😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,676 in Ballarat versus $1,408 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,749 in Ballarat versus $2,585 in Ubud, Bali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,823 in Ballarat versus $3,763 in Ubud, Bali.
🌍Living in Ballarat is roughly 19% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ballarat25% above, Ubud, Bali5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ballarat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.18A$20.29
$3.45Rp 61.8K
311.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.2A$92.0
$32.34Rp 578.5K
98.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.73A$13.94
$4.84Rp 86.7K
101.03%
Cappuccino
$3.55A$5.09
$2.75Rp 49.1K
29.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53A$3.62
$1.38Rp 24.8K
83.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02A$2.89
$0.75Rp 13.4K
169.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.03A$8.63
$2.99Rp 53.5K
101.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.01A$10.03
$3.85Rp 68.9K
82.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ballarat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.46A$2.09
$1.74Rp 31.1K
-16.09%
White Bread(500g)
$2.57A$3.68
$2.46Rp 44.0K
4.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.54A$2.21
$1.17Rp 20.9K
31.62%
Eggs
$4.27A$6.12
$2.43Rp 43.5K
75.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.82A$12.62
$14.50Rp 259.5K
-39.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.47A$13.56
$4.35Rp 77.8K
117.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.55A$20.83
$11.98Rp 214.3K
21.45%
Apples(1kg)
$3.26A$4.67
$3.72Rp 66.5K
-12.37%
Banana(1kg)
$2.81A$4.03
$1.63Rp 29.1K
72.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.89A$4.13
$2.74Rp 49.1K
5.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.88A$5.56
$2.24Rp 40.1K
73.21%
Potato(1kg)
$2.69A$3.85
$1.92Rp 34.3K
40.10%
Onion(1kg)
$2.33A$3.33
$2.28Rp 40.7K
2.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.19A$3.13
$1.06Rp 19.0K
106.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04A$1.49
$0.72Rp 12.9K
44.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$31.14A$44.58
$3.29Rp 58.8K
846.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.93A$19.95
$23.19Rp 414.9K
-39.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14A$3.07
$2.78Rp 49.7K
-23.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.90A$4.15
$2.73Rp 48.9K
6.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Ballarat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.71A$2.45
$0.27Rp 4,765
533.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$64.6A$92.6
$8.11Rp 145.0K
697.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.32A$3.33
$0.48Rp 8,636
383.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.15A$1.65
$0.42Rp 7,511
173.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.91A$35.67
$6.22Rp 111.3K
300.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14A$1.64
$0.81Rp 14.6K
40.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KA$39.8K
$26.6KRp 476.1M
4.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KA$33.1K
$32.2KRp 575.9M
-28.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ballarat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$153A$219
$78.4Rp 1.4M
95.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.80A$29.78
$4.07Rp 72.8K
411.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.2A$71.8
$24.33Rp 435.2K
106.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ballarat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.31A$46.26
$98.6Rp 1.8M
-67.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.46A$22.14
$6.34Rp 113.3K
143.85%
Cinema Ticket
$11.21A$16.05
$3.99Rp 71.3K
180.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ballarat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$321A$460
$305Rp 5.5M
5.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.0KA$27.2K
$6,642Rp 118.8M
186.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ballarat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.8A$94.2
$54.1Rp 968.6K
21.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.1A$76.0
$37.81Rp 676.3K
40.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.0A$123
$86.8Rp 1.6M
-0.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.8A$130
$76.4Rp 1.4M
18.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ballarat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$860A$1,231
$992Rp 17.7M
-13.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$632A$904
$673Rp 12.0M
-6.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,055A$2,943
$3,375Rp 60.4M
-39.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,339A$1,918
$2,050Rp 36.7M
-34.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,630A$6,629
$2,805Rp 50.2M
65.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,407A$4,877
$2,227Rp 39.8M
52.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ballarat
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,172A$4,542
$167Rp 3.0M
1800.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.07
13.28
-54.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ballarat: July 13, 2026
Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $860 in Ballarat and $992 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ballarat pays 1800% 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: $64.0 in Ballarat vs $32.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $323 vs $297 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 19% 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 1800% 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: $860 in Ballarat versus $992 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 $321 in Ballarat versus $305 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 9% 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 $1,408 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,676 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 $1,408 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 19% less than in Ballarat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.