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 $1,438 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $4,202 in St Thomas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,585 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $7,082 in St Thomas, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,732 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $9,961 in St Thomas, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 66% cheaper than St Thomas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ubud, Bali and St Thomas sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 7%, St Thomas by 214%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.57 Rp 61.6K

$20.13 $20.13

-82.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.58 Rp 562.6K

$161 $161

-79.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.07 Rp 87.5K

$12.20 $12.20

-58.44%

Cappuccino

$2.83 Rp 48.8K

$7.15 $7.15

-60.42%

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

$1.34 Rp 23.1K

$3.95 $3.95

-66.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

$3.35 $3.35

-79.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 Rp 51.6K

$6.36 $6.36

-52.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.85 Rp 66.4K

$9.91 $9.91

-61.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 Rp 30.1K

$2.44 $2.44

-28.69%

White Bread (500g)

$2.54 Rp 43.8K

$6.67 $6.67

-61.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$18.94 $18.94

-93.72%

Eggs

$2.43 Rp 41.9K

$8.75 $8.75

-72.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.66 Rp 253.2K

$11.44 $11.44

28.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.18 Rp 72.1K

$32.41 $32.41

-87.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 Rp 206.1K

$39.75 $39.75

-69.96%

Apples (1kg)

$3.69 Rp 63.6K

$11.89 $11.89

-68.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 27.7K

$10.85 $10.85

-85.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.69 Rp 46.4K

$12.11 $12.11

-77.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 40.2K

$19.81 $19.81

-88.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 32.9K

$1.88 $1.88

1.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 37.7K

$8.94 $8.94

-75.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

$8.10 $8.10

-86.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

$5.85 $5.85

-87.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 Rp 54.1K

Wine (Bottle)

$23.49 Rp 405.6K

$24.85 $24.85

-5.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 Rp 47.3K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 49.7K

$5.91 $5.91

-51.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,010

$1.97 $1.97

-85.28%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.17 Rp 141.0K

$59.8 $59.8

-86.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,834

$20.21 $20.21

-97.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 Rp 7,278

$3.13 $3.13

-86.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.16 Rp 106.3K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.5K

$1.30 $1.30

-35.38%

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

$26.2K Rp 453.1M

$56.0K $56.0K

-53.13%

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

$32.5K Rp 560.8M

$38.9K $38.9K

-16.49%

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

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

$392 $392

-79.98%

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

$3.95 Rp 68.2K

$98.3 $98.3

-95.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.40 Rp 421.4K

$132 $132

-81.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

$126 $126

-23.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.35 Rp 109.6K

Cinema Ticket

$4.04 Rp 69.7K

$12.06 $12.06

-66.50%

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

$303 Rp 5.2M

$1,488 $1,488

-79.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,523 Rp 112.6M

$22.4K $22.4K

-70.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.8 Rp 929.5K

$114 $114

-52.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.98 Rp 655.8K

$149 $149

-74.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

$199 $199

-56.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

$148 $148

-46.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

$1,449 $1,449

-30.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 Rp 11.6M

$1,771 $1,771

-61.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,390 Rp 58.5M

$3,208 $3,208

5.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,098 Rp 36.2M

$4,275 $4,275

-50.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,985 Rp 51.5M

$4,810 $4,810

-37.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,339 Rp 40.4M

$10.6K $10.6K

-77.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 Rp 3.0M

$2,779 $2,779

-93.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

9.45

40.53%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Last update for St Thomas: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,012 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,449 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 1505% 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 $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $161 in St Thomas. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $977 – 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: $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, $4,202 in St Thomas – roughly 192% apart. St Thomas costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,158 per month in Ubud, Bali and $6,303 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 632% less in Ubud, Bali. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $303 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,488 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 $1,438, than in St Thomas at $4,202. 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 $1,438 in Ubud, Bali to $4,202 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.