Cost of Living Comparison Between Avarua and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Avarua and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $850 per month in Avarua vs $1,408 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,360 per month in Avarua vs $2,582 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,870 per month in Avarua vs $3,757 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Avarua is about 40% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Avarua sits 37% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above โ€“ they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Avarua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$3.42 Rpย 58.7K
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.2 NZ$100
$32.96 Rpย 566.5K
79.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.80 NZ$14.88
$5.08 Rpย 87.3K
73.23%
Cappuccino
$3.52 NZ$5.95
$2.82 Rpย 48.5K
24.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 NZ$4.44
$1.37 Rpย 23.5K
91.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 NZ$4.00
$0.71 Rpย 12.2K
233.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.72 NZ$9.66
$2.97 Rpย 51.0K
92.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.89 NZ$8.27
$3.91 Rpย 67.2K
25.06%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Avarua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 NZ$3.08
$1.75 Rpย 30.0K
4.00%
White Bread (500g)
$3.58 NZ$6.05
$2.52 Rpย 43.2K
42.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.85 NZ$3.13
$1.21 Rpย 20.8K
52.89%
Eggs
$5.00 NZ$8.46
$2.33 Rpย 40.1K
114.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.97 NZ$20.23
$14.50 Rpย 249.2K
-17.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.41 NZ$14.21
$4.36 Rpย 74.9K
92.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.99 NZ$18.57
$12.05 Rpย 207.0K
-8.80%
Apples (1kg)
$3.07 NZ$5.19
$3.82 Rpย 65.6K
-19.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 NZ$3.00
$1.61 Rpย 27.7K
10.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.71 NZ$6.27
$2.70 Rpย 46.5K
37.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$9.64 NZ$16.29
$2.23 Rpย 38.3K
332.29%
Potato (1kg)
$3.06 NZ$5.17
$1.90 Rpย 32.6K
61.05%
Onion (1kg)
$2.34 NZ$3.95
$2.18 Rpย 37.5K
7.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.36 NZ$3.98
$1.03 Rpย 17.7K
129.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.99 NZ$5.05
$0.77 Rpย 13.3K
288.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.18 Rpย 54.7K
-
Wine (Bottle)
$14.69 NZ$24.82
$23.23 Rpย 399.2K
-36.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.85 Rpย 48.9K
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 NZ$7.55
$2.72 Rpย 46.7K
64.34%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Avarua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.29 Rpย 5,022
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.43 Rpย 144.8K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$0.49 Rpย 8,344
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.45 Rpย 7,812
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$6.28 Rpย 107.8K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$0.85 Rpย 14.6K
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$26.1K Rpย 447.8M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$31.5K Rpย 541.8M
-
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Avarua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$119 NZ$201
$79.8 Rpย 1.4M
48.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$4.09 Rpย 70.3K
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$24.06 Rpย 413.6K
-
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Avarua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$96.2 Rpย 1.7M
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.53 Rpย 112.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.13 Rpย 71.1K
-
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Avarua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$297 Rpย 5.1M
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$6,661 Rpย 114.5M
-
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Avarua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.4 NZ$116
$55.0 Rpย 944.5K
24.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$38.75 Rpย 666.0K
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$89.6 Rpย 1.5M
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.3 NZ$127
$78.9 Rpย 1.4M
-4.51%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Avarua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$156 NZ$263
$1,018 Rpย 17.5M
-84.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$157 NZ$266
$660 Rpย 11.3M
-76.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$174 NZ$295
$3,435 Rpย 59.0M
-94.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$229 NZ$387
$2,053 Rpย 35.3M
-88.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,988 NZ$8,429
$2,981 Rpย 51.2M
67.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$760 NZ$1,285
$2,368 Rpย 40.7M
-67.88%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Avarua
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$172 Rpย 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
13.28
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Avarua: April 20, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $156 in Avarua versus $1,018 in Ubud, Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59 in Avarua versus $33 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $379 vs $299 โ€“ 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
Avarua vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Avarua or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali costs about 66% more than Avarua, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Avarua vs Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,275 per month in Avarua and $2,112 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled โ€“ not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Avarua or Ubud, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Avarua, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Avarua compared to Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $850 in Avarua and $1,408 in Ubud, Bali. The difference isn't just one category โ€“ it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in Avarua or Ubud, Bali?
Interestingly, groceries are about 27% cheaper in Ubud, Bali โ€“ one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Avarua or Ubud, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Avarua, where all-in costs run around $850, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,408. In Avarua it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Avarua or Ubud, Bali?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Avarua costs $850 versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Avarua compared to Ubud, Bali?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison โ€“ central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Avarua or Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Avarua. 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.

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