Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Vista, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Vista, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,385 in Vista, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,348 in Ubud, Bali versus $5,005 in Vista, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,327 in Ubud, Bali versus $6,624 in Vista, CA.

Living in Ubud, Bali costs roughly 60% less than in Vista, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ubud, Bali 0% above, Vista, CA 147% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Vista, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44 Rp 61.0K
$20.31 $20.31
-83.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.31 Rp 644.5K
$72.3 $72.3
-49.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.71 Rp 101.3K
$13.05 $13.05
-56.25%
Cappuccino
$2.67 Rp 47.4K
$5.65 $5.65
-52.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 Rp 31.1K
$3.08 $3.08
-43.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 Rp 15.5K
$2.02 $2.02
-56.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.95 Rp 52.4K
$7.87 $7.87
-62.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.52 Rp 80.2K
$8.56 $8.56
-47.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Vista, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
$1.05 $1.05
54.29%
White Bread (500g)
$2.33 Rp 41.4K
$3.76 $3.76
-38.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 19.7K
$4.94 $4.94
-77.53%
Eggs
$2.20 Rp 39.1K
$3.80 $3.80
-42.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.69 Rp 314.0K
$8.88 $8.88
99.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.10 Rp 72.7K
$10.86 $10.86
-62.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.18 Rp 216.1K
$15.37 $15.37
-20.75%
Apples (1kg)
$3.71 Rp 65.8K
$5.53 $5.53
-32.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.2K
$1.72 $1.72
-7.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 40.5K
$5.04 $5.04
-54.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.95 Rp 34.7K
$2.13 $2.13
-8.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 33.8K
$3.23 $3.23
-40.87%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 Rp 41.4K
$2.91 $2.91
-19.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 17.9K
$2.00 $2.00
-49.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 9,795
$2.57 $2.57
-78.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 Rp 39.6K
$9.63 $9.63
-76.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.07 Rp 409.5K
$14.89 $14.89
54.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.42 Rp 42.9K
$3.15 $3.15
-23.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 Rp 53.2K
$2.84 $2.84
5.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Vista, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,825
$2.49 $2.49
-89.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.98 Rp 159.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,586
$3.05 $3.05
-84.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,697
$1.90 $1.90
-77.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.64 Rp 100.1K
$31.66 $31.66
-82.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 14.3K
$1.25 $1.25
-36.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K Rp 442.7M
$36.6K $36.6K
-31.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 562.8M
$26.4K $26.4K
19.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Vista, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
$204 $204
-60.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49 Rp 115.2K
$76.5 $76.5
-91.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.77 Rp 333.1K
$81.1 $81.1
-76.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Vista, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.9 Rp 1.0M
$44.10 $44.10
28.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.73 Rp 332.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.54 Rp 80.5K
$11.88 $11.88
-61.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Vista, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$481 Rp 8.5M
$1,705 $1,705
-71.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,711 Rp 101.4M
$32.5K $32.5K
-82.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Vista, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.52 Rp 807.9K
$60.2 $60.2
-24.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.88 Rp 636.9K
$67.1 $67.1
-46.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
$121 $121
-33.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
$207 $207
-61.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Vista, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,115 Rp 19.8M
$2,446 $2,446
-54.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$698 Rp 12.4M
$2,058 $2,058
-66.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,637 Rp 64.5M
$3,872 $3,872
-6.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,737 Rp 30.8M
$3,694 $3,694
-52.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,784 Rp 49.4M
$5,744 $5,744
-51.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,290 Rp 40.6M
$5,694 $5,694
-59.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Vista, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$168 Rp 3.0M
$3,991 $3,991
-95.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
6.4
115.31%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Last update for Vista, CA: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,115 in Ubud, Bali and $2,446 in Vista, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vista, CA pays 2275% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $36.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $72.0 in Vista, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $295 vs $384 per month, with Ubud, Bali cheaper across the board.

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 Vista, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Vista, CA?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 148% lower than in Vista, CA. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ubud, Bali the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ubud, Bali or in Vista, CA?
On paper, salaries run 2275% lower in Vista, CA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali compared to Vista, CA?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,115 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,446 in Vista, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Vista, CA?
Supermarket bills run roughly 30% higher in Vista, CA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Vista, CA?
All in, you'll spend $1,368 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $3,385 in Vista, CA – a 148% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ubud, Bali or in Vista, CA?
At $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $3,385 in Vista, CA, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Vista, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Vista, CA?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,368 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Vista, CA?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Vista, CA are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 148% less than in Vista, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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