Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ballina, Australia and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Ubud, Bali: $1,331 a month against $2,525 in Ballina, rent and utilities included – about $14,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ballina, Australia
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Ballina
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,525
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,331
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ballina and in Ubud, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ballina and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,525 per month in Ballina vs $1,331 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Ballina $2,525
  • Ubud, Bali $1,331

A couple spends around $3,645 per month in Ballina vs $2,255 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Ballina $3,645
  • Ubud, Bali $2,255

A family of three spends $4,766 per month in Ballina vs $3,180 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Ballina $4,766
  • Ubud, Bali $3,180

Ballina costs about 90% more than Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Ballina sits 87% above the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 2% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ballina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.32 A$24.69
$3.38 Rp 61.3K
412.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.4 A$119
$34.65 Rp 629.1K
140.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.54 A$15.02
$5.57 Rp 101.2K
89.23%
Cappuccino
$4.05 A$5.78
$2.62 Rp 47.6K
54.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87 A$4.09
$1.54 Rp 27.9K
86.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 A$3.26
$0.64 Rp 11.6K
256.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.68 A$10.95
$2.67 Rp 48.4K
187.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.50 A$10.69
$4.26 Rp 77.4K
76.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ballina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.68 A$3.82
$1.46 Rp 26.5K
83.56%
White Bread (500g)
$3.43 A$4.89
$2.29 Rp 41.6K
49.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.21 A$3.15
$1.11 Rp 20.1K
99.10%
Eggs
$5.58 A$7.96
$2.10 Rp 38.1K
165.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.16 A$8.78
$15.94 Rp 289.4K
-61.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.52 A$13.58
$3.88 Rp 70.5K
145.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.50 A$20.67
$11.40 Rp 207.0K
27.19%
Apples (1kg)
$3.60 A$5.13
$3.55 Rp 64.5K
1.41%
Banana (1kg)
$3.05 A$4.35
$1.54 Rp 27.9K
98.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.27 A$4.66
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
46.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.47 A$4.94
$1.97 Rp 35.8K
76.14%
Potato (1kg)
$2.73 A$3.89
$1.86 Rp 33.7K
46.77%
Onion (1kg)
$2.50 A$3.56
$2.42 Rp 43.9K
3.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.46 A$4.93
$1.02 Rp 18.6K
239.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 A$2.21
$0.52 Rp 9,483
198.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$42.40 A$60.5
$2.20 Rp 39.9K
1827.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.17 A$20.20
$21.79 Rp 395.6K
-34.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.60 A$6.55
$2.33 Rp 42.2K
97.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.11 A$7.29
$2.97 Rp 53.9K
72.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Ballina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.68 A$3.82
$0.25 Rp 4,546
972.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$82.9 A$118
$8.17 Rp 148.4K
914.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.41 A$4.87
$0.44 Rp 7,947
675.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.60 A$2.28
$0.47 Rp 8,496
240.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.99 A$57.0
$5.60 Rp 101.7K
614.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 A$1.88
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
59.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K A$41.8K
$24.4K Rp 443.8M
19.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K A$37.5K
$31.7K Rp 575.5M
-17.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ballina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$212 A$302
$77.5 Rp 1.4M
173.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.41 A$39.08
$6.14 Rp 111.6K
346.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.0 A$82.7
$18.92 Rp 343.4K
206.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ballina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.5 A$79.1
$51.0 Rp 925.8K
8.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.00 A$25.65
$18.25 Rp 331.3K
-1.37%
Cinema Ticket
$14.11 A$20.12
$4.38 Rp 79.6K
222.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ballina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,118 A$3,020
$492 Rp 8.9M
330.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.6K A$29.3K
$12.2K Rp 221.9M
68.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ballina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.1 A$110
$45.16 Rp 819.9K
70.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.8 A$76.7
$34.89 Rp 633.4K
54.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 A$154
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
37.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 A$175
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
57.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ballina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,395 A$1,989
$1,078 Rp 19.6M
29.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,207 A$1,721
$665 Rp 12.1M
81.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,275 A$3,243
$3,510 Rp 63.7M
-35.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,824 A$2,600
$1,671 Rp 30.3M
9.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,839 A$8,324
$2,340 Rp 42.5M
149.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,029 A$7,169
$2,236 Rp 40.6M
124.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ballina
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$166 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.9
13.78
-57.18%

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

Last update for Ballina: November 1, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ballina
$1.2K
Ubud, Bali
$665 44.9% $542
Groceries & Markets
Ballina
$376
Ubud, Bali
$279 25.6% $96
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ballina
$298
Ubud, Bali
$103 65.5% $195
Eating Out
Ballina
$293
Ubud, Bali
$106 63.9% $187
Clothing & Footwear
Ballina
$163
Ubud, Bali
$106 34.6% $56
Getting Around
Ballina
$105
Ubud, Bali
$12 88.6% $93
Sport & Entertainment
Ballina
$84
Ubud, Bali
$60 28.6% $24

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,395 in Ballina versus $1,078 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 $83 in Ballina versus $35 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $376 vs $279 – making Ubud, Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇦🇺 Ballina
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
05:20 5:20 AM
02:20 2:20 AM
3 h behind Ballina
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,911
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to AUD – Australian Dollar Converter

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.701 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 AUD (1 AUD = 0.626 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 18,155 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,353 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.91 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ballina Ubud, Bali 4,590 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ballina
  • Ubud, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Ballina vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Ballina?
Yes – Ballina is pricier by about 90%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,787 per month in Ballina and $1,996 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,078 there versus $1,395 in Ballina.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $2,118 per month in Ballina and $492 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Ballina and in Ubud, Bali?
Groceries cost about 34% more in Ballina, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $1,000 enough to cover costs in Ballina or in Ubud, Bali?
$1,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,525 in Ballina and $1,331 in Ubud, Bali. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Is Ballina or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ubud, Bali – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ballina or Ubud, Bali?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
For expats, Ubud, Bali is the easier option financially – housing and daily costs are lower, and overall it costs about 47% less, which matters a lot on a fixed budget or early-career salary.

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