😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,926 in Ballarat versus $1,396 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,081 in Ballarat versus $2,334 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,235 in Ballarat versus $3,273 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Ballarat is roughly 38% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ballarat40% above, Ubud, Bali2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ballarat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.68A$24.74
$3.37Rp 59.8K
424.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.7A$102
$38.59Rp 683.8K
88.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.73A$15.01
$5.52Rp 97.8K
94.38%
Cappuccino
$3.83A$5.36
$2.64Rp 46.9K
45.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10A$4.33
$1.67Rp 29.6K
85.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01A$2.81
$0.77Rp 13.6K
161.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.24A$8.73
$2.63Rp 46.7K
137.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.55A$9.16
$4.28Rp 75.9K
53.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ballarat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71A$2.39
$1.55Rp 27.4K
10.32%
White Bread(500g)
$2.86A$4.00
$2.22Rp 39.4K
28.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.41A$3.37
$1.13Rp 19.9K
113.27%
Eggs
$4.36A$6.10
$2.09Rp 37.0K
108.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.57A$16.19
$17.39Rp 308.2K
-33.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.48A$13.27
$3.87Rp 68.5K
144.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.78A$22.08
$12.55Rp 222.4K
25.74%
Apples(1kg)
$3.68A$5.15
$3.62Rp 64.1K
1.66%
Banana(1kg)
$3.16A$4.42
$1.56Rp 27.6K
102.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.19A$4.46
$2.35Rp 41.7K
35.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.82A$6.74
$2.06Rp 36.4K
133.98%
Potato(1kg)
$3.30A$4.62
$1.90Rp 33.7K
73.68%
Onion(1kg)
$2.63A$3.68
$2.34Rp 41.4K
12.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.41A$3.37
$1.03Rp 18.3K
133.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52A$2.13
$0.55Rp 9,830
176.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$35.19A$49.22
$2.25Rp 39.9K
1464.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.09A$16.91
$23.81Rp 421.9K
-49.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35A$3.29
$2.31Rp 41.0K
1.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21A$4.49
$2.80Rp 49.6K
14.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Ballarat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.76A$3.86
$0.27Rp 4,827
922.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.0A$102
$8.66Rp 153.5K
743.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.65A$3.71
$0.48Rp 8,533
452.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.40A$1.96
$0.45Rp 7,904
211.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.81A$38.90
$5.72Rp 101.4K
386.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24A$1.74
$0.76Rp 13.4K
63.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1KA$40.7K
$24.5KRp 433.9M
18.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KA$36.1K
$32.1KRp 569.3M
-19.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ballarat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$216A$302
$83.6Rp 1.5M
158.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.96A$39.11
$6.46Rp 114.4K
332.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.7A$80.8
$18.99Rp 336.6K
204.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ballarat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.61A$45.62
$56.0Rp 992.0K
-41.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.33A$15.85
$18.62Rp 329.9K
-39.15%
Cinema Ticket
$15.86A$22.19
$4.28Rp 75.9K
270.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ballarat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,207A$3,087
$487Rp 8.6M
353.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$33.2KA$46.4K
$5,856Rp 103.8M
466.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ballarat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.2A$101
$45.56Rp 807.4K
58.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.1A$72.9
$36.38Rp 644.7K
43.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104A$145
$82.0Rp 1.5M
26.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138A$193
$80.4Rp 1.4M
71.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ballarat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$936A$1,309
$1,117Rp 19.8M
-16.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$689A$963
$701Rp 12.4M
-1.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,289A$1,803
$3,537Rp 62.7M
-63.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,527A$2,135
$1,762Rp 31.2M
-13.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,901A$6,855
$2,826Rp 50.1M
73.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,601A$5,037
$2,292Rp 40.6M
57.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ballarat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,339A$4,671
$170Rp 3.0M
1866.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.55
13.78
-59.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ballarat: August 30, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $936 in Ballarat and $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ballarat pays 1867% 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: $73.0 in Ballarat vs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $362 vs $293 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
Ballarat vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ballarat or Ubud, Bali?
Ubud, Bali wins on cost – living expenses run 38% lower than in Ballarat. 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 Ballarat or in Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 1867% higher in Ballarat, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ballarat compared to Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $936 in Ballarat versus $1,117 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Ballarat and in Ubud, Bali?
Childcare runs $2,207 in Ballarat versus $487 in Ubud, Bali. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Ballarat or in Ubud, Bali?
Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Ballarat. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ballarat or in Ubud, Bali?
At $1,396 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,926 in Ballarat, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Ballarat. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ballarat or Ubud, Bali?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ubud, Bali delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,396 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ubud, Bali hard to pass up.
How safe is Ballarat compared to Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Ballarat and Ubud, Bali 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 38% less than in Ballarat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.