K

$8.87 $8.87

-75.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.69 Rp 313.3K

$11.17 $11.17

58.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.10 Rp 72.5K

$28.89 $28.89

-85.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 215.6K

$39.88 $39.88

-69.46%

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 Rp 65.6K

$11.90 $11.90

-68.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.1K

$10.96 $10.96

-85.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.4K

$12.37 $12.37

-81.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 Rp 34.6K

$19.48 $19.48

-89.99%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.7K

$1.95 $1.95

-2.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$8.94 $8.94

-73.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 17.8K

$8.05 $8.05

-87.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 Rp 9,773

$5.52 $5.52

-90.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 Rp 39.5K

Wine (Bottle)

$23.07 Rp 408.6K

$24.91 $24.91

-7.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.42 Rp 42.8K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.1K

$6.14 $6.14

-51.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,814

$1.95 $1.95

-86.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.98 Rp 159.1K

$60.9 $60.9

-85.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,566

$19.69 $19.69

-97.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,679

$3.10 $3.10

-86.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.64 Rp 99.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

$1.45 $1.45

-44.83%

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

$24.9K Rp 441.7M

$54.7K $54.7K

-54.39%

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

$31.7K Rp 561.5M

$47.6K $47.6K

-33.32%

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

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

$448 $448

-81.81%

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

$6.49 Rp 115.0K

$101 $101

-93.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.77 Rp 332.4K

$150 $150

-87.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

$165 $165

-65.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 Rp 331.7K

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 Rp 80.4K

$10.02 $10.02

-54.69%

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

$481 Rp 8.5M

$1,521 $1,521

-68.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,711 Rp 101.1M

$22.1K $22.1K

-74.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.52 Rp 806.0K

$116 $116

-60.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 Rp 635.4K

$149 $149

-75.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

$197 $197

-59.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

$153 $153

-48.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,115 Rp 19.7M

$1,624 $1,624

-31.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$698 Rp 12.4M

$1,769 $1,769

-60.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,637 Rp 64.4M

$3,251 $3,251

11.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

$4,183 $4,183

-58.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.3M

$4,841 $4,841

-42.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,290 Rp 40.5M

$10.6K $10.6K

-78.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 Rp 3.0M

$2,818 $2,818

-94.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

9.45

45.82%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for St Thomas: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,624 in St Thomas. 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 1577% higher in St Thomas, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $169 in St Thomas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $295 vs $958 – making Ubud, Bali 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 St Thomas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, $4,362 in St Thomas – roughly 219% apart. St Thomas costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,052 per month in Ubud, Bali and $6,543 in St Thomas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 578% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $481 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,521 in St Thomas. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,368, than in St Thomas at $4,362. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in St Thomas it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. St Thomas has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,368 in Ubud, Bali to $4,362 in St Thomas. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, St Thomas makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.