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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,321 per month in Brisbane vs $1,397 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,353 per month in Brisbane vs $2,588 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,385 per month in Brisbane vs $3,778 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Brisbane costs about 66% more than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Brisbane and Ubud, Bali sit above the global median – Brisbane by 74%, Ubud, Bali by 5%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brisbane
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.36 A$23.37
$3.43 Rp 61.4K
376.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$70.1 A$100
$31.97 Rp 572.3K
119.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.94 A$14.20
$5.05 Rp 90.4K
96.83%
Cappuccino
$3.71 A$5.30
$2.71 Rp 48.6K
36.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 A$3.83
$1.39 Rp 24.9K
92.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 A$3.04
$0.74 Rp 13.3K
187.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.33 A$9.04
$2.89 Rp 51.8K
119.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92 A$11.31
$3.79 Rp 67.9K
108.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brisbane
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 A$2.32
$1.79 Rp 32.1K
-8.94%
White Bread (500g)
$2.30 A$3.28
$2.51 Rp 44.9K
-8.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.89 A$2.70
$1.21 Rp 21.7K
56.20%
Eggs
$4.48 A$6.40
$2.37 Rp 42.4K
89.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.37 A$11.95
$14.43 Rp 258.4K
-42.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.10 A$11.57
$4.15 Rp 74.3K
95.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.68 A$19.53
$12.11 Rp 216.9K
12.96%
Apples (1kg)
$3.36 A$4.80
$3.77 Rp 67.5K
-10.88%
Banana (1kg)
$2.73 A$3.90
$1.63 Rp 29.1K
67.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.64 A$3.77
$2.71 Rp 48.5K
-2.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.17 A$5.96
$2.26 Rp 40.4K
84.51%
Potato (1kg)
$2.43 A$3.47
$1.93 Rp 34.5K
25.91%
Onion (1kg)
$2.33 A$3.33
$2.19 Rp 39.3K
6.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.15 A$3.07
$1.02 Rp 18.2K
110.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 A$1.77
$0.72 Rp 12.8K
72.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$32.36 A$46.22
$3.18 Rp 57.0K
917.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.70 A$18.13
$23.84 Rp 426.8K
-46.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.68 A$6.69
$2.77 Rp 49.7K
68.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.07 A$5.81
$2.75 Rp 49.3K
48.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Brisbane
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 A$0.49
$0.27 Rp 4,785
25.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.98 A$38.53
$8.20 Rp 146.7K
229.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.26 A$3.23
$0.48 Rp 8,653
370.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 A$2.26
$0.42 Rp 7,544
276.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$33.14 A$47.33
$6.03 Rp 107.9K
449.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 A$1.71
$0.82 Rp 14.7K
46.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9K A$41.3K
$26.6K Rp 475.6M
8.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K A$31.7K
$32.2K Rp 576.6M
-31.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brisbane
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$147 A$209
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
87.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.80 A$36.85
$3.91 Rp 70.0K
559.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.3 A$76.1
$23.91 Rp 428.2K
122.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brisbane
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.59 A$70.8
$96.2 Rp 1.7M
-48.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.32 A$24.73
$6.53 Rp 116.8K
165.24%
Cinema Ticket
$12.99 A$18.56
$4.01 Rp 71.8K
223.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brisbane
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,644 A$2,349
$303 Rp 5.4M
443.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,777 A$12.5K
$6,551 Rp 117.3M
33.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brisbane
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.8 A$101
$55.3 Rp 990.3K
27.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.15 A$63.1
$38.32 Rp 686.1K
15.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.0 A$133
$88.5 Rp 1.6M
5.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 A$146
$76.7 Rp 1.4M
32.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brisbane
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,603 A$2,289
$986 Rp 17.6M
62.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,267 A$1,809
$682 Rp 12.2M
85.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,594 A$3,704
$3,420 Rp 61.2M
-24.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,889 A$2,698
$2,075 Rp 37.1M
-8.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,305 A$11.9K
$2,762 Rp 49.5M
200.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,729 A$8,182
$2,243 Rp 40.2M
155.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brisbane
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,190 A$5,984
$169 Rp 3.0M
2383.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.24
13.28
-53.01%

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

Last update for Brisbane: July 20, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,603 in Brisbane versus $986 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.

Salaries run about 2383% higher in Brisbane, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Brisbane versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $328 vs $298 – 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
Brisbane vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Brisbane or Ubud, Bali?
Brisbane costs about 66% more than Ubud, Bali, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Brisbane and in Ubud, Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,481 per month in Brisbane and $2,096 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Brisbane or Ubud, Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ubud, Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Brisbane or in Ubud, Bali?
Groceries cost about 10% more in Brisbane, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Brisbane and in Ubud, Bali?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $70.0 in Brisbane and $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Brisbane or in Ubud, Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,397, than in Brisbane at $2,321. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Brisbane it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Brisbane or Ubud, Bali?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Ubud, Bali costs $1,397 versus $2,321 in Brisbane. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Brisbane 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 – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Brisbane or to Ubud, Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Ubud, Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Brisbane makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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