Cost of Living Comparison Between Byron Bay and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Byron Bay and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,458 in Byron Bay versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,530 in Byron Bay versus $2,348 in Ubud, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,601 in Byron Bay versus $3,327 in Ubud, Bali.

Living in Byron Bay is roughly 80% more expensive than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Byron Bay 80% above, Ubud, Bali 0% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Byron Bay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.54 A$24.62
$3.44 Rp 61.0K
409.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.1 A$110
$36.31 Rp 644.2K
114.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.50 A$16.14
$5.71 Rp 101.2K
101.40%
Cappuccino
$3.86 A$5.42
$2.67 Rp 47.4K
44.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 A$2.06
$1.75 Rp 31.0K
-16.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 A$3.66
$0.87 Rp 15.5K
200.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.28 A$11.62
$2.95 Rp 52.4K
180.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.49 A$11.92
$4.52 Rp 80.2K
87.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Byron Bay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 A$2.34
$1.62 Rp 28.7K
3.09%
White Bread (500g)
$2.81 A$3.95
$2.33 Rp 41.3K
20.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.37 A$3.32
$1.11 Rp 19.6K
113.51%
Eggs
$5.03 A$7.05
$2.20 Rp 39.0K
128.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.36 A$13.14
$17.69 Rp 313.9K
-47.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.12 A$12.80
$4.10 Rp 72.7K
122.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.16 A$19.88
$12.18 Rp 216.0K
16.26%
Apples (1kg)
$4.12 A$5.78
$3.71 Rp 65.8K
11.05%
Banana (1kg)
$3.13 A$4.40
$1.59 Rp 28.2K
96.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.80 A$3.94
$2.28 Rp 40.5K
22.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.97 A$6.98
$1.95 Rp 34.7K
154.87%
Potato (1kg)
$2.85 A$4.00
$1.91 Rp 33.8K
49.21%
Onion (1kg)
$2.43 A$3.41
$2.33 Rp 41.4K
4.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.39 A$3.35
$1.01 Rp 17.9K
136.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 A$1.74
$0.55 Rp 9,791
125.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$34.20 A$48.00
$2.23 Rp 39.6K
1433.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.09 A$18.37
$23.07 Rp 409.3K
-43.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$5.35 A$7.51
$2.42 Rp 42.9K
121.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.21 A$7.32
$3.00 Rp 53.2K
73.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Byron Bay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.18 A$4.46
$0.27 Rp 4,823
1077.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$79.8 A$112
$8.98 Rp 159.4K
788.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.13 A$4.40
$0.48 Rp 8,582
552.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.84 A$2.58
$0.43 Rp 7,693
327.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$42.41 A$59.5
$5.64 Rp 100.1K
651.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.43 A$2.00
$0.80 Rp 14.3K
78.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K A$39.8K
$24.9K Rp 442.5M
13.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K A$34.4K
$31.7K Rp 562.6M
-22.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Byron Bay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$166 A$233
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
103.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00 A$19.65
$6.49 Rp 115.2K
115.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.00 A$60.4
$18.77 Rp 333.0K
129.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Byron Bay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.0 A$78.7
$56.9 Rp 1.0M
-1.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.19 A$25.53
$18.73 Rp 332.3K
-2.88%
Cinema Ticket
$17.58 A$24.68
$4.54 Rp 80.5K
287.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Byron Bay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,144 A$3,009
$481 Rp 8.5M
346.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.0K A$18.2K
$5,711 Rp 101.3M
127.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Byron Bay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.9 A$99.5
$45.52 Rp 807.5K
55.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.31 A$29.92
$35.88 Rp 636.6K
-40.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.0 A$101
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
-10.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 A$158
$78.7 Rp 1.4M
42.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Byron Bay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,440 A$2,022
$1,115 Rp 19.8M
29.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,263 A$1,772
$698 Rp 12.4M
80.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,222 A$3,119
$3,637 Rp 64.5M
-38.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,828 A$2,567
$1,737 Rp 30.8M
5.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,286 A$8,823
$2,784 Rp 49.4M
125.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,114 A$7,179
$2,290 Rp 40.6M
123.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Byron Bay
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,022 A$7,049
$168 Rp 3.0M
2888.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5
13.78
-63.72%

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

Last update for Byron Bay: September 14, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,440 in Byron Bay and $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Byron Bay pays 2889% 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: $78.0 in Byron Bay vs $36.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $367 vs $295 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
Byron Bay vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Byron Bay and in Ubud, Bali?
Byron Bay and Ubud, Bali differ by about 80% in total monthly costs ($2,458 vs $1,368 including rent). Ubud, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Byron Bay or Ubud, Bali?
Average pay runs 2889% higher in Byron Bay, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Byron Bay and in Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,440 in Byron Bay versus $1,115 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Byron Bay or Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $2,458 per month in Byron Bay versus $1,368 in Ubud, Bali – a 80% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Byron Bay and in Ubud, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Ubud, Bali runs roughly 789% less than in Byron Bay. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,368 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,458 in Byron Bay, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ubud, Bali but tight or insufficient in Byron Bay. The gap between the two cities makes Ubud, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Byron Bay and Ubud, Bali?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Byron Bay or Ubud, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Byron Bay 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.
Where should expats move: Byron Bay or Ubud, Bali?
Expats usually find Ubud, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 80% less than in Byron Bay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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